INDIANAPOLIS – Defending champion Hillsdale was a near-unanimous selection headlining the 2018-19 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour that was released on Thursday.
 
The indoor season starts this weekend with a handful of teams competing. The 2019 indoor track and field conference meet will be conducted at the University of Findlay on Feb. 22-23. 
 
The 2017-18 women’s indoor campaign was a banner one for the Great Midwest as 14 NCAA qualifiers went to Pittsburg, Kan., to compete as among the nation’s elite. 
 
Some of last year’s stars have unfortunately, come and gone. Ursuline’s speedy star hurdler/sprinter/jumper Janelle Perry has taken her talents to the Division I level at Central Michigan University. 
 
Hillsdale’s Hannah McIntyre was an All-American in both the 3K and 5K last year. Walsh’s Sarah Berger finished her indoor senior year with the Cavaliers as an All-American in the mile and distance medley relay. Findlay speedster Milani Glass went out as an All-American in the 60-meter hurdles, the same event as national champ Perry. Also going out with a banner senior year was UF shot put All-American Alex DeVincentis. 
 
Three of Hillsdale’s NCAA qualifiers a year ago are distance standouts as evidenced by the cross country team’s second-place finish at NCAA Midwest Regionals in recent history. Maryssa Depies, Allysen Eads and Arena Lewis, qualified in the mile or 5K a year ago. 
 
Hillsdale, coached by Andrew Towne, secured 12 out of a possible 14 first-place votes by the league’s coaches for a grand sum of 168 points. Towne was the Great Midwest Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year while Zalonya Eby was crowned Great Midwest Freshman of the Year. 
 
The Chargers claimed 199 points in the conference meet to win the women’s standings by a considerable margin last year. Hillsdale also served as host to the Great Midwest Indoor Championships. 
 
Walsh was this year’s preseason runner-up with 154 points with a host of standout distance runners returning to the mix. Receiving the other two first-place votes was league newcomer Tiffin as the Dragons compiled a total of 134 points. 
 
Findlay and Malone were each tied for fourth with 124 points. Ursuline, Cedarville, Kentucky Wesleyan, Lake Erie and Davis & Elkins, were ranked 6 through 10, respectively. 
 
Great Midwest indoor track and field records for every event will be updated after each week of competition. 
 

Great Midwest Women's Indoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour
 

School	Points
1. Hillsdale (12 first-place votes)	168
2. Walsh	154
3. Tiffin (2 first-place votes)	134
t4. Malone	124
t4. Findlay	124
6. Ursuline	120
7. Cedarville	102
8. Kentucky Wesleyan	76
9. Lake Erie	72
10. Davis & Elkins	63
11. Ohio Dominican	48
12. Trevecca Nazarene	36
13. Alderson Broaddus	30
14. Ohio Valley	23