BURNSVILLE, MN – The University of Mary is picked third in the 2023-24 Preseason Northern Sun Men's Indoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll. Raheem Taitt-Best and Malakhi Stevenson were announced as the NSIC Athletes to Watch for the Marauders.  
 
UMary picked up a first place vote in the preseason coaches' poll. 12-time defending NSIC champion Minnesota State is picked first, followed by Augustana with the Marauders third in the 11-team league.
 
"The men's team is now in a position to push themselves higher in the conference standings compared to the last three years," said Marauders Head Coach Cale Korbelik. "They have an opportunity to be a special group together."
A sophomore from Bridgeport, Barbados, Taitt-Best looks to build off an incredible outdoor season in 2023. After making the NSIC indoor championship finals in the 200 and the 400, he proceeded to win both events during the outdoor season. His championship time in the 400 broke NSIC and UMary records. Taitt-Best wrapped up his first collegiate season by placing 14^th in the 400 at the NCAA outdoor championships.
 
"Raheem had a stellar finish to his freshman year and is looking stronger going into year two,' said Korbelik.
 
An All-Northern Sun performer in the multis, Stevenson continued to show tremendous growth last season. After placing 5^th at the 2022 NSIC outdoor championships in the decathlon as a freshman, he claimed 4^th at the 2023 NSIC indoor championships in the heptathlon. The native of Burlington, WA, wrapped up an impressive sophomore season by finishing second at the 2023 NSIC outdoor championships in the decathlon.    
 
"Malakhi surprised a lot of people last year and looks to continue that trend of progression in the multi-events," said Korbelik.
 
UMary opens the indoor season by hosting the Marauders Indoor Opener on Saturday, December 2. Start time is 11 am for field events with running events commencing at 12 noon.
 
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