UNI track & field: MVC unveils 2024-25 indoor preseason poll

ST. LOUIS --- The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) on Wednesday afternoon announced the results of its indoor track and field preseason poll ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season.

Voted on by the league's coaches, UNI was tabbed to finish third in the men's preseason poll with 84 points and one first-place vote, while the Panther women were picked sixth, also with 84 points. Indiana State was selected as the preseason favorite to capture both the men's and women's team championships.

The 2025 MVC Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held at the Track and Field Center at Gately Park in Chicago, March 2-3.

Northern Iowa placed third in the men's standings at last season's indoor conference championships, with Spencer Kessel leading the way for the Panthers with a conference title in the shot put. The UNI women meanwhile placed sixth with Katy Stephens capturing gold in the pentathlon.

Key returners for the Panthers this year include Kessel and Stephens, as well as Zack Butcher, the 2024 MVC indoor runner-up in the heptathlon. Emma Hoins and Caleb Shumaker, fresh off record setting cross country seasons also return for UNI, as well as a strong sprinting core, including Luke Meyers, Tinashe Chigudu and Parker Kiewiet and multi-event athlete Carter Morton.

The Panthers will open the 2024-25 indoor season at the ISU Holiday Invite in Ames at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center, Dec. 13-14.

MVC Men's Preseason Poll (Points) [First-Place Votes]

Indiana State - 99 [9]
Illinois State (85)
UNI (84) [1]
Southern Illinois (59)
Bradley (56)
Drake (55)
Belmont (50)
Valparaiso (28)
UIC (24)
Evansville (10)

MVC Women's Preseason Poll (Points) [First-Place Votes]

Indiana State (140) [10]
Murray State (128) [2]
Illinois State (123)
Belmont (97)
Bradley (94)
UNI (84)
Southern Illinois (81)
Drake (62)
Missouri State (54)
UIC (27)
Valparaiso (26)
Evansville (20)

UNI track and field action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Track and Field), X (@UNITrackFieldXC) and on Instagram (@uni_tf_xc). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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