Women’s indoor track and field tabbed for seventh-place finish in the SAC preseason poll
The Eagles are picked to finish in the middle of the pack during this women's indoor season
ROCK HILL, S.C. - In the South Atlantic Conference's annual preseason coaches' poll, Carson-Newman women's indoor track and field was picked to finish second, the league office announced on Thursday afternoon.
The ranking was announced while the Eagles had already begun their season at the Liberty Kickoff in Lynchburg, Virginia. However, head coach Kieran Showler-Davis is feeling eager for the season ahead.
"I'm excited to see the team compete this indoor season," Showler-Davis said. I think we have great depth as well as quality amongst the squad."
Showler-Davis rounded out his coaching staff with Shemar Patten and Oliver Thatcher as graduate assistants.
Patten, a native of Portmore, St. Catherine, Jamaica, spent the last two seasons with Carson-Newman, initially beginning his career at Mississippi College. During his final year, he ran the first leg on the 4x100m team that won the 2025 SAC Championship. He also ran the opening leg of the 4x100m relay at the NCAA Division II Championships.
Thatcher comes to Mossy Creek from SAC counterpart, Lenoir-Rhyne. He became the third multi in Bears history to earn All-American status, being named to the second team for his efforts last season. In his senior year, Thatcher won the decathlon at the 2025 SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, racking up 6947 points, the most in his career. He notched a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships.
"I'm really excited about bringing both of these guys on board," Showler-Davis said. "I've known Shemar for years as his coach, and I'm equally excited to have Oliver joining us."
Returning on the women's side are the likes of Sade de Sousa, Brooke Taylor and Jenna Pittman. There is also excitement with the injection of youth from Meiah Moss from Baxter, Tennessee and Upperman High School.
Last year's SAC Champions, Wingate, topped the poll with 10 first-place votes and 131 points, positioning the Bulldogs to repeat once again.
Lenoir-Rhyne earned one first-place vote and totaled 111 points to slot in the No. 2 spot. Catawba also received one first-place vote and finished third with 106 points. Tusculum was just adrift in fourth with 98 points, narrowly ahead of Lincoln Memorial at No. 5 with 95.
Anderson was tabbed as sixth with 92 points, C-N followed behind with 76 points, while Newberry took eighth with 62 points.
Mars Hill earned 48 points to take ninth, while UVA Wise and Emory & Henry tied for 10th with 37 points each. Coker rounded out the preseason poll at No. 12 with 31 points.
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | Wingate (10) | 131 |
| 2 | Lenior-Rhyne (1) | 111 |
| 3 | Catawba (1) | 106 |
| 4 | Tusculum | 98 |
| 5 | Lincoln Memorial | 95 |
| 6 | Anderson | 92 |
| 7 | Carson-Newman | 76 |
| 8 | Newberry | 62 |
| 9 | Mars Hill | 48 |
| 10 | UVA Wise | 37 |
| 11 | Emory & Henry | 37 |
| 12 | Coker | 31 |
