INDIANAPOLIS – Lewis was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) women’s indoor track and field title, the league office announced on Wednesday.
The preseason poll is selected by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Lewis
- Received 12 first-place votes and 168 total points.
- Won program’s sixth consecutive and 12th overall GLVC Championship last year.
- Placed 17th at NCAA National Championship this past season.
- Coached by Dana Schwarting, who enters his 20th season and is the reigning GLVC Coach of the Year.
- Return GLVC triple-jump champion Denise Hernandez.
No. 2 Lincoln
- Received two first-place votes and 149 total points.
- Finished runner-up at the GLVC Championship and 15th at the NCAA National Championship last season.
- Coached by Victor Thomas, who enters his 23rd season.
- Top returners: Junior Britney Brown (400m) and the 4×400m relay quartet of Shaneal Clarke Giddings, Shevanae Thomas, Maria Diamond and Shantae George.
No. 3 Indianapolis
- Received 141 total points.
- Finished third at the GLVC Championship and 26th at the NCAA National Championship last season.
- Coached by Brad Robinson, who enters his second season.
No. 4 Southwest Baptist
- Received 137 total points.
- Finished fourth at the GLVC Championship and 14th at the NCAA National Championship last season.
- Coached by Corey McElhaney, who enters his 19th season.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 14th was Maryville (115 points), Missouri S&T (109), Truman State (97), Drury (81), Illinois Springfield (71), McKendree (60), William Jewell (53), Rockhurst University (37), Upper Iowa (33), and Quincy (23).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-place votes) |
| 1. |
Lewis |
168 (12) |
| 2. |
Lincoln |
149 (2) |
| 3. |
Indianapolis |
141 |
| 4. |
Southwest Baptist |
137 |
| 5. |
Maryville |
115 |
| 6. |
Missouri S&T |
109 |
| 7. |
Truman State |
97 |
| 8. |
Drury |
81 |
| 9. |
Illinois Springfield |
71 |
| 10. |
McKendree |
60 |
| 11. |
William Jewell |
53 |
| 12. |
Rockhurst |
37 |
| 13. |
Upper Iowa |
33 |
| 14. |
Quincy |
23 |