RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The reigning GAC outdoor champs were picked to repeat in this season's Great American Conference Preseason Track and Field Coaches' Poll, released on Thursday.
Oklahoma Baptist racked up 80 votes, including eight first-place nods, to sit atop the 10-team field. Last season, OBU claimed its second consecutive and third all-time outdoor conference championship after amassing a program-best 256.5 points.
The Bison's three-peat campaign 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.
Oklahoma Baptist retained nearly all of its top performers from last season, including
Sophia Strange who garnered MVP honors at the 2023 conference championships. OBU also returns three outdoor national qualifiers in
Anisha Henderson (long jump),
Jade Byrd (discus), and
Flora Dupans (discus).
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 Women's Track & Field Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Oklahoma Baptist - 80 (8)
2. Harding - 74 (2)
3. Southern Arkansas - 65
4. Northwestern Oklahoma State - 50
T4. Ouachita Baptist - 50
6. Arkansas Tech - 35
7. Southern Nazarene - 32
8. Southeastern Oklahoma State - 31
9. East Central - 23
10. Southwestern Oklahoma State - 10
