Moon Township, Pa. ? Dec. 9, 2008 ? The Robert Morris University men's track and field team, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Michael Smith, was selected fifth in the 2008-09 men's indoor track and field coaches' poll. The Colonials finished sixth in the NEC Championship meet a year ago.
Monmouth collected nine first-place votes as the preseason favorite to win the conference, while defending conference champion Sacred Heart was picked second, earning four first-place votes. Saint Francis (Pa.) landed the third spot, Long Island was chosen fourth and Robert Morris finished fifth. Fairleigh Dickinson, Mount St. Mary's and Quinnipiac landed the sixth, seventh and eighth spot, respectively. Wagner was chosen ninth, conference newcomer Bryant finished 10th and Central Connecticut State and St. Francis (N.Y.) closed off the list with the 11th and 12th place, respectively.
Robert Morris adds 11 new faces returns 14 athletes to the squad this season. Highlighting the returners are sophomore Chris Spataro (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland), junior Anthony Trunzo (Trafford, PA/Penn-Trafford), junior Jordan Dyson (Frederick, MD/Frederick) and senior Kevin Argauer (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls). Spataro and Trunzo finished first and second in the pole vault in the NEC Championship last season, while Dyson finished second in the high jump, with RMU alum Jeff Witmyer taking the first spot by just an attempt. Argauer redshirted last season, but has already set a spark for his team as he threw a school record-breaking throw of 18.33 meters in the first meet of the season to qualify for the IC4A Championship meet.
The Colonials return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17 in State College, Pa. to compete in the Penn State Open.
2008-09 NEC Preseason Poll
1. Monmouth (8)
2. Sacred Heart (4)
3. Saint Francis (PA)
4. Long Island
5. Robert Morris
6. Fairleigh Dickinson
7. Mount St. Mary's
8. Quinnipiac
9. Wagner
10. Bryant
11. Central Connecticut State
12. St. Francis (NY)
