USC Upstate Track and Field Teams Slated Fifth in Preseason Big South Polls

Big South Full Women's Release

Big South Full Men's Release

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Earlier today the Big South Conference announced the men's and women's indoor track and field preseason coaches' poll and both USC Upstate teams were picked to finish in fifth place.

The USC Upstate men's track team received 31 total points in this season's poll. The Spartans had seven fifth-place votes and just a single-sixth place vote. On the women's side the Spartans tied for fifth place with Radford with 38 total points. USC Upstate received a trio of fifth place votes, five sixth place votes and a single seventh place vote to round out the voting breakdown.

Last indoor season the men's Distance Medley Relay team clocked in the third best time in USC Upstate history and placed third at the Big South Indoor Championships. The men's 4x400 relay team just missed the podium with a fourth place finish. Individually the Spartans return five athletes that have placed in the top-10 at the Big South Indoor Championships, sprinters Javin Holston, Lonnie Morton, Cameron Smith, jumper Ari Jahanfar and thrower Tony Auguste.

On the women's side Adanma Uzor looks to repeat as Big South Indoor Field Athlete of the Year after winning the triple jump competition with a leap of 12.05 meters. Uzor also recorded a runner-up finish in the long jump event. Angelnique Bryant will try and build off her success from last season as Big South Indoor Freshman of the Year. Bryant won the 60-meter dash event and her preliminary time of 7.54 seconds ranks 10^th All-Time in conference history and 2^nd All-Time in USC Upstate history. Another athlete to look out for this season is Dejaionne Kinard who finished fifth in the long jump competition last season.

Hampton received seven first-place votes and 63 total points to take the top spot in the men's preseason poll. Campbell was the only other team to receive a first place vote as they finished with a total of 55 points. High Point came in third with 48 points and Charleston Southern was selected to finish fourth in the conference. Winthrop, Gardner-Webb and UNC Asheville round out the bottom portion of the conference.

On the women's side Hampton once again claimed the top spot with seven first-place votes and 79 total points. High Point was selected to finish second with a single first-place vote and 70 total points. Campbell rounded out the top-three with a single first-place vote and 64 total points. Charleston Southern was selected just ahead of USC Upstate with 56 total points. UNC Asheville, Winthrop and Gardner-Webb finished in seventh, eighth and ninth place respectively.

UP next for the Spartans
The USC Upstate track and field programs will begin the season this coming Saturday, December 7 at the Clemson Opener.

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Players Mentioned

Tony Auguste

Angelnique Bryant

Javin Holston

Ari Jahanfar

Dejaionne Kinard

Lonnie Morton

Cameron Smith

Adanma Uzor

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