KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
ST. LOUIS, MO. ? Both the Indiana State men's track & field team and the women's track & field team have been picked to finish second at next weekend's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships, it was announced today by the league office.
In a vote of league coaches, the Sycamores are a solid second in both polls, receiving one first place vote in each.
Northern Iowa was picked to win the men's championship, receiving five first place votes and 35 points. The Sycamores were right behind with one first place vote and 31 points. Southern Illinois was selected third with 24 points, Wichita State fourth with 18, Illinois State fifth with 11 points and Drake sixth with seven.
Senior Jeramie Gray (Jeffersonville, Ind.) will be returning to the MVC Indoor Championships to defend his title in the 60 meter dash. Gray also won the 60 meter dash in 2007.
Two Sycamores who have provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships will be competing at the MVC Indoor Championships for the first time.
Sophomore Major Clay (Springfield, Ill.) is a provisional qualifier in the high jump while freshman Brandon Pounds (Indianapolis, Ind.) is a provisional qualifier in the shot put and both will be making their first appearance at the MVC Indoor Championships.
In the women's poll, Southern Illinois received six first place votes and had 61 points to become the favorite to win the women's title. Indiana State had one first place vote and 54 points while Missouri State received the other first place vote to be third with 52 points.
Wichita State was fourth at 37, Illinois State fifth with 36, Northern Iowa sixth with 23, Drake was seventh with 17 points and Bradley eighth with eight points.
Three Sycamores will return to defend their championships from a year ago.
Junior Erica Moore (Sullivan, Ind.), who has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in both the 800 meters and pentathlon, won the MVC Indoor title in the 400 meters in 2008 and the pentathlon in 2007.
Junior Kyle Hutson (Terre Haute, Ind.), who is an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the pole vault, returns to defend her title in the pole vault, and event she has won the past two years.
Junior Lauren Martin (Schaumburg, Ill.), who is a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the triple jump, will be defending her triple jump championship she earned last year.
The Sycamores are also the defending champion in the 4x400 meter relay and own the third best time in the MVC this season.
Another NCAA provisional qualifier, sophomore Kelsey Hanley (Arcadia, Ind.), will be looking to bring home a championship this year. Hanley provisionally qualified in the weight throw and has the best distance in the MVC this season.
