Brooklyn, N.Y. – The Long Island University women's outdoor track and field team was voted to finish third in the Northeast Conference by a polling of league coaches while the men's squad was tabbed fourth, as announced by the league office on Wednesday. The women garnered one first-place vote.

 

The Blackbird women took sixth in last season's NEC Championships and primed to make an impact in the 2009 version. With a wealth of experience and impact newcomers, Long Island showed it was a threat in the indoor championships, taking second place. Senior Heather Patton and freshman Jessie Gaines swept all four individual honors at the event.

 

Also finishing fifth in 2008, the men were predicted to place two spots higher at this season's championships. The men's side collected two second-place finishes last season from senior Andre Marcano in the 60-meter dash and junior Julius Mutekanga in the 800-meter run.

 

Long Island began its spring season at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C. on March 27-28 and continues outdoor competition April 2-5 at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas.