Trojans' women's indoor track tabbed to share 2nd place, according to preseason poll

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 15, 2014 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

HIGH POINT -- Conference Carolinas women's indoor track and field coaches predicted the University of Mount Olive and Limestone (S.C.) will share second place in the preseason poll released Tuesday.

One coach picked the Trojans to win it all.

Just seven points separated the top three teams -- preseason favorite and defending champion King (Tenn.) University, UMO and Limestone. The three schools gobbled up all eight first-place votes.

"It's looking to be a close battle this year," Trojans head coach Matt van Lierop said. "We have strong returners, especially with Aerostata Brown coming off of her stellar 2013 campaign."

A junior from Rocky Mount, Brown earned the Conference Carolinas women's indoor track athlete-of-the-year award last winter. She seized conference championships in three events -- 60-meter dash, long jump and long jump.

Brown garnered first-team all-conference accolades.

Also back are all-conference selections Megan Bucek and Christina Jordan. The duo helped UMO place third in the distance medley relay during last year's indoor championship meet.

"The addition of Richard Briggs as the new sprints/jumps coach has invigorated the sprints/jumps squad with the coaching and enthusiasm they've always needed," van Lierop said. "Our solid recruiting class will definitely surprise the competition, but all will be revealed when step on the track January 25th at UNC."

Belmont Abbey is ranked fourth in the preseason. Barton, North Greenville, Lees-McRae and Converse round out the eight-team poll.