Dec. 6, 2007

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (December 6, 2007) - The Sacred Heart men's indoor track & field team received three first place votes and was picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll released on Wednesday. The women were picked to finish fourth in the poll. The Monmouth Hawks were picked first in both polls.

Sacred Heart poses an extremely credible threat to the Hawks' hopes of a fourth-straight crown. After nearly unseating Monmouth at the 2007 NEC title meet, the Pioneers will look to complete the task in 2008 and have the Most Valuable Performer from last year's meet to help them. Senior captain Arman Dixon (Beacon, NY/Beacon) is the defending conference champion in the 60-meter (6.82), 200-meter (22.00), and long jump (7.18m). The meet's top overall performer finished fourth in the triple jump (13.84m), and his 60-meter preliminary time of 6.77s established a meet record. Senior teammate Scott Giordano (Hamden, CT/Notre Dame HS) finished right behind Dixon in the 200m (22.21) and third in the 60m (7.01). Dixon continued a remarkable junior year by becoming the first Pioneer ever to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He automatically qualified for the national meet when he clocked in at 20.81s to win the 200-meter crown at the New England Championships.

Sacred Heart head coach Christian Morrison returns a pair of all-NEC performers in first team all-NEC selection Brittany Dexter (Ballston Lake, NY/ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and second team all-NEC honoree Kathleen Henry (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge). Dexter captured an individual title in the high jump with a jump of 1.70m, while Henry placed second in both the 3000m and 5000m with times of 10:05.88 and 17:29.64, respectively. Senior thrower Marsha Locke (Danbury, CT/Danbury) posted a top-five finish in the weight throw at last season's championships with a toss of 16.60m, while junior Sarana Hyatt (St. Albans, NY/St. Francis Prep) and sophomore Kerry Ojeda (Coram, NY/Newfield) recorded top-eight finishes in the high jump and pole vault, respectively. Senior Melissa Kostan (Salem, MA/Salem) rounds out a talented Pioneer lineup after finishing eighth in the 60m hurdles at last season's championships.