Kansas City, Mo. - For the third straight year, the MSSU men's track & field team was picked second in the MIAA Preseason Indoor Track & Field Coaches Poll. The women's team jumped up a couple spots from last year's poll, placed fourth this year.

At the conclusion of last year's indoor season, the Missouri Southern men's team was ranked third in the USTFCCCA program of the year rankings. The Lions had their highest placement at the National Championships, taking fourth as a team. Seven earned All-American honors, one of those being National Champion Peyton Barton, who won the weight throw with a toss of 22.01m. Ryan Riddle (3000m run, DMR), Kelton Sorrell (DMR), and Taris Jackson (triple jump) were also All-Americans returning this year. 

The men's team took second at the MIAA Indoor Championships last March, as 10 Lions earned All-MIAA honors and four school records were broken. At that event, Peyton Barton won the weight throw with an MIAA record, school record, and USTFCCCA 10th all-time best throw of 22.05m. 

The women's team placed 15th at the National Championships last season, highlighted by three All-American performances. Two of those three return this year in Samariae Bonds and Mallory Huber. 

At the MIAA Championships, the Lions placed third overall. Bonds won the shot put with a toss of 14.77m. Huber also earned All-MAA honors, and set the MSSU record for the weight throw earlier in the year at 19.40m. Five total Lions were named All-MIAA, Jayna Gunter being the other to return this season. 

The teams will open the new season next weekend, competing in the Crimson & Gold Invitational on Saturday, December 9 held in Pittsburg, Kansas.

2023-24 MIAA MEN'S INDOOR T&F PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 100 points
2. Missouri Southern [1] – 90 points
3. Nebraska Kearney – 78 points
4. Central Missouri – 67 points
5. Northwest Missouri – 65 points
6. Fort Hays State – 63 points
7. Washburn – 45 points
8. Lincoln – 39 points
9. Missouri Western – 28 points
10. Emporia State – 20 points
11. Rogers State – 10 points 
[#] - First Place Votes

2023-24 MIAA WOMEN'S INDOOR T&F PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 120 points
2. Northwest Missouri [2] – 111 points
3. Central Missouri – 95 points
4. Missouri Southern – 89 points
5. Lincoln – 75 points
6. Fort Hays State – 74 points
7. Washburn – 65 points
8. Nebraska Kearney – 56 points
9. Missouri Western – 44 points
10. Rogers State – 37 points
11. Emporia State – 25 points
12. Central Oklahoma – 11 points 
[#] - First Place Votes