The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) coaches' polls have been released for the 2026 track and field season. The W women's team was tabbed third and the men sixth.

League coaches believe it will be a two-team race in SLIAC Women's Track and Field this year between Greenville University and Principia College. Greenville is still the overwhelming favorite to win a sixth straight championship. They picked up eight of the nine first-place votes and totaled 64 points in the poll voting. The team will be led by a trio of All-Conference performers in Alivia Clayton, Jazmyn Harmon, and Lainey Hicks. Clayton is a standout distance runner, while Harmon and Hicks are two top jumpers. Norah Swinigan leads the team's group of middle-distance runners with Madison Kaceicius competing in the hurdles. Also back are Katie Farrow, TyKiaza Valentine, and Raven Vance. 

Principia received 57 points, picking up the lone remaining first-place vote. Sana Udoekong, one of just three athletes to take home both the indoor and outdoor Track Athlete of the Year in the same year, headlines the Panthers returners. The sophomore totaled seven medals last year; setting three conference records. Amarachi Ejimadu is another top-notch sprinter, while Sophia Green is the team's top distance runner. Hannah Myers is one of the premier jumpers in the conference, taking home gold in both the high jump and long jump last season while Kiara Smith and Ariana Williams add to their roster of jumpers. Danielle Vargas should make an impact in the middle-distance events after a strong showing in cross country during the fall.  

Finishing third on the poll is MUW with 47 points. The Owls finished 3rd in both the indoor and outdoor conference championships last season. They will have several experienced athletes competing once again, starting with distance runner Hannah Owens, who has won seven medals during her career. Arie'Onna McCollum and Brooklyn Kelley are two of the top throwers in the league, each winning silver last season while Kelley was named the Outdoor Field Freshman of the Year. Princess Lofton returns as well and will compete in the sprints and hurdles. Top newcomers include Ariella Jones, Cassidy Talley, Re'Niyah Irving, Destini Simmons, Jakayla Smith, and Temera Ross.

Webster University comes in fourth with 41 points. Top returners include Aissata Kamara and Cali Pavlisko, while Violet Hill is among the newcomers looking to make a difference. 

With 38 points is Spalding University. Eryn Ratacizak leads the list of returners for the Golden Eagles. The sophomore was named the Indoor Field Freshman of the Year after setting the conference record in the pole vault. Holly Higgs and Bessie Kelley have combined for three medals while Daisia Jones, Shyanne Hagan, Roslyn Stull, and Takeiyah Conn fill out the roster. Azra Sahingoz and Tiamane Alo are new to the program.

Lyon College totaled 29 points, putting them sixth in the voting. Lyon returns Lana Ballard and Samantha Love from last year's team. Ballard scored in the 400 meters last season while Love scored in the high jump. Brooklyn Collins was an All-Conference runner in cross country and will look to transition that to the track. 

Westminster College received 20 points, good for a seventh place showing. The Blue Jays will rely on Makayla Cordes and Emma Braby, who both earned All-Conference honors last season, to bolster their team while Amber Dierling also returns. Among the new faces to watch will be Sadie Brandt, Riley Vogel, and Ellie Schisler. 

Blackburn College picked up 15 points, for an eighth place spot. The Beavers will be a young team with head coach Nathan Daum focusing on his group of newcomers. Among the newcomers expected to play a large role in fielding a team this year will be Mary Ahrens, Maya Bennett, and Kaitlyn Garland. 

Eureka College was ninth with 13 total points. 

In the men's race, although Greenville University was predicted by league coaches to run their championship streak to seven, their lead in the poll was closer than in previous years. Greenville finished atop the poll with 64 points, including six first-place votes. The Panthers have won every indoor title in conference history and seven straight outdoor championships. Noel Andino won silver in the 400meter outdoor race, while Eric Mitchell was the silver medalist in the outdoor shot put. Other returners to watch will be Mason Clayton, Jamarion Cobbins, Neko Gibson, and Ben Wilcoxen. Freshman Kaden Einhorn will look to carry over his success in cross country, as SLIAC champion this past fall, to the spring and the track. Other new faces to the program that could make an impact are Gavin Baldwin, Leonard Bratton, Kyle Cooley, William Cress, Ty Kellum, Jared Klein, Jaylin Morrow, William Patzia, and Keenan Powell. 

Webster University finished second with 55 points, accumulating two first-place votes. The Gorloks took 2nd place in both the indoor and outdoor conference championships last season. Dylan Patterson returns as the conference's fastest man, winning both the 60 meters and 100 meters last season. The Gorloks boast two of the league's top pole vaulters in Mark Govero and Elijah Bohler while Austin Merritt is the SLIAC record holder in the heptathlon. Nkunim Kouame is an All-Conference performer in the high jump while Ethan Nieroda will be active in distance events. Lucas Larue, the Indoor Track Freshman of the Year, is back to lead the team in hurdles.

Principia College comes in third with 53 points and received the remaining first-place nod. Coming off 3rd-place finishes in both the outdoor and indoor championships, Principia is primed to make some noise in 2026. They have experienced athletes returning, along with some new additions to fill out depth. Nana Koranteng is the headliner of the list of returners. He claimed gold in both the triple jump and 400 meters last year while qualifying for indoor nationals in the triple jump. Mark Fisher and Marc-Quan Daniels give the program a strong pair of throwers, holding four medals combined. Zach Proctor and Kennett Rampley will lead the team's list of middle and distance runners. New faces to watch are MiKing Ettress, Ashtun Baker, Amos Ostler, Chris Clark, Eziuche Ejimadu, and Tyler Standridge.

Spalding University was picked fourth, totaling 40 points. The program will be led by distance runners Wyatt Frye, Caleb Stinson, and Tobias Rice, all of whom have grabbed at least one medal in previous years. Also back are Chad Dahl and Jack Muncaster. Top newcomers include Javier Manon, Levi Chesser, and Drew Cox.

With 36 points, Lyon College placed fifth on the poll. The Scots will look to improve upon their 4th-place (outdoor) and 5th-place (indoor) finishes from last season. Jakobe Alcorn is a well-rounded athlete that has competed in the hurdles, high jump, and javelin. Noah Cordes and Avery Sterling also compete in the hurdles and head up the list of returners with Alcorn. 

MUW received 31 points, putting them squarely in sixth on the voting. The Owls will be led by Outdoor Track Freshman of the Year Cortland Earl. Earl picked up a pair of medals in hurdles last season. Noel Kellum is one of the top returning throwers in the conference after finishing 2nd in the discus and 4th in the javelin last spring. Jailon Warner and JaKobe Smith are the team's top returning sprinters. Malachi Morgan, Jarvis Sellers, Sam Lamy, Mikendall Morros, Bryson Boler, Kawan Powell, Jaylin Shelton, Nicholas Martin, Jonathan Turner, James Nesby, and D'Marq Battles are additions to the depth the program.

Westminster College sits seventh with 18 points. Weston Jennings heads up the Blue Jays jumpers. Among the newcomers to the program are Nik Thieman, Aidian Szczodroski, and Colton Sinclair. 

Blackburn College placed eighth with 16 points. The Beavers are coached by Noah Daum and will build the program around a trio of returners in Byron McNeil, Collyn Oberkfell, and Sam Burrows. McNeil placed 4th in the triple jump last season, just missing out on becoming the Beavers All-Conference performer in track and field. Oberkfell and Burrows will be the team leaders in middle and distance events. Newcomers to the program are Tristan Toss, Kendrik Troutt, and Leland Branstner. 

Wrapping up the men's side of the voting is Eureka College with 13 points. The Red Devils finished 7th at the indoor championships and 8th at the outdoor last season and are coached by Chris Robinson.