Nov. 29, 2006

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Defending champion Army was selected to repeat as Patriot League Champion by Patriot League head coaches and sports information directors in the Men's Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll.

Army took 13 first-place votes and had a total of 97 points. The 2006 Patriot League Track Athlete of the Meet Brandon Lewis (Leesburg, Fla.) returns with 2006 Patriot League Rookie of the Meet Kenny Saffold (Chicago). Head Coach Jerry Quiller, the 2006 Patriot League Coach of the Year, has led the Black Knights to nine of their 11 Patriot League titles. Eight of the 11 All-Patriot League Black Knights are set to compete this season.

The 2006 Patriot League Champion, Navy came in second with three first-place votes and 86 total points. Last season, Navy finished second to Army in the Patriot League Championship Meet. The Midshipmen return the 2006 Patriot League Track Athlete of the Meet Paul Harris (Woodbury, Minn.), who set a Patriot League Championship Meet record last season, running the 500-meter in a time of 1:04.15. Head Coach Steve Cooksey will get all 11 of his 2006 All-Patriot League team members back this season.

Lehigh tallied 63 points. Returning to the fieldhouse is Second-Team All-Patriot League selection Brian Ahearn (East Hampton, N.Y.). Senior Ahearn will be in the minority as over half of the Mountain Hawk squad is underclassmen.

American received 60 votes. The Eagles return five All-Patriot League selections including First-Team members Alex Caudana (Irvine, Calif.), Dustin Emrani (Great Neck, N.Y.), Steve Hallinan (Drexel Hill, Pa.) and Brian McCabe (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and Second-Team selection Rob Hofmann (Wantagh, N.Y.). At the 2006 Patriot League Championship Meet, Hallinan set a record in the 3,000-meter course in a time of 8:21.24.

Lafayette (53), Bucknell (49), Colgate (25) and Holy Cross (15) finished the poll.

All teams at the end of the season will compete in the Patriot League Championship Meet on February 16-18 at the U.S. Military Academy. The 2006-07 season opens Dec. 1 with American competing at the Navy Invitational.