For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

Minnesota State Men and Minnesota Duluth Women Picked in NSIC OUTdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Burnsville, Minn. - Minnesota State men and Minnesota Duluth women’s teams were the top choices in the 2014 NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll. On the men’s side the Mavericks garnered all 11 first place votes and 121 points.  Augustana was second with 111 points and the other first place votes (coaches cannot vote for own team). Sioux Falls was third (99) followed by Minnesota Duluth (85) and St. Cloud State tied for fourth.

On the women’s side, Minnesota Duluth was the coaches’ choice with 166 points and 10 first place votes. The University of Mary was second with 158 points and the other four first place votes.  Augustana was third (139) followed by Minnesota State (126) and Winona State (123) to round out the top five.

	Women's Poll				Men's Poll
1	Minnesota Duluth (10)	166		1	Minnesota State (11)	121
2	University of Mary (4)	158		2	Augustana (1)	111
3	Augustana	139		3	Sioux Falls	99
4	Minnesota State	126		4	Minnesota Duluth	85
5	Winona State	123			St. Cloud State	85
6	Sioux Falls	115		6	University of Mary	71
7	Wayne State	94		7	MSU Moorhead	62
8	MSU Moorhead	87		8	Wayne State College	46
9	St. Cloud State	79		9	Northern State	32
10	Minot State	54		10	Minot State	29
11	Northern State	51		11	Concordia-St. Paul	27
12	Concordia-St. Paul	38		12	SMSU	24
13	SMSU	27			first place votes in ( )
14	Bemidji State	17

NSIC Men’s Preseason Field Athlete of the Year
Christopher Reed (Sr., Throws, Omaha, Neb. / Central HS)
Minnesota State University, Mankato

Reed is a four-time All-American during the outdoor season for the Mavericks. He is the defending national champion in the shot put as he won last year’s meet with a throw of 65’ 7”. He also placed seventh in the hammer throw as well as in the discus throw at last year’s NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  Reed was named USTFCCCA Central Region Field Athlete of the Year in 2013 and in 2012 he garnered USTFCCCA All-Region honors in the shot put, discus throw, and hammer throw. This past indoor season he was named USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week three times and broke the Division II indoor shot put record with a mark of 65’ 10 ¼”. He was named 2014 NSIC Field Athlete of the Year and garnered All-American honors in the shot put and the weight throw finishing second and fourth respectively at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.


NSIC Men’s Preseason Track Athlete of the Year
Jerrell Hancock  (Sr., Sprints,  St. Louis, Mo. / Anoka HS)
Minnesota State University, Mankato

Hancock, the reigning NSIC Track Athlete of the Year, has garnered three All-American honors during the outdoor season for the Purple and Gold. Last season he earned his second All-American honor in the 200-meter dash finishing sixth and was part of the All-American 4x100-meter relay team that placed eighth at the national meet. He was also named 2013 USTFCCCA Central Region Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year for his efforts last season. Most recently Hancock earned three All-American accolades at the 2014 NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field Championships. He finished second in the 200-meter dash, fourth in the 60-meter dash, and was part of the 4x400-meter relay team that finished eighth.


NSIC Women’s Preseason Field Athlete of the Year
Carly Fehringer (Sr., Throws,  Wayne, Neb. / Wayne HS)
Wayne State College

Fehringer is a returning All-American in the hammer throw after placing second last year at outdoor nationals with a throw of 197’ 2”.  She was also a national qualifier in the shot put last year and made finals, placing ninth at 45’ 11 3/4”.  Fehringer was named the 2013 USTFCCCA Central Region Women’s Field Athlete of the Year last year after setting a new NSIC meet record winning the hammer throw with a mark of 203’ 6”.  Fehringer is a three-time outdoor shot put national qualifier and a two-time hammer throw national qualifier for the Wildcats.  


NSIC Women’s Preseason Track Athlete of the Year
Samantha Rivard (Fr.., Mid-Distance, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS)
 University of Minnesota Duluth

Samantha Rivard was voted by the league coaches as the 2014 NSIC Outdoor Preseason Track Athlete of the Year. Rivard made a splash during the indoor track & field season as she was the NSIC Championship high point performer, helping the Bulldogs to their first team championship since 2004.  She capped her season off by becoming the National Champion in the women’s mile and earning All-American honors in the 3000m run.  Rivard helped the Bulldogs place 10th at the national championships, their highest placing ever in the final team standings.

2014 NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Athletes to Watch