Host Griz picked seventh in preseason polls
3/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
The University of Montana outdoor track and field teams were both picked for seventh-place Big Sky Conference finishes in recent voting by the league???s coaches. Montana will host the 2009 Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wednesday through Saturday, May 13-16.
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The Grizzlies are coming off seventh- (men) and eighth-place (women) showings at the 2009 Big Sky indoor championships. The men were fifth and the women sixth at last spring???s outdoor meet.
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2009 indoor champion Northern Arizona was picked first in both the outdoor polls, with Weber State and Sacramento State filling out spots two and three.
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The Lumberjacks received eight first-place votes in the men???s poll to easily out-point Weber State and Sacramento State. Idaho State, which was picked fifth, received the other first-place vote.
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NAU more than doubled the point total of runner-up ISU at last month???s indoor championships.
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Northern Arizona and Sacramento State both picked up four first-place votes in the women???s poll, though the Lumberjacks had one more point to take the top spot. Weber State, which was picked third, received the other first-place vote.
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Northern Arizona was the men???s team champion at the 2008 outdoor championships. Sacramento State took home the women???s team title.
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Montana???s multi-event athletes will open UM???s outdoor season when they compete at the Big Green in the Desert Multi-Events next Wednesday and Thursday in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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Montana???s full team will compete for the first time when the Grizzlies host the Al Manuel Invitational at Dornblaser Field Friday and Saturday, April 3-4.
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| Men's poll | |
| 1. Northern Arizona (8)???????????? | 78 |
| 2. Weber State | 65 |
| 3. Sacramento State | 59 |
| 4. Eastern Washington | 54 |
| 5. Idaho State (1) | 53 |
| 6. Montana State | 38 |
| 7. Montana | 28 |
| 8. Northern Colorado | 16 |
| 9. Portland State | 14 |
| Women???s poll | |
| 1. Northern Arizona (4) | 75 |
| 2. Sacramento State (4)???????????? | 74 |
| 3. Weber State (1) | 67 |
| 4. Idaho State | 48 |
| 5. Montana State | 40 |
| 6. Eastern Washington | 34 |
| 7. Montana | 33 |
| 8. Portland State | 17 |
| 8. Northern Colorado | 17 |
