MONMOUTH, IL (12/06/2019) If the Midwest Conference coaches are correct, the Monmouth College track teams could win the men’s and women’s league titles in the same season for the first time since 2014. The preseason coaches’ poll gave the Fighting Scots men a healthy edge, but it was a tight race on the women’s side.
The Scots men – winners of 24 of the last 25 indoor championships and 20 straight – picked up seven first-place votes in the MWC preseason coaches’ poll. Monmouth’s 71 points easily outdistanced No. 2 St. Norbert (53), which overtook Illinois College (45), last year’s runner-up in the poll. It’s a logjam for No. 4-6 where Grinnell picked up a first-place vote to garner 41 points, ahead of Cornell (38) and Ripon (37). Beloit sits alone at No. 7 with 25 points, followed by Knox (19), Lawrence (16) and Lake Forest (12).
Monmouth’s women – the runner-up the last five seasons – are predicted to overtake five-time defending champion St. Norbert in a close vote. Just two points separate the Scots (64 points, two first-place votes) and the Green Knights (62 points, six first-place votes). Grinnell came in a solid third in the voting with 47 points, but just four points separate Beloit (40), Ripon (37) and Illinois College (36). Cornell ranks seventh with 32 points. Lake Forest (15), Lawrence (14) and Knox (13) round out the field.
The Scots will open their season at home on Jan. 18 with the Midwest Invitational.
