Women's Outdoor Track and Field Selected as Preseason Favorites; Men Picked Fifth
March 27, 2008 | Men's Track & Field
March 27, 2008
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Boston University women's outdoor track and field team was selected as the preseason favorite by the conference's head coaches and the men's side was picked fifth, as was announced Wednesday. The women's team is bolstered by seniors Tahari James, Marisa Ryan and Andrea Walkonen, while the men boast athletes like America East 1500m champion senior David Proctor and this year's America East indoor shot put gold medalist sophomore Jan Bicanic.
In the preseason poll, which does not allow coaches to vote for their own team, the women's program received six first-place votes, earning 62 points. The next closest team was New Hampshire with 59 points, including the other three first place votes, followed by Albany (50 points), UMBC (40) and Stony Brook (33). Binghamton came in sixth with 31 points, with Maine (22), Vermont (19) and Hartford (8) rounding out the poll.
On the men's side, Albany was named the favorite, receiving seven first-place votes and 63 points. New Hampshire was ranked second (55 points), followed by Binghamton (53) and UMBC (43). The Terriers collected 36 points to lead Stony Brook (29), Maine (20), Vermont (17) and Hartford (8).
The women's team is coming off an indoor season in which they won the America East Championship, while the men finished fifth in the competition. James and Ryan also participated at NCAA's, earning All-America status in the 3000m and triple jump respectively.
The Terriers have already begun their outdoor season, sending representatives to the Husky Invitational last Saturday (March 22). This weekend, the team will face competition at the Tufts Invitational in Medford, Mass., on Saturday (March 29).
