Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (5/2/2025) – With the 2025 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's and Women's Track and Field Championships scheduled to begin on Saturday (May 3) afternoon (3:15 p.m.), league interim commissioner Rebecca Mullen is pleased to announce the results of the AEC Men's and Women's Track and Field Pre-Championship Coaches Polls. Gwynedd Mercy University ranked third in the men's six-team field with 97 total points (3^rd of 6, 97 points) and tied for fourth in the women's six-team field with 61 total points (4^th of 6, 61). Marywood University was forecasted to win their sixth straight men's crown as they garnered 278 points worth of votes from the league's six head coaches. Meanwhile, Marymount University was predicted to win their third consecutive women's title as they totaled 197 points worth of votes.
 
Behind the Pacers, the AEC men's head coaches placed Marymount University (2^nd, 130 total points), the Griffins (3^rd, 97), Neumann University (4^th, 53), Immaculata University (5^th, 43), and Pratt Institute (6^th, 3). Similarly, the women's postseason poll placed Marywood University (2^nd, 170), the Cannoneers (3^rd, 63), the Red and Gold (T4^th, 61), the Mighty Macs (T4^th, 61), and the Knights (6^th, 41).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University men's outdoor season has been headlined by the sprints of senior Victor Cruz (New Castle, Del.) and an impressive debut from freshman thrower Tyson Scheitrum (Harrisburg, Pa.). The duo appeared together on the AEC Men's Track and Field Weekly Report four times (Mar. 25, Apr. 1, Apr. 8, Apr. 15); the former made one additional report (Apr. 28) and was named the AEC Men's Track Athlete of the Week on three of them (Apr. 1, Apr. 15, Apr. 28), while the latter was recognized for setting Griffin records in the Hammer (12th, 30.30 @ Stockton University Invitational on Mar. 22) and Discus (8^th, 39.18 @ Messiah University Invitational on Apr. 11 & 12).

Cruz was named the 2024 AEC Men's Track Athlete of the Year after a brilliant performance at the league's championship meet (May 3 & 4). He anchored the Griffins' relay team that placed second in the 4x400-Meter (2^nd, 3:35.49, 8 points, 2^nd Team) and first in the 4x100-Meter (1^st, 43.35*, 10 points, 1^st Team) with a conference championship meet record time of 43.35. Cruz also went on to garner a First Team laurel in the 200-Meter (1^st, 22.28, 10 points, 1^st Team) and Second Team laurels in the 100-Meter (2^nd, 11.15, 8 points, 2^nd Team) and 400-Meter (2^nd, 50.64, 8 points, 2^nd Team) to total 36 of the Red and Gold's 59 points (3^rd of 5, 59 points).
 
The Gwynedd Mercy University women's outdoor season was also highlighted by success in the sprints and throws. Freshmen, Fanta Dukuly (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Truly Heft (East Greenville, Pa.) were the respective performers as the former made a pair of AEC Women's Track and Field Weekly Honor Rolls (Mar. 25, Apr. 8) and a pair of AEC Women's Track Athlete of the Week honors (Apr. 15, Apr. 29), while the latter appeared on three Weekly Honor Rolls (Mar. 25, Apr. 8, Apr. 15). Graduate Natalie O'Neill (Philadelphia, Pa.) also made an appearance on the Honor Roll (Apr. 1) for her hurdles performance at Stockton University's Osprey Open (Mar. 28 & 29).

O'Neill was the Red and Gold's top contributor at the 2024 AEC Track and Field Championships (May 3 & 4) with third-place finishes in the 100-Meter Hurdles (3rd, 18.37, 6 points), 400-Meter Hurdles (3rd, 1:09.88, 6), and High Jump (3rd, 1.37, 8) as well as the anchor run of the Griffins' fourth-place performance in the 4x100-Meter (4^th, 56.79, 4) helping her factor into 24 of the Griffins' 47 points (4^th of 5, 47).
 
For more information about the 2025 AEC Men's and Women's Track & Field Championships, please visit GwyneddAthletics.com for links to the AEC's CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL and GMercyU's CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION for student-athletes, coaches, administrators, student workers, families, and friends.
 
The complete results of the 2025 AEC Men's and Women's Track & Field Pre-Championship Polls are listed below and available using the provided links.
 
2025 AEC Men's Track and Field Pre-Championship Poll
 

Rank.Team	Total Points
1. Marywood University	278
2. Marymount University	130
3. Gwynedd Mercy University	97
4. Neumann University	53
5. Immaculata University	43
6. Pratt Institute	3

2025 AEC Women's Track and Field Pre-Championship Poll
 

Rank.Team	Total Points
1. Marymount University	197
2. Marywood University	170
3. Pratt Institute	63
T4. Gwynedd Mercy University	61
T4. Immaculata University	61
6. Neumann University	41