INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) women’s outdoor track and field title, the league office announced on Thursday.
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 Indianapolis
- Received ten first-place vote and 166 total points.
- Finished fourth at GLVC Championship last season.
- Coached by Brad Robinson in his third season.
- Return 2025 All-GLVC pole vault runner-up Mackenzie Van Bibber and shot put runner-up Hannah Dart.
No. 2 Lewis
- Received four first-place votes and 159 total points.
- Won program’s ninth consecutive and record 15th overall GLVC Championship.
- Tied for 23rd at the 2025 NCAA DII Championships.
- Coached by Dana Schwarting, who enters his 20th season and is the reigning GLVC Coach of the Year.
- Return the reigning GLVC Field Athlete of the Year, and NCAA Division II long jump champion Denise Hernandez and All-American and GLVC Champion Karmen Kurowicka (high jump).
- Also return 2025 GLVC Champions Madilyn Calloway (10,000m), Mary Edwards (3,000m), Brynlee Keeran (pole vault), and Aubrey Brinkman (discus).
No. 3 Lincoln
- Received 144 total points.
- Finished runner-up at GLVC Championship and tied for 17th at the NCAA Division II Championships last season.
- Coached by Victor Thomas in his 24th season.
- Return 2025 GLVC Champions Aaliyannah Anderson (100m hurdles), Odeshia Nanton (400m hurdles), and Brittania Ingram (triple jump).
No. 4 Southwest Baptist
- Received 127 total points.
- Placed third at GLVC Championship and 11th at the DII Championships last season.
- Coached by Corey McElhaney, who enters his 19th season.
- Return All-GLVC Champion Savannah Manthey (javelin)
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 14th was Missouri S&T (116 points), Maryville (116), Drury (83), Truman State (76), McKendree (75), Rockhurst (57), Illinois Springfield (50), Quincy (40), William Jewell (37), and Upper Iowa (27).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Rank |
School |
Points (1st-place votes) |
| 1. |
Indianapolis |
166 (10) |
| 2. |
Lewis |
159 (4) |
| 3. |
Lincoln |
144 |
| 4. |
Southwest Baptist |
127 |
| 5. |
Missouri S&T |
116 |
|
Maryville |
116 |
| 7. |
Drury |
83 |
| 8. |
Truman State |
76 |
| 9. |
McKendree |
75 |
| 10. |
Rockhurst |
57 |
| 11. |
Illinois Springfield |
50 |
| 12. |
Quincy |
40 |
| 13. |
William Jewell |
37 |
| 14. |
Upper Iowa |
28 |