CARMEL, Ind. – After an exhilarating championship title during the 2022 indoor track & field season, the Manchester University men's outdoor track & field team has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the outdoor title this spring. 

The Spartans earned 97 points and seven first-place votes in Thursday's poll. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology received the remaining three first-place votes and was picked second with 93 points. Transylvania University was picked third after earning 76 points while Bluffton University (65) and Franklin College (63) rounded out the top half of the poll.

Seven Spartans were named "Athletes to Watch" by the league office, all of whom had outstanding indoor campaigns earlier this winter. The distance trio of Thomas Richardson, Enrique Salazar, and Connor Havens all earned the recognition from the HCAC. Sprinters Gabe Melvin and Tristen Bronaugh were also named "Athletes to Watch" while both Timothy Macomber and Joseph Powell earned the recognition and will look to have strong outdoor seasons in both the throws and jumps field events.

The Spartans are scheduled to begin their outdoor season on March 18 and 19 with a two-day trip to Transylvania University. The 2022 HCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for April 29 and April 30 at Hanover College.