KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The MIAA has released the 2026 Preseason Outdoor Track & Field Coaches Polls, announced Thursday (March 19) by the league office. The Fort Hays State women are slotted seventh, while the men are ranked eighth in the preseason poll.
 
Both Tiger squads are ranked in the corresponding spot to their finish at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships where the women placed seventh with four All-MIAA finishes and the men finished eighth with one All-MIAA honor.
 
All five All-MIAA performers from last season return, including Annabeth Baalmann who won the pole vault, Emily Diercks McCullough who placed second in the 5,000m run, Reba Mader who finished second in the 400m hurdles, Emma Slade who placed third in the discus and Toby Wahlmeier who finished third in the 200m dash.
 
The Tiger distance runners open the outdoor season Friday (March 20) with the Spire Distance Carnival before the rest of the team joins the action next Saturday (March 28) at the Central Nebraska Challenge.
 
2026 MIAA WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 100 points
2. Northwest Missouri [1] – 91 points
3. Washburn – 82 points
4. Missouri Southern – 71 points
5. Central Missouri – 65 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 56 points
7. Fort Hays State – 46 points
8. Emporia State – 34 points
9. Missouri Western – 21 points
10. Rogers State – 20 points
11. Central Oklahoma – 18 points 
 
 
2026 MIAA MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [9] – 81 points
2. Northwest Missouri [1] – 72 points
3. Missouri Southern – 63 points
4. Washburn – 57 points
5. Central Missouri – 47 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 42 points
7. Emporia State – 36 points
8. Fort Hays State – 26 points
9. Rogers State – 14 points
10. Missouri Western – 12 points