Dec. 11, 2009

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – In voting by the Atlantic 10 head coaches, the Charlotte 49ers track and field squads were both picked to capture the 2010 Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships. Since joining the Atlantic 10 conference in 2006, Charlotte has captured 13 of the league’s 16 indoor and outdoor championships.

The 49ers women’s team claimed their fourth consecutive title last season as they held off runner-up Dayton, 175-139.  Charlotte is led by junior Amanda Goetschius, the defending A-10 champion in the mile (4:53.36) and bronze medalist in the 3,000m (9:58.90), and 2009 400m dash champion Kortnie Coleman (56.31).  

Dayton was tabbed second in the voting and was followed by Rhode Island, Temple, Duquesne and Massachusetts to round out the top five teams.

On the men’s side, Charlotte has been selected to seize its fourth A-10 title in the past five seasons.  The 49ers will be anchored by two-time defending 400m dash champion Darius Law and sophomore Sam Jordan, who captured gold in the 55m dash (6.35) at last year’s Championship en route to garnering Most Outstanding Rookie distinction.

The Rams of Rhode Island were picked to finish second on the men’s side ahead of Temple, La Salle and Saint Joseph’s.

The 2010 A-10 Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held Feb. 19-20 at Mackal Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.  
 
2010 Women’s Indoor Track & Field Predicted Order Of Finish
(2009 A-10 Championship finish in parentheses)
1. Charlotte (1st)
2. Dayton (2nd)
3. Rhode Island (3rd)
4. Temple (4th)
5. Richmond (5th)
6. Duquesne (7th)
7. Massachusetts (6th)
8. La Salle (8th)
9. Saint Joseph’s (11th)
10. Saint Louis (T-9th)
11. Xavier (T-9th)
12. Fordham (12th)

2010 Men’s Indoor Track & Field Predicted Order of Finish
(2009 A-10 Championship finish in parentheses)
1. Charlotte (1st)
2. Rhode Island (2nd)
3. Temple (4th)
4. La Salle (3rd)
5. Saint Joseph’s (8th)
6. Massachusetts (7th)
7. Fordham (5th)
8. Richmond (6th)
9. Saint Louis (T-9th)
10. Xavier (T-9th)