FOREST, Va. --- While the weather outside turned cold for much of the region, the ODAC men's indoor track and field ranks start to heat up following the holiday break. Most conference teams opened their slates prior to the flip of the calendar with a couple of meets the first weekend of December, but the bulk of competition begins this weekend in preparation not only for the ODAC Championship but with league programs and athletes setting sights on NCAA postseason competition.

Two-time defending ODAC champion Bridgewater College looks to send some of its athletes to compete in the NCAA Division III Championships at the Res Rec Center on the campus of North Central College in Naperville, Ill., a feat that was achieved by just one conference men's competitor in 2015-16. Eastern Mennonite University thrower Jeremy Heizer, who won both the ODAC shot put and weight throw events, represented the league in the national shot put field. He chimed in 14th overall after heaving the apparatus 15.38 meters (50' 5.5").

Before any thoughts of national competition come to mind, ODAC teams will gear up for the conference championships. The annual league-wide affair will be hosted by Roanoke College in the brand new Cregger Center. The Maroons' new facility has already been put to the test with a season-opening meet, while also earning national attention as a welcoming venue for the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Soccer Championships this fall. With a few more meets scheduled this winter, the Cregger Center will be ready to provide a first class atmosphere for ODAC competitors for the championship on February 26.

Any newcomers to the league in 2016-17 will have plenty of competition from incumbents for All-ODAC spots with 37 honorees returning to rosters this season. Amongst that group are 11 standouts that won events and earned All-ODAC First Team recognition. Washington and Lee University leads the way with six first team returners. Ian McDonald claimed a pair of individual titles in the mile and 3,000-meter run, while Rob Jones bested the field in the pole vault and Davis Turner cleared the highest elevation in the high jump. Albert Del Cristo, Hank Patrick, and Jake Roberts helped the Generals win the distance medley relay.

Bridgewater won four individual events last season with two of those standouts set for another go. ODAC Rookie of the Year Davonta Womack won the 60-meter dash and long jump while Brandon Christian sprang his way to a win in the triple jump. Virginia Wesleyan College also picked up two wins. Trey White won the 400-meter dash and is joined by A.J. Ramirez as returning members of the victorious 4x400-meter relay squad.

Roanoke College boasts the remaining first team returning athlete. Cameron Thompson posted a pair of top-three finishes including the individual title in the 200-meter dash.

Listed below are preview capsules for each of the ODAC men's programs.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.

*indicates returning athlete

Head Coach: Brian Flynn/Shane Stevens Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: Brandon Christian, Davonta Womack   Second Team: Danny Breedlove, Darin Council, Alex Galloway, Jamie Hiegel, Connor Maguder, Don Mills, Sam Smith   Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 1st - 166.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   TJ: Brandon Christian (1st - 13.87m)*   800m: Nevin Heckman (1st - 1:56.73)   60m: Davonta Womack (1st - 0:06.92)*   LJ: Davonta Womack (1st - 6.98m)*   TJ: Darin Council (2nd - 13.70m)*   800m: Sam Gunther (2nd - 1:56.76)   3K: Jamie Hiegel (2nd - 8:58.25)*   Weight: Don Mills (2nd - 14.63m)*   200m: Davonta Womack (2nd - 0:22.50)*   HJ: Brandon Christian (3rd - 1.84m)*   LJ: Brandon Christian (3rd - 6.72m)*   200m: Alex Galloway (3rd - 0:22.85)*   Shot Put: Don Mills (3rd - 14.00m)* 4x400m Relay: 2nd - 3:22.84 Distance Medley Relay: 2nd - 10:56.45		Head Coach: Brian Simpson Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Grant Amoateng, Tyler Denlinger, Connor Faint, Hunter Sampson, Alec Thibodeaux 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 3rd - 84.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   Shot Put: Jeremy Heizer (1st - 15.81m)   Weight: Jeremy Heizer (1st - 15.06m)   60H: Richard Robinson (1st - 0:08.28)   TJ: Grant Amoateng (3rd - 13.61m)*   800m: Tyler Denlinger (3rd - 1:57.24)*   Mile: Alec Thibodeaux (3rd - 4:25.98)* 4x400m Relay: 3rd - 3:27.32 Distance Medley Relay: 7th - 11:52.21
Head Coach: Danny Cash Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: None   Second Team: Josephus Mitchell   Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 9th - 26.5 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   60m: Josephus Mitchell (2nd - 0:06.99)*   800m: Trent Evans (4th - 1:58.80)   LJ: Alex Martin (4th - 6.65m)   TJ: Yashua Clemons (5th - 12.86m)   LJ: Nate Phillips (8th - 6.35m)* 4x400m Relay: N/A Distance Medley Relay: 5th - 11:10.79		Head Coach: Jim Sprecher Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: None   Second Team: Andrew Osborne, Evan Truman   Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 4th - 62.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   5K: Andrew Osborne (2nd - 15:04.57)*   LJ: Evan Truman (2nd - 6.96m)*   60m: Evan Truman (4th - 0:07.13)*   3K: Andrew Osborne (4th - 8:58.57)*   Shot Put: Evan Griffey (4th - 13.50m)*   Weight: Michael Romano (4th - 14.51m) 4x400m Relay: 6th - 3:34.32 Distance Medley Relay: N/A
Head Coach: Bill Cooper Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: None   Second Team: Anthony Quinn   Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 6th - 43.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   60H: Anthony Quinn (2nd - 0:08.36)*   PV: Karim Frazier (3rd - 4.06m)*   200m: Karim Frazier (4th - 0:23.06)*   PV: Gavin Cook (4th - 3.81m)*   60H: DJ Petty (5th - 0:08.71)*   LJ: DJ Petty (5th - 6.45m)* 4x400m Relay: 8th - 3:44.94 Distance Medley Relay: N/A		Head Coach: Kirk Nauman Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: Cameron Thompson   Second Team: None   Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 5th - 48.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   200m: Cameron Thompson (1st - 0:22.27)*   5K: Harrison Toney (1st - 15:02.42)   60m: Cameron Thompson (3rd - 0:07.05)*   3K: Harrison Toney (3rd - 8:58.47)   Mile: Kevin Waterman (4th - 4:26.90)* 4x400m Relay: 5th - 3:32.07 Distance Medley Relay: 4th - 11:05.39
Head Coach: Andy Marrocco Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: None   Second Team: Anthony Banks   Third Team: Ansel Borhauer, Justin Mehrer, Daryl Pate, Bradley Zartman 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 8th - 36.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   HJ: Anthony Banks (2nd - 1.89m)*   400m: Ansel Borhauer (3rd - 0:50.60)*   200m: Ansel Borhauer (5th - 0:23.07)*   LJ: Anthony Banks (6th - 6.41m)*   Weight: Jackson Marquaye (7th - 12.70m) 4x400m Relay: 7th - 3:35.17 Distance Medley Relay: 3rd - 11:00.48		Head Coach: Matt Littleton Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: A.J. Ramirez, Trey White   Second Team: None   Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 7th - 42.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   400m: Trey White (1st - 0:50.44)*   PV: Cody Lichvar (2nd - 4.06m)   400m: A.J. Ramirez (6th - 0:51.22)*   3K: Trevor Maloney (6th - 9:05.23)*   PV: Cody Below (6th - 3.66m) 4x400m Relay: 1st - 3:21.96 Distance Medley Relay: 6th - 11:23.08
Head Coach: Brandon Uhl Returning All-ODAC Athletes   First Team: Albert Del Cristo, Rob Jones, Ian McDonald, Hank Patrick, Jake Roberts, Davis Turner   Second Team: Jack Jones, MacKenzye Leroy, Patrick Robertson   Third Team: Drew Pranka, Mac Strehler 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 2nd - 115.5 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   PV: Rob Jones (1st - 4.16m)*   Mile: Ian McDonald (1st - 4:22.08)*   3K: Ian McDonald (1st - 8:57.34)*   HJ: Davis Turner (1st - 1.92m)*   400m: Jack Jones (2nd - 0:50.47)*   Mile: MacKenzye Leroy (2nd - 4:23.98)*   Shot Put: Patrick Robertson (2nd - 15.01m)*   60H: Drew Pranka (3rd - 0:08.53)*   Weight: Patrick Robertson (3rd - 14.54m)*   5K: Mac Strehler (3rd - 15:09.23)* 4x400m Relay: 4th - 3:29.12 Distance Medley Relay: 1st - 10:42.23