CHICAGO, Ill. - The NEC conference has announced their preseason coaches poll for the men's outdoor track & field season. The coaches have voted the Chicago State University men's track & field team to a seventh place finish. The Cougars are looking to continue to make noise in the outdoor season after a great indoor season this past winter.
The NEC poll was voted by the head coach of the NEC. Chicago State was voted to a seventh place team finish this year out of ten teams with Mercyhurst and New Haven set to join the outdoor season in the NEC. Defending outdoor conference team champion Central Connecticut were voted to a first place finish after received eight first place, as Stonehill was voted the runner-up with two first place votes. Wagner, FDU, and LIU round out the top five of the voting. New Haven, Chicago State, Saint Francis. Le Moyne, and Mercyhurst round out the poll.
The Cougars return two NEC outdoor conference champions from last year after the Cougars finished sixth as a team last season.
Eric Sanchez in the long jump and
Trevon Prince in the 800 Meters. Sanchez won the long jump in 2025 as a freshman after jumping 7.21m to claim the conference title while Prince ran a 1:53.20 to win the 800 meters in his junior season.
NEC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll
1. Central Connecticut (8)
2. Stonehill (2)
3. Wagner
4. FDU
5. LIU
6. New Haven
7. Chicago State
8. Saint Francis
9. Le Moyne
10. Mercyhurst
After opening the season at the EKU Invitational, the Chicago State men's track & field team return to action this weekend with a select few athletes set to compete at the 2026 Raleigh Relays hosted by North Carolina State University from March 26-28.
