Panthers Chosen First in Men's Track and Field
Winners of eight of the nine Track and Field Championships in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history, the Greenville University men's team has been chosen by the coaches as the favorites for the 2023 season with 49 total points and seven first-place votes. Greenville has won all three SLIAC indoor championships and five straight outdoor titles. This year's Panthers team is loaded in the sprints with CJ Anderson and Carson Rantanen literally leading the way. Anderson and Rantanen were both NCAA qualifiers in the 60 meters and 100 meters and are part of the Greenville 4x100 relay team. An All-Conference performer in both indoor and outdoor last season Anderson took home three combined individual golds in the two championships and was the SLIAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Kaleb Carlson and Gianni Estrada are distance runners that are coming off a 1-2 finish in cross country this fall. Dylan Webster is the team's top all-around athlete and has a combined 17 medals during his career while holding conference records for indoor pole vault and heptathlon. Head Coach Brian Patton will have to replace one of the top throwers in conference history, Nate Brown. The program brings in freshmen Drake Rutledge, Kourtland Harris, and Neko Smith.
Principia College was picked 2nd in the league with 42 points and received the final first-place vote. While head coach Nick Barron loses three All-Conference performers in EG Pierce, Mitchell Gill, and Josh Aleman he does bring back one of the most decorated runners in conference history; Corey Carter. A senior, Carter is a former national champion and holds the conference record for most medals at the outdoor championship. He will take aim to add to that count while competing in all sprint events during the outdoor season. Jimmy Woodrow will compete in the middle-distance races and holds the program's top 3000-meter time in 2022. Juniour Baraza and Dillon Hussey will be important members of the Panthers relay teams while Tobin Blair is back to defend his title in the javelin. Top newcomers include Rex Heath, the SLIAC Cross Country Newcomer of the Year, as well as Harry Ouma and Goodluck Ajeh.
Webster University was picked 3rd with 38 total points. No team information was provided.
Fontbonne University totaled 29 points to come in 4th on the poll. The Griffins are coached by Phillip Halley and are an experienced group with seniors KeYonn Hall-Baker, Ian Cordell, and Andre Webb. Hall-Baker holds the program record in the high jump and finished 2nd at both the indoor and outdoor championships last season. Cordell meanwhile holds the school record in the javelin. Webb will compete in the sprints and jumps and is part of the program record 4x100 team. New faces to the team that will make an impact are Gabriel Hoekel, Tyree Simms, and Mark Fisher.
Westminster College finished with 23 points and no team information was provided.
Placing 6th was Spalding University with 19 points. No team information was provided.
A first-year program, Blackburn College received 13 total points and will be coached by Al Sturgeon. The Beavers will build their program beginning with middle-distance runners. Quentin Smith, a leader on the cross country team, will be the team's top distance runner. Junior Hayden Fox will compete in the 800 meters while freshmen Tate Kunzeman (400 meters) and Niyidukunda Placide (Mile) are part of the program's future. They will look to add several more multiple sport athletes during the outdoor season including Locke Hord, Izzy Talmadge, and Troy Cole Jr.
Eureka College wraps up the poll with 11 points. No team information was provided.
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