ST. LOUIS - Both the Indiana State men's and women's track and field teams have been picked to finish second at the 2018 MVC Outdoor Championships in the MVC Pre-Championship poll of conference coaches, the Valley announced Friday morning.
 
The 2018 MVC men's and women's indoor champions, Illinois State, have been chosen to as the favorites to win the outdoor titles next Friday through Sunday. In 2017, Wichita State claimed both titles and both Sycamore teams finished in fourth place.
 
On the women's side, ISU returns three All-MVC performers from a year ago. Brooke Moore was last year's 1500-meter run champion and the runner-up in the 800-meter run. Senior Taylor Austin also returns for the Sycamores after claiming the women's 3000-meter steeplechase championship last season, as well as finishing second in the women's 5K. The lone All-MVC performer returning in the field from 2017 is Caitlyn Redmon, who finished third overall in the women's long jump.
 
Five Indiana State All-MVC performers return on the men's side from 2017. Leading the way for the men in the field will be Jaime Murtagh and Trey Kennedy, who finished second in the men's high jump and third in the pole vault last outdoor season, respectively. On the track, Daley Carter, Tristan Parmley and Scott Schreiber all return for the men. Carter took home second-place last season in the 110-meter hurdles at the championships to All-American hurdler Marcus Neely. The men's 100-meter dash saw Tristan Parmley break the school record en route to a third-place finish with a time of 10.29 last season. Both he and Schreiber also appeared on the third-place 4X100-meter relay team.
 
The MVC Outdoor Championships will be hosted by Indiana State and begin at 10:00 a.m. ET next Friday, May 11, at the Gibson Track and Field Complex with the men's decathlon.
 
Men's Pre-Championship Poll:
1. Illinois State - 81 (9)
2. Indiana State - 66
3. Northern Iowa - 65
4. Southern Illinois - 58
5. Bradley - 41
6. Drake - 35
7. Loyola - 32
8. Valparaiso - 18
9. Evansville - 9
 
Women's Pre-Championship Poll:
1. Illinois State - 100 (10)
2. Indiana State - 90
3. Southern Illinois - 79
4. Northern Iowa - 68
5. Missouri State - 63
6. Loyola - 48
7. Drake - 41
8. Bradley - 31
9. Valparaiso - 18
10. Evansville - 12
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.