SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The North Dakota State men and women were picked to sweep the 2026 Summit League Outdoor Track and Field trophies in the preseason coaches' poll announced Tuesday by League officials.
The NDSU men, who received six first-place votes, totaled 36 points to top the poll. The South Dakota State men and defending outdoor champion were projected second with 29 points, edging South Dakota, who was picked third and held the remaining first-place vote.
North Dakota and St. Thomas shared fourth in the preseason poll with 15 points each, while Kansas City and Oral Roberts rounded out the poll, tying for sixth with 12 points apiece.
The Bison, who have won three straight and 16 of the last 17 women’s outdoor titles, once again topped the poll in 2026. NDSU totaled 49 points and seven of eight first-place votes while the Coyote women were slotted second, tallying 41 total points and the remaining first-place vote.
North Dakota was slotted third with 35 points while St. Thomas and South Dakota State shared fifth with 29 total points. Kansas City was sixth with 19 points, Oral Roberts was seventh with 13 points and Omaha rounded out the women's poll with nine points.
2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Score (1st place votes) |
| 1. |
North Dakota State |
36 (6) |
| 2. |
South Dakota State |
29 |
| 3. |
South Dakota |
28 (1) |
| t4. |
North Dakota |
15 |
| t4. |
St. Thomas |
15 |
| t6. |
Oral Roberts |
12 |
| t6. |
Kansas City |
12 |
2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Score (1st place votes) |
| 1. |
North Dakota State |
49 (7) |
| 2. |
South Dakota |
41 (1) |
| 3. |
North Dakota |
35 |
| T4. |
St. Thomas |
29 |
| T4. |
South Dakota State |
29 |
| 6. |
Kansas City |
19 |
| 7. |
Oral Roberts |
13 |
| 8. |
Omaha |
9 |
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON ATHLETES TO WATCH LIST
All notes/bullet points reflect indoor track & field accomplishments unless otherwise denoted
Kaden Pastian, North Dakota State
Sr | Throws | Hillsboro, N.D.
- Finished second in the hammer throw and shot put at 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship
- Took second in the weight throw at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
- Won five shot put competitions during the 2026 indoor season
Zach McGlynn, North Dakota State
Sr | Multis| Stephen, Minn.
- Earned first team All-America honors after finishing seventh in the heptathlon at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championship
- Won the heptathlon at the Aztec Multis during the 2025 outdoor season
- Named 2026 Summit League Indoor Field Championship MVP and Field Athlete of the Year
Ethan Fischer, South Dakota State
Sr | Throws | Maple River, Minn.
- Placed fifth in the discus at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship
- Took runner-up in the discus at the 2023 and 2024 League outdoor championship
- Placed third in the weight throw at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
Cody Larson, South Dakota State
Sr | Distance | Warner, S.D.
- Won the 3,000-meter steeplechase and took second in the 5,000-meter run at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship to earn Most Outstanding Male Performer of the Championship
- Qualified for the 3,000-meter run at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championship but did not finish due to injury
- Earned Summit League Indoor Track and Field All-League honors after winning the 3,000-meter run and taking second in the 5,000-meter run at the 2026 Championship
Andrew Cartier, South Dakota
Fr | Jumps | De Pere, Wis.
- Had a quartet of top three finishes in the triple jump during the 2026 indoor season
- Finished runner-up in the triple jump with a personal-best leap of 48-11” (14.91m)
- Two-time state champion and two-time conference field athlete of the year at De Pere (Wis.) High School
Aidan Hedderman, South Dakota
So | Hurdles | Sturgis, S.D.
- Placed fourth in the heptathlon at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
- Logged four top 10 finishes during the 2025 outdoor season, including a victory in the 110-meter hurdles (14.82) at the Mount Marty Twilight
- Four-time state champion from Sturgis Brown (S.D.) High School and owns the South Dakota state prep record in the 110-meter hurdles (13.88)
Louis-Lys Fanucchi, North Dakota
So | Distance | Mons En Baroeul, France
- Totaled a trio of top five finishes at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship, including a victory in the mile run to earn Track Championship MVP honors
- Won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2025 USD Twilight meet in a personal-best time of 8:58.61
- Broke the 4-minute barrier in the mile during the 2026 indoor season, clocking a 3:57.90 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational
Shane Zierden, North Dakota
So | Jumps | Fergus Falls, Minn.
- Posted top 10 finishes at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship in the long jump (6th) and triple jump (7th)
- Logged a personal best in the long jump at the 2025 League outdoor championship with a mark of 24-1” (7.34m)
- Placed sixth in the long jump at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship with a season-best leap of 23-7” (7.19m)
Jack Rosner, St. Thomas
Gr | Multis | De Pere, Wis.
- Won the decathlon at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship and placed second in the 400-meter hurdles
- Set the program record in the decathlon with a score of 7,661 at the 2025 Drake Relays
- Placed second in the heptathlon at the 2025 Summit League Indoor Championship
Jayson Koel, St. Thomas
Jr | Sprints | Richfield, Wis.
- Placed third in the 200-meter dash (21.53) to earn All-Summit League honors at the 2026 Indoor Championship
- Ran a personal-best times of 10.61 in the 100-meter dash to take seventh and 21.39 in the 200-meter dash preliminaries at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship
- Part of St. Thomas school record 40.52 in the 400-meter relay at the 2025 League outdoor championship
Abraham Chelangam, Oral Roberts
Sr | Distance | Kapchorwa, Uganda
- Earned 2024 and 2025 Summit League Track Championship MVP honors
- Won the 5,000-meter run at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
- Set the 5,000-meter run championship record at the 2025 League outdoor event with a time of 14:07.10 and swept all three distance races, winning the 1,500-meter and 10,000-meter runs as well
Jordan Wenger, Oral Roberts
So | Jumps | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Won the high jump at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship with a season-best clearance of 6-11” (2.11m)
- Posted five top five finishes in the high jump during the 2025 indoor season, including a runner-up finish at the League indoor championship with a clearance of 6-11.75” (2.13m)
- Won the long jump at the 2025 ORU Invite with a personal-best mark of 23-5” (7.14m)
Tory Lanham, Kansas City
Jr | Sprints | Kansas City, Mo.
- Earned second team All-America honors after placing 13th in the 200-meter dash (20.52) at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championship
- Captured back-to-back Summit League Indoor Track Athlete of the Year honors in 2025 and 2026
- Clocked a personal best of 20.33 during the semifinals of the 2025 NCAA West Prelims
Stephen Clunis, Kansas City
Sr | Sprints | Kingston, Jamaica
- Will be competing in first outdoor season for the Roos
- Won the 60-meter dash in 6.69 at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
- Ran a personal best of 6.61 in the 60-meter dash to win the 2026 Crimson and Gold Invitational
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON ATHLETES TO WATCH LIST
All notes/bullet points reflect indoor track & field accomplishments unless otherwise denoted
Paige Renschler, North Dakota State
So | Sprints | Fargo, N.D.
- Placed third in the 100-meter dash with a personal-best time of 11.65 at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship to earn all-league honors
- Took fourth in the 200-meter dash at the 2025 League outdoor championship and set a personal best in the preliminary round with a 23.85
- Finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash (7.46) and 200-meter dash (23.79) at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
Adison Kapitzke, North Dakota State
Jr | Throws | Brooklyn Park, Minn.
- Placed third in the discus at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship with a personal-best throw of 154-0” (46.93m)
- Won shot put titles during the 2025 outdoor season at the NDSU Tune-up and NDSU Spring Classic, while taking second at the League outdoor championship
- Captured the shot put title at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship with a toss of 55-5” (16.89m)
Julia Matthews, North Dakota
Jr | Throws | Eden Prairie, Minn.
- Scored points in the shot put (8th) and hammer throw (7th) at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship
- Had a pair of top five finishes at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship, taking runner-up in the weight throw and fifth in the shot put
- Took second in the shot put at the 2026 PLNU Sea Lion Invite to open the outdoor campaign with a throw of 46-4.25” (14.13m)
Jadyn Keeler, North Dakota
Sr | Distance | Barrie, Ontario
- Named the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Track Championship MVP and Athlete of the Year
- Earned second team All-America honors at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championship after placing 16th in the 10,000-meter run
- Swept the distance races in back-to-back years at the 2025 and 2026 Summit League Indoor Championships, winning the mile, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs
Drew Beason, South Dakota
Fr | Distance | Ankeny, Iowa
- Posted a pair of top 10 finishes in distance races at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
- Took eighth at the 2026 League indoor championship with a personal best in the 3,000-meter run (9:41.35) and ninth in the mile run (4:53.52)
Rylie Hansen, South Dakota
Fr | Jumps | Mankato, Minn.
- Secured the long jump title at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship with a personal-best leap of 19-11” (6.07m)
- Cleared a personal best of 13-4.50” (4.08m) in the pole vault at the 50th Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational
- Won state championships in Minnesota in the pole vault and long jump
Ellie Harris, South Dakota State
So | Sprints | Sioux City, Iowa
- Clocked a personal best of 11.93 in the 100-meter dash as a freshman at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship
- Posted a pair of top five finishes at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship, taking fifth in the 60-meter dash (7.55) and third with a personal best in the 200-meter dash (23.95)
Johanna Pihl, South Dakota State
Fr | Jumps | Stockholm, Sweden
- Earned all-league honors in the long jump at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
- Set a personal best of 18-11.75” to place third at the League indoor championship
Chloe Staub, St. Thomas
Gr | Javelin | Dodge Center, Minn.
- Placed second in the javelin at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship with the second best mark in school history (152-6.25”; 46.49m)
- Posted five top five finishes in the javelin during 2025 outdoor season, including win at the Meet of the UnSaintly
Alexis Pratt, St. Thomas
Sr | Sprints | North St. Paul, Minn.
- Placed fifth in the 100-meter dash at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship with a time of 11.74
- Set the St. Thomas program record with a 23.98 in the 200-meter dash at the 2025 Maverick Open
- Part of winning 4x400-meter relay team at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
Naomi Eyanagho, Kansas City
Jr | Multis | Prosper, Texas
- Placed 10th in the heptathlon with a personal best score of 4,167 at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship
- Took fourth in the shot put at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship with a toss of 46-3.50” (14.11m)
Jacky Perez-Vela, Kansas City
So | Sprints | Wyandotte, Kan.
- Placed seventh to earn points for the Roos in the 400-meter dash at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship
- Placed third with a personal best time of 54.92 in the 400-meter dash at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
- Won the 200-meter dash at the 2026 Nebraska Tune-Up during the indoor season with a season best time of 25.01
Destiny Downing, Oral Roberts
So | Jumps | Norman, Okla.
- Earned all-league honors in the high jump at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship, placing third with a season best mark of 5-5.75” (1.67m)
- Placed ninth in the high jump at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship with a clearance of 5-2.25” (1.58m)
Deborah Mazzei, Oral Roberts
Sr | Distance | Tulsa, Okla.
- Placed fourth at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship in the 800-meter run with a season best time of 2:09.39
- Finished runner-up in the 800-meter run at the 2023 Summit League Outdoor Championship, clocking a season best time of 2:10.12
- Won the 800-meter run at the 2023 Summit League Indoor Championship in 2:11.94
Emma Klein, Omaha
Sr. | Jumps | Gower, Mo.
- Finished in the top 10 in the long jump (9th) and triple jump (6th) at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship
- Posted five top five finishes in the triple jump during the indoor season, including a fourth place showing at the 2026 League indoor championship (38-11.75”; 11.88m)
Jocelynn Skoda, Omaha
So | Long Sprints | West Point, Neb.
- Ran a personal best 55.42 to place sixth in the 400-meter dash at the 2026 Summit League Indoor Championship
- Took second in 200-meter dash with a person best time of 25.04 at the 2026 Nebraska Tune-up during the indoor season
- Finished ninth at the 2025 Summit League Outdoor Championship in the 400-meter dash with a season best time of 56.33
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