GRINNELL, Iowa – The Midwest Conference announced the 2022-23 indoor track and field coaches' poll on Thursday, and both Ripon programs will enter the campaign as the league favorites. The Red Hawks made history in 2022, when both programs won conference crowns for the first time and 33 individuals were named as All-Conference selections.
 
Additionally, head coach Bob Wood was selected as the Coach of the Year, and the Red Hawks broke a trio of records at the Midwest Conference Championships. Alas, Ripon has turned their focus to the upcoming campaign, and both squads again look locked and loaded heading into 2023.
 
Coming off a 2022 MWC Championship in indoor track and field, the Ripon women's program received all eligible first place votes and 64 total points to secure the top spot in the poll. On the men's side, the Red Hawks swept the indoor and outdoor championships last season, and Ripon will look for another strong campaign after picking up seven votes in the preseason poll.
 
The Ripon men scored 172 points at last year's indoor championships, dethroning defending champion Monmouth College by nearly 40 points. On day two, the Red Hawks took first place in three events (400 dash, high jump, 4x400 relay) and runner-up in six others (distance medley, 60 hurdles, 60 dash, 200 dash, triple jump, pole vault). Additionally, in the triple jump and high jump, Ripon would score in the runner-up and third-place positions, while sweeping all three medals in the 400 dash.
 
Then-junior Dameco Walker was the top point scorer of the championships tallying 41.25 points, which is the highest mark for an individual in school history at one championship.  Competing in seven events, Walker earned All-MWC honors in six of those events. He tripled up on gold medals in the Long Jump, 4x400 Relay and 400m, while finishing second in the 200m and Triple Jump and adding a bronze in the Sprint Medley Relay.  In the Long Jump, Walker qualified through to finals in the seventh position, and it wasn't until his final jump of the competition did he secure the lead and the eventual win with a leap of 7.30m/23'11.5. 
 
On the women's side, the Red Hawks picked up 173.5 total points at the MWC Championships last February, as Payton Rahn, Emma Spalding and Makaila Weddle all scored over 20 points each to lead the Red Hawks. Rahn's total of 28.5 points was second highest of any individual in the meet, while Spalding's 27.5 points was third overall and Weddle tallied 21 total points.
 
Individually, Rahn recorded second place finishes in the 400m with a time of 61.65 seconds and Triple Jump with a new PR distance of 34'5.75/10.51m. Spalding also had two individual second place finishes, setting a new school record in the 200m with a time of 25.99 seconds, while nearly setting another school record in the 60m dash with a time of 7.96 seconds. Weddle earned her first individual championship in the 800m with a time of 2:23.97, while earning a bronze medal in the Mile with a time of 5:18.21.
 
Fans will have several chances to watch the MWC favorites, as Ripon is set to host the first indoor meet of the season this weekend and will also host an Alumni Dual on Jan. 14 and the Red Hawk Opener on Jan. 21. The Red Hawk Invite will take place on Feb. 4, with Senior Day at the Dick Hendricks Invite set for the following weekend. Finally, the Ripon Final Qualifier will be held at the Willmore Center on March 4.
 
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.
 
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.
 
2022-23 MWC Men's Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
1. Ripon College (7) – 63 points
2. Monmouth College (2) – 56 points
T3. Cornell College – 44 points
T3. Grinnell College – 44 points
T5. Illinois College – 32 points
T5. Knox College – 32 points
7. Lawrence University – 28 points
8. Beloit College – 17 points
9. Lake Forest College – 8 points
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.