Youngstown State Tops 2022 #HLTF Outdoor Preseason Polls
INDIANAPOLIS – Youngstown State topped both the men’s and women’s 2022 #HLTF Outdoor Preseason Polls. The defending champions earned six first-place votes in the men’s poll and eight first-place votes in the women’s poll. The League’s head track and field coaches voted on both polls.
Youngstown State Penguins (83 points) was tabbed the men’s #HLTF preseason poll favorite for the upcoming season. In 2021, the Penguins won their second consecutive and fifth overall League title and were led by Zach Gray. Gray was the 2021 Men’s Championship Outstanding Fielding Performer and Men’s Fielding Co-Freshman of the Year and will look to build on his success this season.
Milwaukee and Oakland (74 points) were both voted second by the League’s head coaches in the men’s poll and Milwaukee received one first place vote. The Milwaukee Panthers are looking to improve upon their runner-up finish at the 2021 championship and will look to Austin Wallace, the 2021 Men’s Fielding Co-Freshman of the Year and the Men’s Coach of the Year Andrew Basler for success in the 2022 season. The Oakland Golden Grizzlies will turn to the 2021 Alfreeda Goff Outdoor Track and Field Men’s Athlete of the Year award winner Jimmie Williams and the 2021 Men’s Running Freshman of the Year winner, William Harrell III, as they look to build upon their third place finish at last year’s championship.
Purdue Fort Wayne (57 points) was voted to finish fourth in the League. Rounding out the 2022 #HLTF Men’s Outdoor Preseason Poll are Detroit Mercy (53 points), IUPUI (52 points), UIC (44 points), and Northern Kentucky (39 points).
On the women’s side, Youngstown State (107 points) earned eight first-place votes and was voted as the favorite in the women’s #HLTF preseason poll. The Penguins picked up their seventh consecutive and 13
th overall League title last season, and were led by the women’s 200-meter champion Jahniya Bowers and the women’s 5,000-meter champion Morgan Cole. Both athletes return this season and look to add more titles this season for the Penguins.
Milwaukee was voted to finish second with 98 points with a first place vote on the women’s side. The team returns Women’s Fielding Freshman of the Year Nadia Vo and Natalie Block, who was the Women’s Championships Outstanding Running Performer and Women’s Running Freshman of the Year.
Oakland is projected to finish third this season, earning 92 points in the women’s preseason poll. Hannah Hall of Oakland will look to defend her title as the women’s high jump champion after winning the event in 2021. Purdue Fort Wayne (80 points) was voted fourth in the League. Northern Kentucky is projected to finish fifth with 67 points. RMU (60 points) was voted to finish sixth in the preseason poll.
UIC (55 points) was voted to finish in seventh and Wright State (45 points) was predicted to finish in eighth. Rounding out the 2022 #HLTF Women’s Outdoor Preseason Poll are IUPUI (38 points), Detroit Mercy (32 points) and Cleveland State (19 points).
The 2022 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place May 6-8 in Rochester, Michigan.
2022 #HLTF Men’s Outdoor Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Youngstown State – 83 (6)
T-2. Milwaukee – 74 (1)
T-2. Oakland – 74
4. Purdue Fort Wayne – 57
5. Detroit Mercy – 53
6. IUPUI – 52
7. UIC – 44
8. Northern Kentucky – 39
2022 #HLTF Women’s Outdoor Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Youngstown State – 107 (8)
2. Milwaukee – 98 (1)
3. Oakland – 92
4. Purdue Fort Wayne – 80
5. Northern Kentucky – 67
6. RMU – 60
7. UIC – 55
8. Wright State – 45
9. IUPUI – 38
10. Detroit Mercy – 32
11. Cleveland State – 19