ROCK HILL, S.C. - In a vote by the league's coaches, the Anderson women's track and field team has been tabbed to finish fourth in the South Atlantic Conference, as released by the league office Tuesday afternoon.
Queens has been predicted to repeat as the South Atlantic Conference Women's Outdoor Track & Field Champion after the Royals picked up six top votes and received 55 points from the panel. QUC won the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship by 69 points as it posted 240 team points at the Championship.
Wingate came in second in the poll with two first-place votes and 51 points. The Bulldogs turned in 171 points at last year's championship to finish as Runners-Up. Lenoir-Rhyne rounds out the top three in this season's poll as it collected 40 points from the coaches. The Bears placed third a season ago with 85 team points.
Anderson came in at No. 4 in the voting with 39 points, while Carson-Newman placed fifth with 33 points. Mars Hill's 27 points was good for No. 6 in the poll, while Coker earned the No. 7 position with 23 points. Lincoln Memorial came in at No. 8 with 15 points and Brevard finished up the poll at No. 9 with 5 points.
Anderson's Sherin Malone, Olivia Gardner and D'Yandra Morris were named to the SAC Preseason Watch List, as Malone is a two-time conference champion in the 100 meter hurdles. Gardner took second place in last year's 5,000 run and third in the steeplechase, while Morris is a two-time SAC titleholder in the shot put.
Anderson opened its outdoor season last weekend and will get
back in action Saturday at the Wingate Invitational.
2016 Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes) -
Points
1. Queens (6) - 55
2. Wingate (2) - 51
3. Lenoir-Rhyne - 40
4. Anderson - 39
5. Carson-Newman - 33
6. Mars Hill - 27
7. Coker - 23
8. Lincoln Memorial 15
9. Brevard - 5
