ST. LOUIS – Indiana State women's track and field has been picked to finish second this indoor season, while the Sycamore men have been picked to finish fourth by the coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Preseason Coaches Poll released Thursday.
 
The 2017 women's indoor runner-up, Illinois State, has been picked as the favorite to win the title over the ISU women by 8 points, while Southern Illinois has been pegged the favorite to claim the title on the men's side. The Salukis finished as the runner-up in 2017 behind Wichita State.
 
After finishing third a year ago, the Sycamore women are looking to challenge the Redbirds for the championship. Redshirt junior Cassaundra Roper returns for ISU after winning the shot put last season in Cedar Falls. Imani Davis will be seeking a victory in the 800-meter run after finishing in second just a year ago to her teammate, Alethia Marrero. In the triple jump, Jamie Newsome is also returning after coming off of a runner-up performance at the MVC Championships. The distance duo of All-American Taylor Austin and Brooke Moore will be tall task for Valley teams, as Austin will be competing for the title in the 5,000-meter run and Moore will look to earn victory in the mile after taking second last year.
 
Overall, the women return 10 All-MVC honorees from indoors last season.
 
The Sycamore men are trying to get back into the top-three for the first time since 2016 after finishing fifth a season ago. Indiana State has 24 new faces and lost the likes of All-American David Timlin and All-American hurdler Marcus Neely, but retains Daley Carter who finished just behind Neely in the 60-meter hurdles in 2017. The distance squad is coming off of a stellar cross country season and should be primed to compete for the distance titles.
 
Indiana State will open the indoor track and field season on Dec. 8 at the EIU Early Bird in Charleston, Ill. The MVC Indoor Championships will be held at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Feb. 24-25, while the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships will be hosted by Texas A&M this season, with the championship set for March 9-10 in College Station, Texas.
 
Men's Preseason Poll:
1. Southern Illinois - 75
2. Illinois State - 72
3. Northern Iowa - 67
4. Indiana State - 56
5. Bradley - 39
6. Loyola - 35
7. Drake - 33
8. Valparaiso - 17
9. Evansville - 11
 
Women's Preseason Poll:
1. Illinois State - 95 (8)
2. Indiana State - 87 (1)
3. Southern Illinois - 79 (1)
4. Northern Iowa - 75
5. Missouri State - 64
6. Loyola - 44
7. Drake - 41
8. Bradley - 35
9. Valparaiso - 17
10. Evansville - 13
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track and Field team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.