CEDAR CITY, Utah - Dec. 10 - Southern Utah indoor track and field has been selected third on the men's side and fourth on the women's side in the pre-season coaches' poll release by The Summit League today.  Both teams finished fourth at the 2008 Indoor championships, but the men will be coming off a conference championship during the cross country season.

North Dakota State was a unanimous selection to finish first in the league with the women (49) garnering seven first-place votes and the men (35) collecting five first-place votes.  South Dakota State (41) and Oral Roberts (38) preceded Southern Utah (31) in the women's poll with the Jackrabbits picking up the other first-place vote.  Western Illinois (26), IPFW (18), UMKC (12) and Oakland (9) rounded out the poll for the women.

Southern Utah's men (25) earned a first-place vote, but trailed Oral Roberts (29) by four points, to finish third.  South Dakota State (23), Western Illinois (18), Oakland (9) and UMKC (8) filled in spots four through seven.

The Thunderbirds are scheduled to begin the indoor season when SUU travels to the Snake River Open on Jan. 16.  Smaller groups will kick off the season during the Pole Vault Summit (Jan. 2) and Throws Competition (Jan. 7), prior to the meet in Pocatello.