Mount Olive Picked to Win 10th Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Title in Preseason Coaches Poll

Mount Olive Picked to Win 10th Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Title in Preseason Coaches Poll

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GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas men’s outdoor track & field head coaches unanimously selected Mount Olive to win an eighth consecutive and 10th overall conference championship in the 2022 preseason poll released on Wednesday. 

The Trojans received a perfect 100 points and 10-of-11 first-place votes, since teams can not vote for themselves. They are led by reigning outdoor Track Athlete and Freshman of the Year, Cas Kopmels. UNC Pembroke was picked second with 88 points and the remaining first-place tally while Emmanuel was picked third with 78 points.  North Greenville (76) and Lees-McRae (64) rounded out the top five. 

Southern Wesleyan was chosen sixth with 54 points followed by Belmont Abbey (46), Barton (33), Erskine (26), King (24) and first-year program Converse (16). 

The 2022 Conference Carolinas Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held on April 29-30 at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on the campus of Mount Olive. 
 
2022 Conference Carolinas
Men's Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Poll
 
School Total (First Place)
Mount Olive 100 (10)
UNC Pembroke 88 (1)
Emmanuel 78
North Greenville 76
Lees-McRae 64
Southern Wesleyan 54
Belmont Abbey 46
Barton 33
Erskine 26
King 24
Converse  16
2022 Conference Carolinas Men's Outdoor Track and Field
Players to Watch
 
Barton
  • Tyler Burns, Sr., Sprints, Wilson, North Carolina (2021 All-Conference Carolinas 200m, 400m relay)
  • Chianti Ghee, Sr., Throws, Fayetteville, North Carolina 
Belmont Abbey
  • Thomas Thierfelder, Jr., Mid-Distance, Gastonia, North Carolina (2021 Conference Carolinas 800m Champion)
  • James Thierfelder, Sr., Sprints, Gastonia, North Carolina
  • Luke Thierfelder, Fr., Throws, Gastonia, North Carolina
Converse
  • Gerrard Donald, Fr., Sprints, Piedmont, South Carolina
  • Gavin McFadden, Fr., Sprints, Rock Hill, South Carolina
  • Luis Rios Brena, Fr., Distance, Gray Court, South Carolina
Emmanuel
  • Sulaimane Bangura, Sr., Conyers, Georgia (Four-time All-Conference Carolinas First Team, Six-time USTFCCCA All-Region, First team All-American, Second Team All-American)
  • Ahmad Perryman, Sr., Roswell, Georgia (Two-time All-American)
  • Tucker Flint, Jr., Commerce, Georgia (Four-time All-Conference Carolinas First Team, Two-time USTFCCCA All-Region)
Erskine
  • Tim Ashe, So., Sprints, Greer, South Carolina
  • Gabriel Walker, Fr., Taylors, South Carolina
  • Noah Woodbury, So., Distance, Summerville, South Carolina (2021 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team, 10,000m) 
King
  • Kolin Miller, Sr., Morristown, Tennessee (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team Weight Throw)
  • Blaine Metcalf, Sr., Morristown, Tennessee
  • Davion Tillison, Fr., Wytheville, Virginia 
Lees-McRae
  • Jean Origene, Fr., Distance, Newburgh, New York (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas First Team 60m)
  • Ian Kelbert, Fr., Distance, St. Augustine, Florida (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team 3,000m, 2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team 5,000m)
  • Brian Sims Jr., Sr., Sprints/Distance, Birmingham, Alabama (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas First Team 400m, 2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team 400m)
Mount Olive
  • Justen Burnette, Jr., Sprints, Winston, North Carolina (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas 200m Champion, Second Team 60m; 2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Outdoor 4x100m Relay Champion, Second Team 200m, Second Team 100m, Indoor 60m Champion, 200m Champion)
  • Cas Kopmels, Fr., Distance, Leiden, Netherlands (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Mile Champion, 5000m Second Team; 2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Indoor Mile Champion, 3000m Champion, 5000m Champion, Outdoor 1500m Champion, 500m Champion, 10000m Champion)
  • Jon Wojcuich, Sr., Throws, Beulaville, North Carolina (2021-22 All-Conference Carolinas Weight Throw Champion2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Indoor Weight Throw Champion, Outdoor Hammer Throw Champion, Second team Javelin Trow)
North Greenville
  • Jacob Holcombe, Sr., Distance, Walhalla, South Carolina (2021 All-Conference Carolinas First Team 3,000m Steeple)
  • Adrian McGee, Gr., Jumps, Greer, South Carolina (2021 Conference Carolinas Indoor Long Jump Champion; 2021 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team, Outdoor Long Jump; 2018 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team, Outdoor High Jump; 2018 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team, Outdoor Long Jump)
  • Victor Shellhammer, Sr., Mid Distance, Summerville, South Carolina (2021 Conference Carolinas Indoor Mile Champion, All-Conference Carolinas Third Team, Outdoor 800m, 1500m)
Southern Wesleyan
  • Chandler Whittle, Sr., High Jump/4x100, Walhalla, South Carolina (2021 USTFCCA DII Indoor All-Southeast Region High Jump, All-Conference Carolinas Indoor Second Team High Jump; 2020 All-Conference Carolinas Indoor First Team High Jump; 2019 USTFCCCA NCAA DII Outdoor All-Region High Jump, All-Conference Carolinas Outdoor Second Team High Jump)
  • Noah Meadows, So., Jumps/Sprints, Dunedin, Florida
  • Luke Gordy, So., Throws, Oak Ridge, North Carolina (2021 All-Conference Carolinas Outdoor Third Team Javelin)
UNC Pembroke
  • Orlandus Gamble, Jr., Jumps, Kings Mountain, North Carolina (PBC Champion High Jump, PBC All-Conference High Jump, National Qualifier High Jump, 4x100 Relay, NCAA All-American)
  • Caleb Baldwin, So., Sprints, Mebane, North Carolina (PBC Champion 100m Dash, 200m Dash, PBC All-Conference 100m Dash, 200m Dash, 4x400 Relay, PBC Men’s Track Athlete of the Year, National Qualifier 4x100 Relay)
  • Joshua Chepkesir, R-Jr., Distance, Eldoret, Kenya (PBC Champion 5000m Run, 100000m Run, PBC All-Conference 5000m Run, 100000m Run, PBC Freshman Track Athlete of the Year)