Dec. 4, 2008

Patriot League 2008-09 Indoor Track and Field Webguide

Center Valley, Pa. - The 2008-09 Patriot League Indoor Track and Field season is officially underway, and 2008 Patriot League men's champions Navy and women's champions Bucknell have been selected to defend their titles. Army is also tied for first in the men's poll. The men's and women's polls are voted on by the head coaches and sports information directors in each sport.

The Bison wrapped up the top spot in the Women's Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll, as Bucknell earned 92 overall points and nine first-place votes. Head Coach Kevin Donner is returning 46 letterwinners from 2007-08, including multiple All-League honorees Megan Hathaway and Jennifer Pierce.

2008 Patriot League Head Coach of the Year Julio Piazza and the Lafayette Leopards received six first-place votes and 80 overall points in the poll, good for the second position. Piazza lost only 11 letterwinners from last season, and returns 21, including 2008 Patriot League Championship Rookie of the Meet Janica Austin.

Army received the remaining first-place vote and tallied 76 overall points to earn the third spot in the poll. Head Coach Troy Engle has a good core of veterans returning for the Black Knights, including 2008 First-Team All-League selections Carissa Hauck, Lesa Boyd, Angela Jenkins and Ebony Thomas.

Navy earned 71 overall points and is predicted to finish fourth in the preseason poll. Head Coach Carla Christe will have 2008 Patriot League Women's Cross Country Champion and NCAA Championship competitor Amy Watson to help the Mids improve upon their third-place finish at last year's Patriot League Championship. Lehigh (48 points), Holy Cross (35), Colgate (28) and American (18) round out this year's poll.

The Midshipmen were selected to repeat as Patriot League champions in the Men's Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll, garnering nine first-place votes and 91 overall points. 2008 Patriot League Men's Coach of the Year Steve Cooksey welcomes back 21 letterwinners from last season, including All-League selections Chris Bordino and Shun White.

Army also received 91 total points and seven first-place votes. Troy Engle replaces recently-retired Jerry Quiller as the head coach of the Army program. Engle can expect 2008 Patriot League Rookie of the Meet Alfred McDaniel and distance runner and 2008 Patriot League Cross Country Individual Champion Jonathan Anderson to provide veteran leadership this season.

Bucknell was selected to finish in the third position with 76 overall points. The Bison return several All-League honorees from a season ago, including Nicholas Hruch, Kerry Boyle, Drew Fitzgerald and Tim Medlock.

Lehigh rounds out the top half of the poll with 55 overall points in the fourth spot. Scott Robinson, a 2008 First-Team All-League selection, will lead the Mountain Hawks as they seek to improve upon their seventh-place finish in last year's Patriot League Championship. Lafayette (49 points), American (39), Colgate (31) and Holy Cross (16) complete the poll.

Men's Preseason Poll

T-1. Navy 91 pts. (9)

T-1. Army 91 (7)

3. Bucknell 76

4. Lehigh 55

5. Lafayette 49

6. American 39

7. Colgate 31

8. Holy Cross 16

Women's Preseason Poll

1. Bucknell 92 pts. (9)

2. Lafayette 80 (6)

3. Army 76 (1)

4. Navy 71

5. Lehigh 48

6. Holy Cross 35

7. Colgate 28

8. American 18