ATLANTA, GA (March 1, 2024) - Amidst the buzz of the preseason, the Piedmont men’s track and field squad stands tall, ready to assert their dominance on the track. With aspirations of clinching the coveted 2024 Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Men’s Track and Field Championship title, the team’s impressive 24-points and four first-place votes allowed them to soar to the top of this year’s preseason poll.
Claiming the first ever CCS Track and Field trophy, Piedmont looks to repeat as champions as their squad scored a blistering 233 points at last year’s conference championship meet. In 2023, the Lions saw five school records fall during the indoor and outdoor campaigns. Piedmont swept the 800m and 1500m podiums at last season’s championship meet. Fittingly, senior Gary Halverson returns as a favorite in both the 800m and 1500m races.
Following closely in the preseason poll, Berea enters the outdoor campaign eagerly with a point total of 22 points and two first place votes. The squad captured first place finishes in the 400m, 400m hurdles, 4x400m, 5000m and 10,000m races at the 2023 CCS Track and Field Championships meet. Those first place finishes lead the team to a championship point total of 196.
After a sixth place finish at the 2023 CCS Track and Field Championship meet, Maryville is selected to gain momentum toward a redemption season. The poll has the Maryville squad slated to finish third with a total of 16 points. The Scots captured first place finishes in the 100m, 4x100m, long jump, and triple jump at the conference championship meet. Clarence McLean, 2023 CCS Track and Field Athlete of the Year, returns to have another record breaking year for the Scots.
After hosting the first CCS Championship meet, Belhaven was picked to blaze their way to a fourth place finish with a tally of 14 points. The Blazers were able to secure a top finish in the 200m dash and Javelin. Graduate student Benjamin Adams eyes an opportunity to repeat as conference champion and forge his way to another Division III National Championship appearance.
Covenant (7), and Huntingdon (7) round out this year’s preseason poll tied for fifth place.
Outdoor competition commences on Saturday, March 2, with several conference teams taking the track. Follow all the CCS men’s track and field action with updated scores, schedules, and results at www.collegiateconferenceofthesouth.com.
The 2024 CCS Men’s Track and Field Championship opens on Tuesday, May 7 and is capped by the championship finals on Wednesday, May 8, hosted by Maryville College.
A look at the 2024 CCS Men’s Track and Field Coaches’ Preseason Poll:
2024 CCS MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON COACHES POLL
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1. Piedmont
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24 points (4)
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2. Berea
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22 points (2)
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3. Maryville
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16 points
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4. Belhaven
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14 points
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T5. Covenant
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7 points
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T5. Huntingdon
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7 points
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Note: First place points in parentheses.
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH (CCS)
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Berea College, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions, geographic identity, the name Collegiate Conference of the South is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
Follow all things #CCSMTF on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram at @ccofsouth for all the latest news around the league.