Men's Track Picked 8th In Coaches' Poll

The Central Connecticut men's track & field team was selected eighth in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll for the outdoor season, released today. The Blue Devils finished 9th out of 11 teams at last year's NEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, but were fourth this winter at the NEC Indoor Championships.

Monmouth was selected to finish first by the coaches, receiving six first place votes. The Hawks were runners-up in last season's outdoor championships after winning the NEC Meet for four consecutive years. Monmouth was also the runner-up at this year's indoor championships. St. Francis (PA) and Sacred Heart, last year's NEC Champion, received the other five first place votes and were picked second and third in the poll, respectively. St. Francis (PA) won the NEC Indoor meet this winter.

Long Island, Robert Morris, Mount St. Mary's and Fairleigh Dickinson round out the teams slotted ahead of CCSU in the poll, while Quinnipiac, Wagner and St. Francis (NY) represent the nine through 11 spots.

The Blue Devils are led by a group of four upperclassmen on the track and a group of four underclassmen in the field events. Seniors Matthew Whalen and Sean Smith, as well as juniors Ry Sanderson and R.J. Simeone scored points for CCSU at the NEC Indoor Championships this year. Whatlen placed second in the 800 meter run, while Smith took home fifth in the 400. Sanderson won the 5,000 meters and placed third in the 3,000 and Simeone took fourth in the 500 this winter.

Freshmen Matt Berube, Nick Trifone and Tristan Roberts, along with sophomore Eric Rathbun put forth top 10 finishes at the NEC Indoor Championships. Berube recorded a silver medal performance in the high jump and placed 10th in the long. Trifone was third in the high jump, while Roberts took home sixth in the triple jump. Rathbun was ninth in the high jump and 10th in the triple.

CCSU will next be competing at the UConn Invitational on Saturday April 4.