ST. LOUIS – Indiana State was picked to win the men's indoor title in the MVC Pre-Championship Poll, as announced Thursday afternoon. In addition, the Sycamores were picked to finish second on the women's side.
 
The Sycamore men earned six of the 10 first-place votes and finished with 93 points. ISU's women received 127 points in the poll, which was voted on by the head coaches in the conference.
 
The defending MVC Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Champions, Indiana State returns a plethora of talent from last season's title-winning team. Three-time 60m champion JaVaughn Moore is back and leads the conference in the 60m (6.62) and 200m (21.08), with his 60m time currently among the top 20 nationally.
 
Including Moore, Indiana State has four of the top five in the 60m. Kevin Krutsch owns a top-30 national mark in the high jump at 2.15m (7-00.50), while Shomari Rogers-Walton leads the conference in both the long jump (7.65m/25-01.25) and the triple jump (15.56m/51-00.75). The Sycamores also have the top pole vaulter in the conference in William Staggs (5.23m/17-01.75).
 
Indiana State returns all of its event winners from last season's MVC Championship in Moore (60m), Rogers-Walton (triple jump), Staggs (pole vault), Mitch Conard (long jump) and Lawrence Mitchell (high jump).
 
After winning the MVC Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship in 2022, Indiana State looks to defend its title with another strong showing. Ryann Porter leads the way for the Sycamores with top-three marks in the triple jump (1st, 12.59m/41-03.75) and 60m hurdles (8.66), while the Trees also have two of the top three pole vaulters in Brooklyn Giertz (second, 3.97m/13-00.25) and Selene Weaver (3.96m/12-11.75).
 
Zoe Sullivan enters as the top-ranked Sycamore in a track event, with her 60m hurdles time of 8.42 sitting second in the MVC. Brittney Walker owns top-three marks in both the long jump (5.86m/19-02.75) and triple jump (12.06m/39-06.75), while Kelsey Bowlds and Eva Grace Quinlan have both cleared 1.73m (5-08.00) in the high jump.
 
The 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships will take place Sunday and Monday at Gately Park in Chicago. Valparaiso and UIC will co-host the championships.
 
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