Men’s indoor track and field picked second in the SAC preseason poll
After a third-place finish at the SAC Indoor Championships last season, the Eagles vaulted up another spot
ROCK HILL, S.C. – In the South Atlantic Conference's annual preseason coaches' poll, Carson-Newman men's indoor track and field was picked to finish second, the league office announced on Thursday afternoon.
The ranking was announced while the Eagles had already begun their season at the Liberty Kickoff in Lynchburg, Virginia. However, head coach Kieran Showler-Davis is feeling eager for the season ahead.
"I'm feeling excited and optimistic," Showler-Davis said in anticipation of the start of the new year. "It's still very early, but it's always exciting seeing where returners are in their training and getting a first chance to see new athletes have a run out."
Standout freshman from a year ago, C-N 60m school record holder and reigning 60m National Champion, Andre Morrison, is back for another year. Alongside Favour Epkepke and Rylan Jordan, the trio of sophomores leads the way on the track.
Carlos Kouassi and Verrol Sam add more experience to a team that is eyeing a return to the national stage in multiple events.
Last year's champions, Wingate, claimed the top spot with 10 first-place votes and 131 points, entering as the frontrunner to repeat for the conference crown in the upcoming season.
Lenoir-Rhyne secured one first-place vote and totaled 109 points to sit behind Wingate and C-N in third. Catawba also received one first-place vote, taking fourth and holding a one-point edge over Anderson, which rounded out the top five with 103 points.
Tusculum was sixth with 72 points, followed tightly by Mars Hill at No. 7 with 71 points. Emory & Henry earned eighth with 65 points, while Lincoln Memorial came in ninth with 54.
Newberry, 43 points, UVA Wise, 35, and Coker, 27, completed the 12-team poll.
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | Wingate (10) | 131 |
| 2 | Carson-Newman | 110 |
| 3 | Lenoir-Rhyne (1) | 109 |
| 4 | Catawba (1) | 104 |
| 5 | Anderson | 103 |
| 6 | Tusculum | 72 |
| 7 | Mars Hill | 71 |
| 8 | Emory & Henry | 65 |
| 9 | Lincoln Memorial | 54 |
| 10 | Newberry | 43 |
| 11 | UVA Wise | 35 |
| 12 | Coker | 27 |
