Somerset, NJ -- The Saint Francis University men's outdoor track and field team was selected to finish third and the women's team was picked fourth in the 2023 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced Wednesday.
 
2022 NEC Champions Wagner was selected to finish first in the conference with six first-place votes, followed by CCSU with three first-place votes and the Red Flash. Behind Saint Francis, in order, was LIU, FDU, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, Stonehill and St. Francis Brooklyn.
 
On the women's side, CCSU was selected to finish first with six first-place votes, followed by LIU with one first-place vote, Wagner and Saint Francis with two first-place votes. Behind the Red Flash, in order, was Sacred Heart, Merrimack, Stonehill, St. Francis Brooklyn and FDU.
 
Last season, the women won their second consecutive conference title with 175 points. The men finished sixth with 72 points.
 
Returning for the Red Flash are 2022 NEC Most Outstanding Field Performers, Madeline Murphy and Nickolas Hyde. At the Championship, Murphy won the triple jump and took second in the long jump. Hyde defended his shot put title for the second consecutive year and placed fourth in the discus.
 
Hyde also competed at the 2022 NCAA Division I East Preliminary with teammate Ardonntrell Williams who took second in the 60m hurdles at the NEC Championships.
 
The Red Flash will return to action this weekend at the Trojan Challenge hosted by the University of Mount Olive.