Davidson College

DAVIDSON, N.C. – After turning in some of the top performances in the conference during the regular season, Davidson will look to claim places on the podium at the 87th annual Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship to be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. Friday and Saturday.

The championship will begin Friday at 10:30 a.m. CT with the four of the women's heptathlon events, followed by half of the men's decathlon events at 11 a.m. The awards ceremony is tentatively set for Saturday at 5:05 p.m.

The event is free to the public. Fans unable to attend can follow live results online.

Junior Ryan Hopkins enters the meet with the SoCon's top 2011 performance in the 10,000-meter run. He ran the 10K once this season, breaking the Davidson school record with a time of 30:14.87, and was the runner-up at last year's SoCon Championships. Hopkins also ranks sixth in the 5000-meter run after finishing in 14:35.86 at the outdoor season-opening Charlotte 49er classic.

One of those ranking ahead of Hopkins in the 5K is senior Charlie Schmitt, who set a new Wildcats' record in the event of 14:27.21 at the Raleigh Relays. The time ranks as the third-best performances in the conference this year. Davidson sophomores Demetrios Pagonis and Wes Reynolds could also be threats to score.

Freshman Andrew Lantz, who became the Wildcats' first-ever SoCon indoor 800-meter run champion earlier this year, will look to lead the 'Cats' middle-distance effort. His outdoor performances in the 800- and 1500-meter runs rank just outside the top five in the conference for the year.

Junior Ian Tupper also ranks just outside the top five in the steeplechase with a top time of 9:36.47.

In the sprints, senior JinHan Song will be the 'Cats' top threat. His 100-meter dash time of 10.89 seconds is the highest-ranking Wildcats sprint performance in the SoCon this year at sixth.

Freshman Stewart Dalton could give the 'Cats some points in the long jump, as his leap of 21 feet, 8 inches (6.60m) at the Wofford Terrier Relays ranks sixth in the conference this season.

Junior Taylor Martin will look to return to the podium in the 400-meter hurdles after taking the bronze in 2010. His top performance this season of 55.83 seconds ranks eighth in the league.

Last season, Appalachian State claimed its seventh men's title since 2001.

In the most recent power rankings, which include meets through April 17, Appalachian State and Western Carolina men are tied at the top. Davidson is fifth with 40 points.

The power rankings are determined by the top eight times or scores that are reported by schools for each event that will be conducted at this weekend's championship.

Men's Outdoor Track & Field Final Power Rankings
Team - Points
Appalachian State - 235
Western Carolina - 235
Samford - 170
The Citadel - 61
Davidson - 40
UNCG - 22
Furman - 17
Wofford - 15
Chattanooga - 14

Men’s Track & Field Eyeing Titles at SoCon Championships