Wingate Tabbed as Outdoor Favorites in Preseason Coaches' Poll
ROCK HILL, S.C. (March 2026) – The South Atlantic Conference (SAC) has released the 2026 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll and Athletes to Watch, as selected by the league's head coaches.
Wingate was tabbed as the preseason favorite after collecting 11 first-place votes and 132 points. Catawba earned the No. 2 spot with 111 points, while Tusculum secured one first-place vote and ranked third with 106 points.
Lenoir-Rhyne (99 points) and Anderson (94 points) rounded out the top five. Carson-Newman, Lincoln Memorial, and Mars Hill followed, while UVA Wise, Newberry, Coker, and Emory & Henry completed the poll.
2026 SAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Wingate (11) – 132
- Catawba – 111
- Tusculum (1) – 106
- Lenoir-Rhyne – 99
- Anderson – 94
- Carson-Newman – 91
- Lincoln Memorial – 77
- Mars Hill – 61
- UVA Wise – 49
- Newberry – 40
- Coker – 37
- Emory & Henry – 27
The SAC also highlighted key competitors across the league with its Athletes to Watch list.
2026 SAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes to Watch
Anderson – Kennedy Roush, Emma Whitaker, Avery Marshall, Maggie Long
Carson-Newman – Lovelyne Larrame, Brooke Taylor, Katie Edmunds, Keirieonna Wilson
Catawba – Madi Clay, Lilly Wolf, Efe Egberi, Natalie Almond
Coker – Amelia Artz, Patience Lisbon, Anna Luzzi, Sydney Watson
Emory & Henry – Tess Somervell, Mia Spangler, Chloe Spence
Lenoir-Rhyne – Jani Day, Sharonda Priester, Mackenzie Pringle
Lincoln Memorial – Theresa Brosthaus, Jacie Begley, Cate Turner, Callie Wetzel
Mars Hill – Cierra Williams, Natalee Powers, Sophie Ratcliff
Newberry - Kamryn Adderton, Olivia Hare, Catherine Glover, Cassidy Bouchard, Kiori Butler
Tusculum – Qitarah Castlin, Shanice Cox, Jahzara Hart, Kori Moore
UVA Wise – Jordyn Taylor, Lexi Carter, Nia Rogers, Braelynn Strouth
Wingate – Abigail Bester, Evie Brooks, Ally Holmberg, Amber Lawless, Natalie Pinzan
The 2026 season is shaping up to be highly competitive as teams prepare for the SAC Championships and postseason competition. Action opens this weekend with the SAC Championship being held at Emory & Henry for the first time in conference history.