Griz fourth, seventh in preseason track polls
3/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Indoor Track, Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
The University of Montana outdoor track and field teams were picked for fourth- (women) and seventh-place (men) finishes recently in the annual preseason Big Sky Conference coaches??? polls. The UM women are coming off a third-place finish at February???s Big Sky indoor championships, while the men placed seventh.
Northern Arizona and Sacramento State topped the men???s and women???s poll, respectively.
The Lumberjacks were narrowly picked to win the men???s championship over the Hornets. NAU earned six first-place votes and 76 total points. Sac State earned two first-place votes and 71 total points.
Weber State finished third with 57 points and picked up the other first-place vote.
Northern Arizona enters the 2010 season searching for its fourth straight men???s outdoor title. The Lumberjacks won the 2009 title with a score of 169, well ahead of runner-up Weber State at 142.
Sacramento State has yet to win a men???s outdoor championship. The Hornets have finishes in the top third in the last three championships, claiming runner-up finishes in 2007 and ???08.
Montana State earned 53 total points for the fourth-place slot, followed by Eastern Washington (48), Idaho State (40) and Montana (30). Northern Colorado received 15 points, while Portland State collected 12 to round out the poll.
On the women???s side, Sacramento State was selected as the favorite with 79 points and seven first-place votes. Northern Arizona tallied 70 points with one first-place vote to finish second, while Weber State finished third with 66 points and the other first-place vote.
Sacramento State won its second straight women???s outdoor title in 2009. There have only been two other instances when a Big Sky women???s team has won three straight outdoor titles: Northern Arizona from 2004-06 and Boise State from 1984-86 (in what was then the Mountain West Conference).
Montana (50), Montana State (46), Eastern Washington (32), Idaho State (31), Portland State (21) and Northern Colorado (10) rounded out the rest of the field.
The 2010 Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held May 12-15 at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah.
2010 Big Sky Conference men???s poll
Team?? ...?? Points
Northern Arizona (6)?? ...?? 76
Sacramento State (2)?? ...?? 71
Weber State (1)?? ...?? 57
Montana State?? ...?? 53
Eastern Washington?? ...?? 48
Idaho State?? ...?? 40
Montana?? ...?? 30
Northern Colorado?? ...?? 15
Portland State?? ...?? 12
2010 Big Sky Conference women???s poll
Team?? ...?? Points
Sacramento State (7)?? ...?? 79
Northern Arizona (1)?? ...?? 70
Weber State (1)?? ...?? 66
Montana?? ...?? 50
Montana State?? ...?? 46
Eastern Washington?? ...?? 32
Idaho State?? ...?? 31
Portland State?? ...?? 21
Northern Colorado?? ...?? 10
