WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State women and Northern Iowa men have been selected as pre-championship favorites for this weekend's 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship in Carbondale, Ill., in a vote by league coaches.

The SIU Recreation Center on the campus of Southern Illinois will serve as host for the meet as the WSU women look to capture its second-straight MVC indoor team championship and sixth overall, which would give the Shockers the most consecutive wins in the Valley for the women's program.   

The defending champions women's team boast an MVC top-five performance in 15 events, holding the top mark in six and the second-best spot in five more.

Look for juniors Linda Feldberga and Brooke Demo to compete well for the women's team as they are the Shockers' NCAA provisional qualifiers in the 800-meters and pole vault, respectively.

On the men's side, Wichita State will look to challenge in the middle-distances with junior Girts Azis and in the high jump with freshman newcomer Jesee Deal.

--WICHITA STATE--

WOMEN'S TEAM                        Points

Wichita State                                    64

UNI                                                  50

Indiana State                                    43           

Southern Illinois                               38

Illinois State                                     36

Missouri State                                  30

Drake                                              19

Bradley                                             8

MEN'S TEAM                                Points

UNI                                                  36

Indiana State                                    30

Southern Illinois                                21

Wichita State                                    20

Illinois State                                     10

Drake                                                9