RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Oklahoma Baptist men's track and field team collected 31 votes and one first place nod for the second spot in the 2024 Great American Conference Preseason Track and Field Coaches' Poll on Thursday.
Harding edged OBU with 36 votes for first place, while Southern Arkansas (23), East Central (20), Southern Nazarene (14) rounded out the top five.
Last season, OBU turned in its second-straight runner-up finish at the GAC Outdoor Championships. Since becoming eligible to compete for conference championships, Oklahoma Baptist has claimed the overall crown twice (2019, 2021).
The 2024 quest starts this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas at TCU's Alumni Invitational. Then Oklahoma Baptist has eight more meets on the docket, including the annual OBU Invitational on March 29-30.
OBU will also host the Ford Mastin Twilight on April 20, in honor of long-time head coach Ford Mastin.
The postseason begins with the GAC Outdoor Championships (May 2-4) in Magnolia, Arkansas ahead of the NCAA Division II Championships on May 23-25 in Emporia, Kansas.
The Bison return a handful of notables, including national qualifier Alexander Schovanec, who also earned wins in the shot put and discus at the 2023 conference championships. Additionally, Northwest Nazarene transfer and two-time NCAA DII outdoor qualifier Steven Schmidt begins his first outdoor season at OBU.
Last week, Schmidt became the first All-American Heptathlon athlete in program history (DII era) after a sixth-place finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships.
Head coach Brian Whitlock is in his third year on Bison Hill and first as the head man after assuming the role from Mastin last season.
2024 GAC Men's Track & Field Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Harding - 36 (5)
2. Oklahoma Baptist - 31 (1)
3. Southern Arkansas - 23
4. East Central - 20
5. Southern Nazarene - 14
6. Ouachita Baptist - 13
7. Northwestern Oklahoma State - 10
