Women's track & field chosen ninth in HCAC preseason poll

CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) announced the results of the women's Indoor Track and Field preseason poll, with Defiance placing ninth in a vote amongst league coaches.

Rose-Hulman earned the first-place slot, snagging nine first-place votes in rout to 99 points. Manchester University finished second, garnering one first-place vote and 89 points. Hanover College finished in third place, with 81 points, while Earlham College (61) and Bluffton University (48) rounded out the top half of the poll.

Four Yellow Jackets were named the Athletes to Watch list: freshman Alexandria Ausmus, freshman Grace Lindsay, senior Lisa Markau, and senior Katelyn Smith. Ausmus is a mid-distance runner who ran cross country this fall and is projected to compete in the 800-meters, the mile, and the 3000-meters this winter while Linsday is a throw set to compete in the weight throw and shot put.

Markau is a sprinter who placed fourth in the 60-meter dash at the HCAC Indoor Championships last season and has a personal best time of 8.41 in the event. She will also compete in the 200 and 400 meters and projects to be a key contributor on the Defiance relay teams.

Smith competed in four indoor meets last season and is projected to also compete in the 800-meters, the mile, and the 3000-meters this winter. She ran a personal best time of 2:43.50 in the 800-meters at the John Hartpence Classic last season and had a strong country season this past fall. Smith and Markau were part of a 4x200 relay team that placed fifth at the HCAC Indoor Championships.

The Yellow Jackets will be hosting the 2021-22 HCAC Indoor Championships this season on Feb. 19 at the George M. Smart Center.

The first event of the season for Defiance will be the Defiance College Invite on Dec. 3 at the Smart Center.