CHICAGO, Ill. - The NEC has announced their preseason indoor track and field poll for the 2025-26 season on Friday afternoon. The Chicago State men's track and field team is hoping to build off a great 2024-25 season and were voted by the conference's coaches to a fourth place finish in 2025-26.
The NEC poll was voted on by the NEC head track and field coaches, picked Chicago State to finish fourth behind defending NEC indoor champions Central Conneticut, followed by Wagner and Stonehill. The Cougars were picked to finish where they placed last season where Chicago State finished fourth at the NEC Indoor Championships in 2025. First place voted Central Connecticut earned eight of the ten first place votes. Voted behind the Cougars were FDU, LIU, Saint Francis, New Haven, Le Moyne, and Mercyhurst.
NEC Men's Indoor Track & Field Preseason Poll
1. Central Connecticut (8)
2. Wagner (1)
3. Stonehill
4. Chicago State
5. (tie) FDU
LIU (1)
7. Saint Francis
8. New Haven
9. Le Moyne
10. Mercyhurst
The Chicago State women's track and field team are set to open their season on Friday, December 5 by hosting the annual Cougar Alumni Open from The Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park with field events beginning at 2:00 p.m. and running events at 5:00 p.m.
The Cougars will then return to the The Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park after the Holidays by competing at the Wisconsin Midwest Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin on January 10.
