Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College men's track and field team has been predicted to finish fifth in the 2023-24 Midwest Conference Coaches Poll, as announced by the league. The team garnered 38 points in the poll and will see the return of 20 student-athletes from last season.

Key returning athletes include Devin Boggs, Deon Rodgers, Saul Hernandez, Will Detmer, and Jackson Lee. Boggs holds IC records in both the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:19.27 and the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16:07.61.

Rodgers was crowned the MWC champion in discus last year with a mark of 151'2" (46.09 meters) and aims to defend his title this season. He also secured fourth place in shot put at the previous championship.

Hernandez, hailing from Hidalgo, Texas, is another prominent thrower for IC who placed second in shot put at last year's MWC Championship with a mark of 46'2" (14.07 meters).

Detmer enters his final season having set an IC Indoor record for the 800-meter dash at 1:58:49 and holds the record for mile run at 4:29.80.

Lee competes as a pole vaulter and hurdler; he placed third in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth in pole vault during last year's championships.

Illinois College's men's track team will begin their new season on December 2nd at Olivet Nazarene University's ONU Holiday Open.

In this preseason poll, Ripon College led with seven first-place votes totaling to 63 points followed by Grinnell College with two first-place votes and Monmouth College completing top three spots.