University of Northern Iowa Athletics
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UNI Men Picked Second, Women Fifth in Pre-Championship Poll
5/7/2021 10:14:00 AM | Track and Field
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Missouri Valley Conference released its 2021 Outdoor Track & Field Pre-Championship Poll results on Friday, projecting the UNI men's team to finish second with 74 points and three first-place votes. Indiana State is picked to finish first, earning 76 points and 5 first-place votes in the poll.
The UNI women's team is projected to place fifth, earning 66 points in the poll, two points behind Missouri State. Illinois State is favored to win the women's championship, earning 100 points with 10 first-place votes.
MVC Standings
Currently, the Panthers lead the Missouri Valley in four events. In the men's shot put, graduate-student Darius King is in first with his personal-best and UNI school record of 20.14m, posted on April 16 at the Gibson Invitational. King is currently ranked sixth overall in the NCAA in the shot put category. Seniors Michael Santi, Tayshaun Cooper, graduate-student Elijah Hicks, and senior Dan Blocker posted a time of 40.50 on April 22 at the Drake Relays to lead the conference in the men's 4x100-meter relay category. After posting 6238 points on April 15 at the Gibson Invitational, sophomore Zack Butcher leads the MVC in the men's decathlon category. Redshirt senior Aleenah Marcucci leads the conference in the women's 100-meter hurdles after posting a time of 13.60 on April 30 at the Illinois State Invite.
The MVC Outdoor Championships will be hosted by Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill., May 14-16.
2021 MVC Pre-Championship Poll
Men's
1. Indiana State – 76 (5 first-place votes)
2. Northern Iowa – 74 (3 first-place votes)
3. Illinois State – 66 (1 first-place vote)
4. Drake – 49
5. Southern Illinois - 45
6. Bradley – 36
7. Loyola – 32
8. Valparaiso – 14
9. Evansville – 13
Women's
1. Illinois State – 100 (10 first-place votes)
2. Southern Illinois – 88
3. Indiana State – 73
4. Missouri State – 68
5. Northern Iowa – 66
6. Loyola – 50
7. Bradley – 44
8. Drake – 33
9. Evansville – 17
10. Valparaiso – 15
The UNI women's team is projected to place fifth, earning 66 points in the poll, two points behind Missouri State. Illinois State is favored to win the women's championship, earning 100 points with 10 first-place votes.
MVC Standings
Currently, the Panthers lead the Missouri Valley in four events. In the men's shot put, graduate-student Darius King is in first with his personal-best and UNI school record of 20.14m, posted on April 16 at the Gibson Invitational. King is currently ranked sixth overall in the NCAA in the shot put category. Seniors Michael Santi, Tayshaun Cooper, graduate-student Elijah Hicks, and senior Dan Blocker posted a time of 40.50 on April 22 at the Drake Relays to lead the conference in the men's 4x100-meter relay category. After posting 6238 points on April 15 at the Gibson Invitational, sophomore Zack Butcher leads the MVC in the men's decathlon category. Redshirt senior Aleenah Marcucci leads the conference in the women's 100-meter hurdles after posting a time of 13.60 on April 30 at the Illinois State Invite.
The MVC Outdoor Championships will be hosted by Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill., May 14-16.
2021 MVC Pre-Championship Poll
Men's
1. Indiana State – 76 (5 first-place votes)
2. Northern Iowa – 74 (3 first-place votes)
3. Illinois State – 66 (1 first-place vote)
4. Drake – 49
5. Southern Illinois - 45
6. Bradley – 36
7. Loyola – 32
8. Valparaiso – 14
9. Evansville – 13
Women's
1. Illinois State – 100 (10 first-place votes)
2. Southern Illinois – 88
3. Indiana State – 73
4. Missouri State – 68
5. Northern Iowa – 66
6. Loyola – 50
7. Bradley – 44
8. Drake – 33
9. Evansville – 17
10. Valparaiso – 15
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