Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Red Hawks of Ripon College are the favorites to finish the 2022-23 track & field seasons as Midwest Conference (MWC) Champions in the preseason coaches’ poll revealed Thursday.
 
Ripon received eight first-place votes and 64 points to secure the top spot in the poll. At the 2022 MWC Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Red Hawks won their program’s first team title.
 
In second place, Monmouth picked up the final first-place vote and 51 points. The Fighting Scots won the 2022 MWC Outdoor Track & Field title, marking their program’s sixteenth outdoor crown.
 
Lawrence University landed in third place with 46 points, two points ahead of Grinnell College in fourth with 44 points.
 
Illinois College rounded out the top five with 34 points, ahead of Cornell College (32), Beloit College (27), Knox College (17), and Lake Forest College (9).
 
Over the next eight days, four league schools will compete in indoor events, with the first three starting Saturday, December 3. The remaining league teams will compete in January 2023.
 
The 2023 MWC Indoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted by Illinois College on February 24-25, 2023, while Grinnell College will host the 2023 MWC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 12-13, 2023.
 
Full preseason poll results and quick facts for all nine teams can be found below:
 
2022-23 MWC Women’s Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Ripon College (8) – 64 points
2. Monmouth College (1) – 51 points
3. Lawrence University – 46 points
4. Grinnell College – 44 points
5. Illinois College – 34 points
6. Cornell College – 32 points
7. Beloit College – 27 points
8. Knox College – 17 points
9. Lake Forest College – 9 points

() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Brian Bliese (23^rd Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 7^th
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 5^th
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jerry Monner (1^st Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 6^th
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 6^th
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Jeff Pedersen (3^rd Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 4^th
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 2^nd
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Jason Haynes (9^th Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 5^th
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 4^th
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Evander Wells (4^th Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 8^th
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 8^th
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Patrick Austin (1^st Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 9^th
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 9^th
Key Returnees: Madeline Morland (Sr – Outdoor 1500m 2^nd Place, Outdoor 5000m 3^rd Place)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Jason Fast (4^th Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 3^rd
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 7^th
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Brian Woodard (1^st Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 2^nd
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 1^st
Key Returnees: Alyssa Villareal (Sr – Indoor Long Jump Champion), Linsey Turner (Sr – Indoor Pole Vault 2^nd Place, Indoor Triple Jump 3^rd Place)

Ripon College Redhawks
Head Coach: Bob Wood (6^th Season)
2022 MWC Indoor Finish: 1^st
2022 MWC Outdoor Finish: 3^rd
Key Returnees: Alison Denamur (So), Grace Engebretson (Sr – 2022 Indoor 4x400 Champion), Jenna Erickson (So – 4x100 Champion), Bridget Finn (Sr), Mikayla Flyte (Jr – 10,000m Champion), Kynaeda Gray (Jr – Indoor 4x200 Champion, Sprint Medley Relay Champion), Arynn Mathieu (Sr), Kalyn Otzelberger (Jr), Natalie Pakosz (Sr), Kiki Sherman (So), Isabelle Willett (Jr)