Eagle men, women picked eighth in Big Sky track and field

OGDEN, UTAH – The Eastern Washington University indoor track team, both men and women, have been picked eighth in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls released Tuesday (Jan. 5) by the league office. The selections were made by the league's head coaches. 

Coached by Stan Kerr, the men's team received 56 votes ranking eighth, while the women, coached by Marcia Mecklenburg, received 45 tallies also ranking eighth.

Northern Arizona men's and women's indoor teams were picked to sweep the Big Sky titles and received the majority of first-place votes in both polls. The Lumberjack men were the unanimous favorites to win the conference this season while the women received eight first-place votes to receive the top spot in the poll.

A year ago, the Eastern men's team finished sixth indoors at the Big Sky Conference Championships while the women finished ninth. The outdoor season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

There are 70 total letter winners returning for the 2021 indoor season, including 36 women and 34 men. Seven athletes have previously earned All-Big Sky Conference honors by finishing in the top three at Big Sky Championship meets. That list includes four males and three females.

Montana State (102) was picked to finish second for the men this season after receiving 102 votes in the poll and Idaho (84) is projected to have a top-three finish this season with 84 votes. Weber State (82), Idaho State (76), Montana (62), Southern Utah (62), Eastern Washington (56), Sacramento State (41), Northern Colorado (25), and Portland State (15) round out the remainder of the men's poll.

NAU is returning distance runner Mikayla Malaspina, who won the 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters at last year's championship. Also returning for the Lumberjacks is sprinter Miracle Onyemaobi who had a strong showing last season by placing in the top four of every event she competed in. 

Two first-place votes went to Sacramento State (100) who was picked second and received 100 points in the poll. Weber State picked up the final first-place vote in the women's coaches' poll and is picked third with 91 points. 

Idaho State (87), Montana State (71), Idaho (69), Southern Utah (66), Eastern Washington (45), Montana (42), Northern Colorado (26), and Portland State (12) round out the remainder of the women's poll.