NORMAL, Ill. – The Redbird track & field squads are set to compete for another MVC title this weekend in Chicago. The Redbird women look to secure their sixth MVC indoor title in seven years. The Redbird men look to secure their first MVC title since the 2018-19 season. Competition starts on Sunday starting with the pentathlon at 9:00 a.m., the heptathlon at 9:15 a.m., and the rest to follow.
The Missouri Valley Conference released its pre-championship poll ahead of this weekend's MVC Indoor Track & Field Championship meet where the Redbird men were selected to finish second and the women's team was projected to finish third, as announced by the league on Friday.
In the men's poll, Indiana State was selected to finish first among the league's ten programs with 99 points and nine first place predictions. Illinois State men were close behind with 87 points in second with one first place vote.
Securing 124 points, the Illinois State women received two first place votes. Indiana State (133) and Murray State (138) rounded out the top-three on the women's side.
LEADING THE MVC
Men:
· Brandon Ratliff, 60m Hurdles
· Mathis Chavand, 3,000m
· Lerus, Reed, Marrs, Nwagwu, 4x400 Relay
· Ariel Atias, Heptathlon
Women:
· Madison Saunders, Triple Jump
· Windsor Roberts, Pole Vault
RETURNING All-MVC
· Senior Brandon Ratliff captured an MVC title in the 60m hurdles as he returns to defend his title.
· Senior Amiri Buchanan will also look to defend his MVC title in the men's shot put.
· Sophomore Evan Pickard finished 3rd in the pole vault at last year's indoor championship.
· Senior Ariel Atias finished 2nd in the heptathlon with a total score of 4858.
· Junior Corrina Courser finished 3rd in the women's 60m hurdles.
· Jaden Johnson took 3rd in the men's 60m hurdles.
· Senior Raydoffa Braziel took 2nd in the men's 400m dash, as well as 3rd as a member of the 4x400 relay squad.
· Sophomore Enyinnaya Nwagwu took 2nd in the men's 200m dash, as well as 3rd as a member of the 4x400 relay squad.
· Junior Madison Saunders took 2nd in the women's triple jump.
· Senior Mathis Chavand took 3rd as a member of the men's DMR squad.
· Sophomore Garrett Slack took 3rd as a member of the men's DMR squad.
· Sophomore Maggie Reed took 2nd as a member of the women's DMR squad.
· Senior Claire Fuhlhage took 2nd as a member of the women's DMR squad.
· Sophomore Mattison Plummer took 2nd as a member of the women's DMR squad.
PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP POLL
Women's Poll
1. Murray State – 138 (6)
2. Indiana State – 133 (4)
3. Illinois State – 124 (2)
4. Bradley – 96
5. Southern Illinois – 95
6. Belmont – 93
7. Northern Iowa – 77
8. Drake – 65
9. Missouri State – 50
10. Valparaiso – 28
11. UIC – 27
12. Evansville – 23
Men's Poll
1. Indiana State – 99 (9)
2. Illinois State – 87 (1)
3. Northern Iowa – 82
4. Drake - 65
5. Southern Illinois – 60
6. Belmont – 59
7. Bradley – 45
8. Valparaiso – 27
9. UIC – 19
10. Evansville – 14
The MVC Championships will be held Feb. 25-26 at Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center at Gately Park in Chicago Illinois.
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