Men Picked First, Women Second for SBC Championships

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's men were picked first and the women second in a poll of the league coaches heading into this weekend's Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at Murphy Center. The Blue Raider men have won five of the seven league indoor titles since Middle Tennessee joined the Sun Belt. The Blue Raiders have won all three previous indoor championships held at Murphy Center, in 2002, 2004 and 2006. Middle Tennessee received four of seven first-place votes cast by the coaches, just ahead of Western Kentucky, who was second in the polling. Arkansas State, who tied with South Alabama for last year's indoor title, was third, followed by North Texas and South Alabama. UALR, Florida International, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette were selected sixth through ninth, respectively. Junior Samuel Adade owns the Sun Belt's best mark this season in the 200-meters in 21.44, while freshman Festus Chemaoi is first in the mile run in 4:13.59. Senior Carlos Morgan has the top mark in the league in the long jump (24-9.25) and brother Carl Morgan tops the triple jump list with a mark of 49-1.75. The Blue Raider men are second or third in three other events as well heading into the conference championships. "The men's side is really wide-open with no team that can probably run away with the title," head coach Dean Hayes said. "We have a chance to be right in there with Western Kentucky and Arkansas State. We have a lot of newcomers who will be participating in their first conference championships, so this will be a test for our team." On the women's side, two-time defending champion Western Kentucky received six of the seven first-place votes cast, while the Blue Raider women were picked second, picking up one first-place vote and six second-place votes. North Texas was third, followed by Florida International, then Troy and Florida Atlantic tied for fifth. Arkansas State was picked seventh, while South Alabama and Louisiana-Monroe tied for eighth. UALR and Louisiana-Lafayette were selected 10th and 11th, respectively. Sophomore Zamzam Sangau owns the league's top mark in the mile run in 4:48.27, one of her three school-records this season, while sophomore Sarah Nambawa is first in the SBC in the triple jump with a mark of 43-1.75. Sophomore Brittany Cox ranks first in the weight throw, as well, with a mark of 59-0. The Blue Raider women are second or third in five other events heading into Saturday. "Western Kentucky is really the favorite on the women's side, but our team has a chance to be right there if everyone does their part," Hayes said. "We have to be strong in the field events and the distance events and get some points in other places." Full results from this weekend's meet, which starts Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and ends Sunday at 6 p.m., may be found at http://www.deltatiming.com/events/2008/sunbeltin/. 2008 Sun Belt Predicted Order of Finish
Women
1. Western Kentucky
2. Middle Tennessee
3. North Texas
4. Florida International
t5. Troy
t5. Florida Atlantic
7. Arkansas State
t8. South Alabama
t8. Louisiana-Monroe
10. UALR
11. Louisiana-Lafayette
Men
1. Middle Tennessee
2. Western Kentucky
3. Arkansas State
4. North Texas
5. South Alabama
6. UALR
7. Florida International
8. Louisiana-Monroe
9. Louisiana-Lafayette

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