ROCK HILL, S.C. – Coker University's men's track and field team was picked seventh in the 2019-20 South Atlantic Conference men's track and field Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the league today (Tuesday, Nov. 26).
Riley Cushing , Tony McElveen Jr., and Alex Berry were named athletes to watch heading into the indoor track & field season.
Cushing, a sophomore transfer from Wheelock College, will be entering his first season with the Cobras. Riley competed in all five meets this season with the men's cross country team, finishing with a low time of 28:01.2 at the Royals XC Challenge on Oct. 11. In his time at Wheelock College, he was named to the New England All-Conference 1st team, and was student-athlete of the month in September and October.
McElveen Jr., a senior sprinter, set four Coker records in the 2018-19 campaign. Tony finished third in the 60-meter dash (6.90 seconds) at the JDL College Meet Madness on Jan. 27, was part of an 11th-place 4x400-meter relay team (3:21.66) at the Carolina Challenge on Feb. 2, was part of a second-place 4x100-meter relay team (40.78 seconds) at the Winthrop Twilight on May 1, and finished third in the 100 (10.47 seconds) at the Mount Olive First Chance event on May 11. He earned All-Southeast Region honors by the USTFCCCA.
Berry, a junior field athlete, recorded 10 top-ten finishes last season participating in the 60-meter dash, long jump, triple jump, and high jump. Alex won both the triple jump (12.82 meters) and the high jump (1.87 meters) at the CIU Invitational on Mar. 23.
"After seeing several national provisional qualifiers emerge last season, we are excited to pick right up where we left off," said coach Pete Early. "We are looking forward to leaving our mark not only in the conference, but at the national level as well."
The Cobras will kick off their 2019-20 campaign on Dec. 7 in Winston-Salem, N.C. at the JDL College Kick-Off Classic. Live coverage can be found at www.cokercobras.com