Oct. 23, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Charlotte men's and women's indoor track & field programs have been selected to defend their league titles in voting conducted by the league's head coaches as the Atlantic 10 preseason indoor track & field polls were released today.

Winners of three straight A-10 women's crowns, the 49ers are led by senior Aja Jackson, who claimed gold medals in the 800m (2:15.14) and mile run (4:51.62) en route to being named the Most Outstanding Track Performer of the 2008 Championship. Charlotte amassed 180 points a year ago, the second-highest total in the 15-year history of the Championship.

2008 runner-up Dayton is picked second, followed by five-time champion Rhode Island, Richmond, Temple, Massachusetts, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Duquesne, Fordham, Saint Louis and Xavier.

On the men's side, Charlotte has been selected by the coaches to seize its third title in the last four years after it edged Rhode Island a year ago, 181-156. Leading the 49ers will be sophomore Darius Law, the Most Outstanding Rookie Performer of the 2008 Championship who placed first in the 400m dash (48.55) and second in the 200m (22.18).

Five-time champion Rhode Island is picked second, followed by La Salle, Massachusetts, Temple, Fordham, Saint Joseph's, Richmond, Saint Louis and Xavier.

The 2009 Atlantic 10 Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held Feb. 20-21 at Mackal Field House on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.

2009 Women's Indoor Track & Field Predicted Order Of Finish
(2008 Championship results in parentheses)
1. Charlotte (1st)
2. Dayton (2nd)
3. Rhode Island (3rd)
4. Richmond (4th)
5. Temple (6th)
6. Massachusetts (7th)
7. La Salle (5th)
8. Saint Joseph's (8th)
9. Duquesne (11th)
10. Fordham (9th)
11. Saint Louis (12th)
12. Xavier (10th)

2009 Men's Indoor Track & Field Predicted Order Of Finish
(2008 Championship results in parentheses)
1. Charlotte (1st)
2. Rhode Island (2nd)
3. La Salle (3rd)
4. Massachusetts (5th)
5. Temple (4th)
6. Fordham (6th)
7. Saint Joseph's (7th)
8. Richmond (8th)
9. Saint Louis (9th)
10. Xavier (10th)