The Illinois Springfield men's indoor track and field team has been ranked 11th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) preseason poll released on Wednesday.
Lewis topped the poll with 166 points and 10 first-place votes, followed closely by Missouri S&T with 157 points and four first-place votes. Indianapolis claimed the third spot with 138 points, while Lincoln and Southwest Baptist rounded out the top five.
UIS earned 50 points in the preseason voting for the GLVC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Last season, the Prairie Stars finished ninth out of thirteen scoring teams, competing primarily in the distance events. UIS accumulated a total of 21 points, with eleven points earned in the 5000 meters, seven points in the 3000 meters, and three points in the mile.
As the indoor track season approaches, UIS is counting on its returning upperclassmen to provide leadership and scoring potential. Additionally, the Prairie Stars have a deep group of freshmen and transfers who could play a key role in enhancing the team's performance at the championship.
Returning All-GLVC track & field athletes include Ryan Jones, who has the potential to excel across multiple events, along with Gabe Martinez and Noah Tegeler, both of whom have established themselves as strong competitors in the 3000 meters.