ATLANTA - Piedmont men's track & field has been selected first in the Collegiate Conference of the South Preseason Coaches Poll, released late Thursday afternoon.

With the outdoor campaign slated to start this weekend, the Lions are the favorites to take their third consecutive CCS conference championship in the young history of the league.

Piedmont took home 25 total points in the voting and received 5-of-6 first-place votes, with some distance between it and No. 2 Belhaven, which tallied 16 points and the final first-place vote.

The Blazers slotted in just ahead of third-place Maryville, which received 15 total points. There was a tie in the fourth spot, with Covenant and Asbury each earning 10 points apiece.

Finally, Huntingdon rounded out the league in sixth place with four points.

Piedmont returns a deep array of athletes from the field and track sides, as three of the five who won events at the 2024 conference meet are back in Tucker Cox (steeplechase), Silas Goolsby (110m hurdles) and Garrett Stadler (400m hurdles).

All-Conference honorees Matthew Blocksom, Layton Bradford, Keegan Ivey, Walker Capelle and Parker Snelson also return to the fold.

Piedmont is scheduled to begin the outdoor season this weekend, with a trip to Central, South Carolina for the Southern Wesleyan Opener.

The 2025 CCS Men's Track and Field Championship opens on Wednesday, April 23 and is capped by final events on Thursday, April 24, hosted by Maryville College.

2025 CCS MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1.	Piedmont	25 points (5)
2.	Belhaven	16 points (1)
3.	Maryville	15 points
T4.	Covenant	10 points
T4.	Asbury	10 points
6.	Huntingdon	4 points