Posted: Feb 14, 2019

Blazers Picked Second In Preseason Poll

MARSHFIELD, Mass.- Newbury College tops the 2019 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Women's Track & Field Preseason Coaches Poll, as the NECC enters its first year of sponsorship of outdoor track & field. Newbury collected 14 total points, including three first place votes. Newbury is headed up by coach Henry Morales, and will look to returners Taymise Sanders (Malden, Mass.) and Desiree Snead (South Easton, Mass.) to be top contributors. Sanders holds the school record in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes, with times of 12.31 and 25.67, respectively. Snead is a record holder herself, holding program-bests in the 110 and 400-meter hurdles, with times of 15.32 and 1:14.73, respectively. In the 2018 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)/NECC Championship meet in 2018, Newbury finished first amongst NECC teams.

Elms College landed the second spot with 11 points, including the remaining first place vote. The Blazers will be under the direction of first-year head coach Tyler Raymond. Elms finished second among NECC teams in the 2018 GNAC/NECC Championship meet, and will welcome back school record holder Tyana Medina (Springfield, Mass.), whose time of 1:22.96 in the 400-meter hurdles is a Blazer record.

Coming in at the third spot is Eastern Nazarene College with eight points. The Lions, who are entering their first year in the NECC, will also be led by a first-year head coach in Scott Polsgrove. The Lions' program is in its third year of varsity competition, and claimed the fifth spot at the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Invitational last season.

Lesley University rounds out the poll in fourth place with seven points. The Lynx are led by head coach Brendan Peltier. Lesley captured the third place spot among NECC teams in the 2018 GNAC/NECC Championship meet.

The NECC will once again compete at the GNAC Championship meet, along with the North Atlantic Conference (NAC). The meet will take place on Sunday, April 28, when the first ever NECC Women's Track & Field champion will be crowned.

2019 Women's Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll