Feb. 23, 2005

SMS and UNI Picked to Win Indoor Track and Field Championships

In a vote by league coaches, Southwest Missouri State's women's indoor track and field team and the University of Northern Iowa's men's team have picked to win the 2005 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships. This is the second-straight year these two teams have been selected to win while the poll proved true last season as both squads earned championships at the 2004 indoor event.

SMS received all six of eight first-place votes by league coaches, while on the men's side, UNI received all seven first-place votes, for the second-consecutive year, while the Panthers are also the defending champions.

Both SMS women and UNI men earned team honors last season at the 2004 championship.

In the 2005 poll, Southern Illinois came in second on the women's side with 55 total points, including two first-place votes, while Wichita State was picked to finish third.

Slipping to fourth in the poll is Indiana State. Last year, the Sycamores were picked second. Rounding out the poll is Illinois State in fifth with 32 points, UNI in sixth with 28 points, Drake in seventh (18) and Bradley in eighth (8).

Indiana State moved up to second on the men's side of the poll, picked to finish second with 39 points. The Shockers of WSU were picked third on the men's side with 30 points.

Rounding out the men's poll is Southern Illinois and Illinois State tied for fourth place with 27 points and Drake and SMS coming in sixth and seventh, repectively.

The 2005 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship is slated for Feb. 25-26 in Carbondale, Ill.

With a Friday, Feb. 25 start, the Salukis will serve as the host school while the meet will take place at the SIU Student Recreation Facility on campus.

Women's Poll 1. Southwest Missouri State (6), 62 2. Southern Illinois (2), 55 3. Wichita State, 50 4. Indiana State, 35 5. Illinois State, 32 6. UNI, 28 7. Drake, 18 8. Bradley, 8

Men's Poll 1. UNI (7),49 2. Indiana State, 39 3. Wichita State, 30 4. Southern Illinois, 27 Illinois State, 27 6. Drake, 14 7. SMS, 10