The UIS men's outdoor track & field team has been ranked 10th in the 2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office on Tuesday.

UIS earned 66 points in the poll, positioning them just behind McKendree and Truman State, who tied for eighth place. The Prairie Stars will look to make strides in the conference during the outdoor season.

The team has several athletes competing well this year, with a focus in distance events. Indoor GLVC medalists Isaac Cortes and Gabe Martinez, as well as additional All-GLVC runners from cross country Noah Tegeler and Joey Karlesky. After the opening weekend of the season UIS ranks two in the GLVC top-18 of the 800 and 5k, 8 in the top 15 in the 10k.

Top Three Teams in the Preseason Poll:
Lincoln – 162 points (7 first-place votes)
Lewis – 156 points (4 first-place votes)
Missouri S&T – 145 points (3 first-place votes)

Lincoln University, in its first season as a GLVC member, was picked as the favorite to win the league championship after securing the 2025 GLVC Indoor Championship. Missouri S&T, the defending GLVC champion, was selected third after winning its fourth consecutive and eighth overall outdoor title last season.

The 2025 GLVC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place on May 1-3 at Lewis Stadium in Romeoville, Ill., where UIS will aim to outperform expectations and contend for strong individual and team performances. The Prairie Stars opened the outdoor season at WashU and Millikin over the weekend.