LOUDONVILLE, NY – The Siena Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field teams are on the verge of kicking off the winter season, as they were picked fifth and seventh in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll released by the league Thursday morning.
Claiming the top spot in both the men's and women's polls was Monmouth. On the men's side, they claimed the 2018 MAAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship, after it totaled 260 points over the course of the two-day championship. The Hawks have won four of the five MAAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship since they entered the league in 2013-14. Monmouth's 260 points are the most it has ever totaled at the MAAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship.
The Saints will be led by
Evans Kibet, whose fourth place showing in the 800m was the top finish of any Saint on the day.
Michael Stoker finished 12
th in the mile, while
Jack O'Hara and
Stosh Davis were each contenders in the 3000m and 5000m races.
Monmouth received 63 total points and seven first-place votes. Rider University, earned 55 total points and one first place vote. Manhattan College rounded out the top three with 46 points in the poll. Iona College trailed the Jaspers with 44 points, followed by the Saints in fifth with 30 points. Canisius College was tabbed sixth with 19 points, Marist College followed in seventh with 18 points, and eighth is Saint Peter's with 13.
The Monmouth women compiled 232 points last season en route to their fifth straight MAAC Indoor Track & Field Championship, the most points by a women's team since Manhattan College recorded 278.5 points in 2008. The Hawks' 232-point total are the most that they have tallied in the MAAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship.
Senior
Sarah Forman will anchor the women's side for Siena, as she put up a third place finish in the 3000m in last year's indoor championships.
Monica Strain also had a strong finish in the mile run, putting up a 13
th place finish.
Monmouth received 78 points and seven first-place votes. The Hawks were followed by Rider, who received 70 total points and one first-place vote. Quinnipiac (63 points) was selected third with, while Manhattan (58) placed fourth. Iona received 46 points, which placed them ahead of Marist who received 37 points in sixth. The Saints (25) were picked seventh while Canisius and Saint Peter's rounded out the poll with 18 and 12 points respectively.
The 2019 MAAC Indoor Track & Field Championships returns to the New Balance Armory Track & Field Center in New York, NY for the 16th consecutive year, and will take place on Feb. 16 & 17.
