2024 NSIC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll

3/14/2024 1:00:00 PM

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MINNESOTA STATE SELECTED IN NSIC 
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The 11-time defending NSIC Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason men's outdoor track & field coaches' poll. The Mavericks received nine  first place votes and tallied 99 points, ranking them ahead of Augustana, which was second with 88  points and a first place vote. Northern State was third with 75 points, while  MSU Moorhead was fourth with 73 points and the other first place vote. 

Minnesota State's Jabez Reeves was voted by the coaches as preseason outdoor track athlete of the year while teammate Jame Gilbert was named the preseason field athlete of the year.  

The 2024 NSIC outdoor track & field season gets underway this weekend with the regular season culminating on Thursday-Saturday, May 9-11 at the NSIC Championships held on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. 

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Jabez Reeves (Sprints, Sr., Woodbridge, Va. / Garfield HS) - Minnesota State
  • NCAA Indoor National Champion in 200m dash (21.09) for the Mavericks this season
  • Placed ninth in 60m dash at NCAA Indoor National Championships (6.80)
  • NSIC Champion in 60m dash at NSIC Indoor Championships (6.74)
  • NSIC Champion in 200m dash at NSIC Indoor Championships (21.74)
  • Placed second in 100m and 4x100meter relay finals at the 2023 Mountain East Track & Field Championships (outdoor) in 2023
Jabez lit up the indoor season to far and is having a career year. He looks to ride the momentum in to the outdoor season as he will be a staple in our sprints group and sprint relays.
Head Coach Mike Turgeon
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James Gilbert (Jumps, Sr., Orlando, Fla. / Edgewater HS) - Minnesota State
  • NCAA Division II All-America (outdoor long jump)
  • 2x NSIC Field Athlete of the Week (outdoor)
  • Appeared in eight meets for the Mavericks in long jump and 100m dash
  • Season best long jump at Maverick Open #1 at 25-10.25 (7.88m)
  • Long jump NSIC Champion at NSIC Outdoor Championships 
  • Fifth in long jump at NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships
  • Third in long jump at NCAA Indoor Championships (7.81m) this season
  • First team NCAA Division II All-America (indoor long jump)
  • NSIC Champion in long jump at NSIC Indoor Championships (7.81m)
As James inches closer to being one of the best long jumpers of all-time in Division II history, he looks to build off his NSIC indoor championship in the Long Jump.
Head Coach Mike Turgeon

NSIC TEAM ATHLETES TO WATCH & COACHES' QUOTES

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY (2nd)

Our men's team is coming off a great second place finish in the indoor season and we return a great nucleus of athletes from that team. Our depth continues to get better and we are excited to blend together as a team later in the year.
Head Coach Tracy Hellman
Ryan has consistently improved throughout his career at Augustana. His competitiveness and confidence is what separates him from others. He has a desire to be the best and is one of our hardest workers and he is a great example of type of athlete we strive to have in the program.
Head Coach Tracy Hellman
Johnny is a great team player and has shown to compete the best when the championship season starts. We are excited to have him back again this spring.
Head Coach Tracy Hellman

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL (7th)

As a team, we found some modest success during the indoor season. However, I do believe this group is built more for the outdoor season given the change in event selection and how our gifts match up, so it is exciting to think about the possibilities heading into spring.
Head Coach Sam Johnson
Thomas had a breakout year indoors, setting a school record and provisionally qualifying for the national championships in the 200m. It was fun to see him start putting it all together and have a healthy and personally gratifying season. Thomas will continue to play a major role in the dynamics of the sprint group during the outdoor season as we add in what we hope is an extremely competitive 4x100m relay.
Head Coach Sam Johnson
Dan is eager to move to the outdoor implements after showing improvement throughout the indoor season with his non-preferred events. As a freshman last year, Dan was the best true freshman discus thrower in Division II and narrowly missed qualifying for the outdoor national meet. We do believe that Dan has shown enough development through his second year thus far that a national meet birth in discus isn't out of the question.
Head Coach Sam Johnson

UNIVERSITY OF MARY (6th)

Outdoor is a strength for us in the 4x100 relay, 400m hurdles, and javelin. We look to improve on what we did indoors and cover more event areas outdoors. We have to have a real chip on our shoulders to do better than what we did indoors.
Head Coach Cale Korbelik
After a stellar indoor season, Diego is an athlete to watch coming outdoors for the 2024 season running his main event of the 110m hurdles. Diego is looking to work at building off indoor personal bests to take on outdoors to accomplish the same and do something special for his country this summer.
Head Coach Cale Korbelik
Leading the charge for our field event athletes this indoor Hayden looks to build off his lifetime bests in outdoor. He has a chance to rewrite the record books in the long jump and qualify for nationals.
Head Coach Cale Korbelik

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH (5th)

Our men's team scored the most points in has since 2009 during the indoor season. We anticipate an even stronger outdoor showing with opportunities for all conference performances across event groups.
Head Coach Karly Brautigam
Nick had one of the best indoor conference meets of any bulldog individual in the last few years. Nick has found his pace in the middle distances and we anticipate him being a multiple event point contributor during his final season with the Bulldogs.
Head Coach Karly Brautigam
Eli is coming of a standout indoor season, producing provisional marks in both throwing events. Adding more throwing events outdoors bodes well for Eli and Bulldog team points. Eli's commitment to growing each year has set him out for a great final season with the Bulldogs.
Head Coach Karly Brautigam

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO (1st)

The Maverick men have put together an already historic season during indoor. I feel we get stronger outdoors and will look to build on the momentum from indoor.
Head Coach Mike Turgeon
Jabez lit up the indoor season to far and is having a career year. He looks to ride the momentum in to the outdoor season as he will be a staple in our sprints group and sprint relays.
Head Coach Mike Turgeon
As James inches closer to being one of the best long jumpers of all-time in D2 history, he looks to build off his NSIC indoor championship in the Long Jump.
Head Coach Mike Turgeon

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD (4th)

Our men's team continues to be well rounded and returns a number of key contributors. As always we'll look to be at our best during the championship portion of the season.
Head Coach Ryan Milner
Ibrahim had a breakthrough indoor campaign. He earned his first NSIC Championship at 400m and qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships. I'm excited to see him continue to improve into the outdoor season.
Head Coach Ryan Milner
I'm excited to see Tyler continue to improve on the NCAA qualifying height of 2.05m he jumped during the indoor season.
Head Coach Ryan Milner

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY (10th)

I'm excited to see the progress they make from indoor to outdoor. These guys are so invested in each other's successes, and its infectious. I believe that will lead to many great performances this spring.
Head Coach Steven Schultz
Ramon came a long way over the indoor season in the short hurdles and the 400m. Now that he can run his primary event, the 400hurdles, we are excited to see what he can do.
Head Coach Steven Schultz
Sam has really worked hard to improve on the finer details and mental aspects of his events this past year. He has also come into his own as a leader and captain of this team. His dedication and self-discipline are huge reasons why he finished the indoor season so strong, and could have an excellent season outdoors in 2024.
Head Coach Steven Schultz

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (3rd)

The men are coming off a tremendous indoor season where our team placed third overall at the NSIC Championships. This is the highest our team has placed since the NSIC expansion. We have veteran group along with some very talented freshmen. We will add lots of depth in the javelin throw. We are excited to see what our team can do for this outdoor season.
Head Coach Lynne Dingman
Josh is coming off a great indoor season where he was runner-up in both the mile, 1,000 and a member of the 3rd place DMR squad which hit a provo this indoor season. We expect him to continue that trend this outdoor season.
Head Coach Lynne Dingman
Sam is coming off a great indoor season where he was Conference Champ in the Pole Vault. He also broke the NSU school record in the Pole Vault with a 5.06 mark and is currently ranked top 15 in the nation in the Pole Vault. We expect him to soar to new heights this outdoor season.
Head Coach Lynne Dingman

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS (9th)

USF has a good number of point scorers returning from last year and we look to improve in the team rankings. We have a well-rounded squad and depth in many event areas. Our athletes have been working hard through the fall and indoor season and we will look to continue momentum into outdoor.
Head Coach Eric Chilson
Caleb Rivera has shown drastic growth over the last two years. He's developed into the versatile distance runner and is coming off an incredible XC and Indoor season. He has the ability and range to place in multiple events at the conference level.
Head Coach Eric Chilson
Tyler is the defending indoor and outdoor conference champion in the shot put. He was also the 22-23 NSIC Men's Outdoor High Point Scorer. Tyler is diligent with his training and will continue to grow as an athlete following a successful indoor season.
Head Coach Eric Chilson

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY (11th)

We continue to evolve into a more complete team. With some solid weather this spring, the evolution will continue.
Head Coach Kirk Nauman
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Max came on strong last year in the 400 M Hurdles and in culminated in a runner-up finish at the NSIC Championships. Max is shooting for more this outdoor season.
Head Coach Kirk Nauman
Peda comes off an outstanding freshman indoor campaign where he was the only male freshman triple jumper to place at the NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships. He added distance to his career best jumps as the year has progressed. Peda is excited to see what outdoor brings.
Head Coach Kirk Nauman

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE (8th)

We have a good mix of quality upperclassmen and some younger guys that have a lot of potential. It should be an exciting spring season for our team. We are hoping to show that we can place even better than we did during the indoor season.
Head Coach Marlon Brink
Keaton had a great freshman year and has been following that up with an even better sophomore indoor season. He broke the school record in the 60 meter hurdles this season and is racing with lots of confidence and determination to get even better in the outdoor season. I am very excited to see what he can do this spring.
Head Coach Marlon Brink
Dylan has been a consistent high-level performer for us throughout his career. In his senior season, he is looking to leave a lasting mark on his career at WSC. He has re-written the record book in the high jump here at WSC and will be looking to go out with his best season yet!
Head Coach Marlon Brink
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