INDIANAPOLIS – Lewis University was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2024 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) women’s outdoor track and field title, the league office announced on Thursday.
The preseason poll is selected by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Lewis
- Received 11 first-place votes and 164 total points.
- Won program’s seventh consecutive and record 13th overall GLVC Championship and tied for 44th at the NCAA Division II Championships last season.
- Coached by Dana Schwarting, who enters his 18th season and is the reigning GLVC Coach of the Year.
- Return 2023 GLVC Track Athlete and co-Freshman of the Year, Khristel Martindale, who won the GLVC 100- and 200-meter dash, as well as helped set a new record in the 4x100-meter relay. GLVC Champions Hannah Smrcka (10K) and Aliza Van Den Elzen (javelin), along with several other top-three finishers and All-GLVC honorees, also return.
- Van Den Elzen earned All-America honors at last year’s NCAA Championship with a fifth-place finish in the javelin.
No. 2 Indianapolis
- Received one first-place vote and 155 total points.
- Finished runner-up at GLVC Championship and tied for 53rd at the NCAA Division II Championships last season.
- Coached by Brad Robinson in his first season, who replaces long-time mentor Scott Fangman but has served as the head cross country coach for the past eight seasons.
- Return 2023 All-GLVC hammer throw champion, Zoe Pentecost, long jump and 400-meter hurdles champion, Ellie Lengerich, as well as pole vault runner-up, Sabrina Robison.
- Pentecost earned All-America honors at last year’s NCAA Championship with a seventh-place finish in the hammer.
No. 3 Southwest Baptist
- Received one first-place vote and 136 total points.
- Finished fourth at GLVC Championship last season.
- Coached by Corey McElhaney, who enters his 17th season.
- Return All-GLVC Champions Alexis Barber (1,500m, 4x400 relay), Lily Simmons (high jump, heptathlon), and Lainy Williams (800m, 4x400 relay).
No. 4 Missouri S&T
- Received 122 total points.
- Finished fifth at GLVC Championship last season.
- Coached by Shaun Meinecke, who enters his seventh season.
- Return GLVC co-Freshman of the Year, Maya Wright, and All-GLVC honoree, Grace Giesler, who finished runner-up in the Steeplechase.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 14th was Maryville University (113 points), Drury University (one first-place vote; 109), Truman State University (94), University of Illinois Springfield (85), William Jewell College (74), McKendree University (66), University of Missouri-St. Louis (54), Upper Iowa University (43), Rockhurst University (35), and Quincy University (24).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Rank |
School |
Points (1st-place votes) |
| 1. |
Lewis |
164 (11) |
| 2. |
Indianapolis |
155 (1) |
| 3. |
Southwest Baptist |
136 (1) |
| 4. |
Missouri S&T |
122 |
| 5. |
Maryville |
113 |
| 6. |
Drury |
109 (1) |
| 7. |
Truman State |
94 |
| 8. |
Illinois Springfield |
85 |
| 9. |
William Jewell |
74 |
| 10. |
McKendree |
66 |
| 11. |
Missouri-St. Louis |
54 |
| 12. |
Upper Iowa |
43 |
| 13. |
Rockhurst |
35 |
| 14. |
Quincy |
24 |