FARMINGTON, Utah — Eastern Washington track and field started its outdoor season strong and looks to make a statement as the schedule continues. The Big Sky conference released its 2024 Outdoor Track & Field coaches preseason poll, with the Eastern women landing at sixth and the men at ninth.

The Eagles received 53 points in the women's poll and 32 in the men's. The women are one point behind Sacramento State for fifth, while the men are two points behind Northern Colorado for eighth.

At the 2024 Big Sky Indoor Championships in February, EWU women placed sixth and the men placed ninth.

Early this outdoor season, the Eagles have posted record breaking performances and strong finishes across three meets. 

In the team's first meet of the season, the Sam Adams Classic, Caitlin Simmons broke the program record in the triple jump with a 12.59m mark. Not to be outdone, Kimberly Smith then broke the program record in the long jump, posting a 6.27m jump. Simmons placed second behind Smith in the event with a 6.18m mark, second-best in program history. 

Simmons earned Big Sky women's field Athlete of the Week for her record-breaking performance. She was joined by Ryan Rieckmann, who earned male field Athlete of the Week after he recorded a 64.83m throw in javelin. 

Rickmann surpassed his mark the next week at the Oregon Preview, recording a 71.51m throw. He now holds the second-longest throw in program history.

At the Preview, Savannah Schultz posted a 3.85m mark in pole vault to record the top figure in the Big Sky early in the season. Madelyn Knight recorded a 14.11 second time in the 100m hurdles, a personal best and moving her into second on the program's top 10 list. Owen Higgins holds the 10th spot on the program's 800m all-time list after finishing the event in 1:51.300 in Eugene. 

Northern Arizona was picked to win the title in both the men's and women's poll. The 'Jacks are the defending champions from the 2023 outdoor season. 

Eastern gets back to competition next Friday (April 5) at the Whitworth Peace Meet in Spokane.

Preseason Polls
2024 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll

1. Northern Arizona (10) – 100
2. Montana State – 89
3. Idaho – 81
4. Weber State – 63
5. Montana – 56
6. Idaho State – 48
7. Sacramento State – 37
8. Northern Colorado – 34
9. Eastern Washington – 32
10. Portland State – 10

2024 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll

1. Northern Arizona (9) – 99
2. Montana State (1) – 91
3. Idaho State – 74
4. Idaho – 66
5. Sacramento State – 54
6. Eastern Washington – 53
7. Weber State – 44
8. Northern Colorado – 30
9. Montana – 28
10. Portland State – 11

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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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