GREENVILLE, S.C. -– Belmont Abbey has been voted fifth in the Conference Carolinas Women's Indoor Track and Field preseason poll, the league office announced today. Voting was conducted among the 11 head coaches.
The Crusaders earned 54 points, three ahead of Emmanuel. Defending champion Mount Olive was picked to repeat with 94 points and six first-place votes in the poll. UNC Pembroke, the 2021 champion, was a close second with 91 points and four first-place votes. Southern Wesleyan was chosen third with 83 points and the final first-place nod, while Converse is fourth with 75 points.
Following Emmanuel in seventh is King (40), with North Greenville (38), Lees-McRae (36), Erskine (25) and Barton (18) rounding out the standings.
The 2023 Conference Carolinas Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held on February 19-20 at the JDL Fast Track in Winston Salem, N.C. The Abbey open its season there on Saturday in the 2022 College Kick-off.
The conference also listed three Crusaders to watch this season. Senior Cristina Villanueva, who finished third in the long jump each of the past two seasons, is joined by sophomore Isabelle Flores and junior Makenna Pallozzi.
| 2022-23 Conference Carolinas Women's Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll |
| School |
Total (First Place) |
| Mount Olive |
94 (6) |
| UNC Pembroke |
91 (4) |
| Southern Wesleyan |
83 (1) |
| Converse |
75 |
| Belmont Abbey |
54 |
| Emmanuel |
51 |
| King |
40 |
| North Greenville |
38 |
| Lees-McRae |
36 |
| Erskine |
25 |
| Barton |
18 |
