WAC Announces Indoor Track & Field Pre-Championship Coaches Poll
DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference announced its women's and men's indoor track and field Pre-Championship Coaches Polls, as voted by the 12 women's head coaches and 10 men's head coaches in the league. Stephen F. Austin was selected as the favorite in the women's side while Grand Canyon took the top spot on the men's side.
Stephen F. Austin came out as favorites on the women's side after landing seven first-place votes and gathering 114 points. Grand Canyon was picked to finish second with three first-place votes and 106 points. Abilene Christian got one first-place vote in third with 103 points. Sam Houston is picked fourth with the final first-place vote and 95 points. Utah Valley is fifth with 77 points, followed closely by NM State in sixth just two points behind. Lamar was picked to finish seventh and Tarleton to finish eighth respectively tallying 59 and 50 points. UT Rio Grande Valley tallied 47 points in ninth while Seattle U is 10th with 25 points. Chicago State and Dixie state round out the field, respectively.
With five consecutive championships, Grand Canyon was picked as favorites to win their sixth on the men's side. The Lopes garnered six first-place votes and a total of 76 points. Stephen F. Austin is close in second with two first-place votes and 72 points. Sam Houston and Utah Valley shared the third spot as they both receive one first-place vote and 59 points. Abilene Christian is one point off a three-way tie in third with 58 points. Lamar was favored to finish sixth with 39 points followed by Tarleton with 27 points. Seattle U tallied 26 points in eighth with UT Rio Grande Valley following closely with 24 points. Chicago State gathered the remaining 10 points.
The 2022 Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships will take place at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M. this Friday and Saturday, February 18 and 19.
2022 Pre-Championship Women's Indoor Track & Field Coaches Poll
Rank Team (1st-Place Votes) Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (7) 114
2. Grand Canyon (3) 106
3. Abilene Christian (1) 103
4. Sam Houston (1) 95
5. Utah Valley 77
6. NM State 75
7. Lamar 59
8. Tarleton 50
9. UT Rio Grande Valley 47
10. Seattle U 25
11. Chicago State 24
12. Dixie State 17
2022 Pre-Championship Men's Indoor Track & Field Coaches Poll
Rank Team (1st-Place Votes) Points
1. Grand Canyon (6) 76
2. Stephen F. Austin (2) 72
T3. Sam Houston (1) 59
T3. Utah Valley (1) 59
5. Abilene Christian 58
6. Lamar 39
7. Tarleton 27
8. Seattle U 26
9. UT Rio Grande Valley 24
10. Chicago State 10