SOMERSET, N.J. - The LIU Brooklyn men's and women's outdoor track and field squads were both voted to finish second in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. The men's team received two first place votes, finishing behind defending champion Central Connecticut who garnered six votes. Sacred Heart received one vote on the men's side and is predicted to finish in third. One the women's side, Sacred Heart is the favorite to win back-to-back outdoor titles with nine votes cast for the Pioneers, while the Blackbirds received one first place vote. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.
 
The men's track and field team fell 9.5 points short of winning the 2015 Northeast Conference Outdoor Championship title, giving Central Connecticut its second straight crown with 170.5 points. Brendon Rodney led the charge for the Blackbirds last season, breaking his own conference record in two events. In the 100m dash, the Ontario native shaved off .01 seconds to set the new record at 10.28. Later in the 200m dash, he broke his own mark of 20.41 set the previous season with a time of 20.32 to stand atop the podium in both events. Alistair McLean won the 400-meter dash, and was second in the 400-meter hurdles behind teammate Mica-Jonathan Petit-Homme, who won the title in 52.85.
 
The women's team also placed second the 2015 Northeast Conference Outdoor Championships, winning eight events. The Blackbirds made a strong surge on the second day to claim silver, scoring 140 points total. Sacred Heart earned the team win with 195.5 points. Kyaira Wright-Harmon dominated the field, winning the title in three events, including the triple jump, long jump and high jump, in which she broke her own meet record by clearing 1.78m. Cemorne Baugh took gold in both the 200m and 400m dashes, with her times of 24.59 and 55.1. The Blackbirds closed out the meet by clinching the title in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
 
2016 NEC Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
1. Central Connecticut (6)
2. LIU Brooklyn (2)
3. Sacred Heart (1) 
4. Mount St. Mary's   
5. Fairleigh Dickinson 
6. Saint Francis U   
7. Bryant  
8. Wagner
9. St. Francis Brooklyn

Women's Outdoor Track & Field
1. Sacred Heart (9)
2. LIU Brooklyn (1)
3. Mount St. Mary's 
4. Saint Francis U
5. Central Connecticut 
     Robert Morris
7. Fairleigh Dickinson
8. Wagner  
9. Bryant
10. St. Francis Brooklyn