TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology men's track and field team has been unanimously selected as the preseason favorite to win its sixth consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field championship, in balloting by league coaches released today.
The Fightin' Engineers won their fifth straight HCAC men's track and field title last April, marking the first time that any sports team has won five consecutive championships at Rose-Hulman since track and field accomplished the feat from 1985-89.
The women's squad was picked to finish third in the HCAC this season, after finishing second during the 2013 Indoor season and fourth in the 2012 Outdoor Championships.
Rose-Hulman claimed eight men's first-team all-HCAC awards during the 2013 HCAC Indoor season. Student-athletes earning individual league titles included senior Tyler Hannan (Winchester, Ky./George Rogers Clark) in the 200 and 400; senior Collin Crowson (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) in the pole vault (15' 5"); senior Jeremiah Edwards (Indianapolis/Lawrence North) in the 60-meter dash (6.99 seconds); and sophomore Stuart West (La Porte) in the mile (4:20.31).
Four Rose-Hulman men earned first-team all-conference honors for their efforts on relay teams during the Indoor season. The winning 4-x-200 meter relay team included Hannan, junior Clay Becker (Gaylord, Mich./St. Mary Cathedral), sophomore Jake Kelley (Tecumseh, Mich.) and senior Travis Stallings (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain). The 4-x-400 meter relay included Hannan, Kelley, Stallings and freshman Thomas McGuire (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central).
Rose-Hulman claimed seven women's first-team all-HCAC awards, including four individual conference title winners. League champions included Evans in the long jump and high jump; senior Creasy Clauser (Crawfordsville/Southmont) in the 400-meters, senior Tanya Colonna (Brecksville, Ohio) in the pole vault and junior Ryann-Rebecca Montgomery (Lafayette, La./Episcopal-Acadia) in the mile run.
Clauser, senior Gloria Boxell (Zionsville/Covenant Christian) and junior Erin Cox (West Harrison/Franklin County) were also first-team all-conference for their indoor 4-x-200 meter relay effort.
The outdoor season begins with the Rose-Hulman Early Bird Invitational on March 23.
2013 HCAC Men's Track and Field Preseason Poll:
1) Rose-Hulman 100 (10)
2) Defiance 84
3) Franklin 83
4) Manchester 71
5) Anderson 62
6) Hanover 45
7) Bluffton 38
8) Mount St. Joseph 32
9) Earlham 25
10) Transylvania 10
2013 HCAC Women's Track and Field Preseason Poll:
1) Hanover 99 (9)
2) Franklin 82 (1)
3) Rose-Hulman 76
4) Defiance 68
5) Manchester 67
6) Anderson 58
7) Bluffton 40
8) Earlham 26
9) Mt. St. Joseph 17
9) Transylvania 17