BURNSVILLE – Earlier today the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced the Men's & Women's Indoor Track & Field Preseason Polls and Athletes to Watch.

USF was projected 5^th on the Women's side with Khot Juac and Emily Swanson named to the Watch List. On the Men's side Tyler Hiatt and Ben Mandel are expected to lead the Cougars to a 9^th place finish.
 
"We are looking for a strong Indoor Season for our USF athletes. Many place winners from the NSIC Indoor Championships return. Add another year of work and dedication, USF women will have a well-balanced team that will score points in more events than in the past. We look forward to our Indoor Season and reaching higher heights in the team standings from last year!" – Director of Track & Field, Doug Petersen
 
Last year the same four student-athletes were chosen as USF's Preseason Athletes to Watch and all had successful seasons.

Emily Swanson broke the USF Women's Pentathlon record twice, first with 3752 points at the Bearcat Open and then, with 3771 points in a 2^nd place finish at the NSIC Championships. The latter performance earned her a spot in the NCAA National Championship Meet where she was the first USF athlete since 2015 to place in the event as she took 12^th. She was named Second Team All-American for her performance.

Khot Juac was named to the All-Region Team in the 3000 meter run after taking second in the NSIC Championship at 9:55.5. She also set a school record in the event with a 9:52.06 at the SDSU Indoor Classic Meet in which she placed 5^th. She also nearly set two other records last season; a 2:56.22 in the 1000 meter run which stands 2^nd at USF and a 4:56.89 in the mile run which stands 3^rd at USF. Khot also recently placed 5th at Cross Country Nationals.

Tyler Hiatt set a school record in the weight throw at the 2023 NSIC Indoor Championships with a throw of 18.52 meters which placed him 3^rd. In 2022 he was a National Qualifier for the discus and shot put. He was also named 2023 NSIC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year on top of his All-Conference Honors. He earned NSIC High Pointer recognition with 26 points following a first place finish in the shot put and two second place finishes in the discus and hammer throw.

Ben Mandel placed 6^th in the Men's 60 meter hurdles with a career best 8.24 at the NSIC Indoor Conference Championships. Ben returns as the Cougars top 60m hurdler with hopes to land atop the conference podium at the end of the season.

USF opens their season on December 1^st at the SDSU Holiday Invite & Multi in Brookings. This will be their only event prior to Christmas break. The remainder of their season will begin on January 13^th at the Mount Marty Open.