Long Island Women Picked Second, Men Fifth in NEC Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Poll

3/5/07 -- The Long Island University women’s outdoor track and field was picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference, according to a preseason poll of the league’s coaches. The Blackbirds earned five votes for first place while Monmouth’s women’s team garnered six votes and captured the top spot. The Long Island men were predicted to finish fifth.

The Blackbirds’ women’s team won its first NEC Outdoor title last season, as Aisha Thomas (Jefferson City, Mo.) was named Most Outstanding Performer. Tavia Burke (St. Catherine, Jamaica) garnered Rookie of the Meet honors, while head coach Julia Sandiford picked up the conference’s Coach of the Year award. Long Island returns a solid core from last year’s championship team and is coming off its second consecutive NEC Indoor Championship.

On the men’s side, the Blackbirds were selected to finish fifth. Last outdoor season, Long Island tied for fourth place at the NEC Championships. Monmouth was predicted to repeat as men’s champions.