Greenville, SC – The Conference Carolinas Men's Indoor Track & Field head coaches picked the University of Mount Olive to win the conference championship in the 2026 preseason poll released on Tuesday.

The Trojans had their streak of 11-straight Conference Carolinas crowns snapped last year and have collected 189 points and seven first-place votes in the preseason poll. Following their first-ever Conference Carolinas championship, Converse University received 188 points and the seven first-place nods to be picked second. UNC Pembroke received the final first-place votes as the Braves came in third with 172 points, followed by Belmont Abbey College with 151 points. Southern Wesleyan University rounded out the top five with 136 points.

Lees-McRae College earned 123 points to take the sixth spot and was followed by North Greenville University (102), Shorter University (89), Emmanuel University (86), Young Harris College (84), King University (74), Barton College (66), Ferrum College (45), Erskine College (43) and Francis Marion University (27).

Southern Wesleyan concluded the 2024-25 Indoor Track & Field season in fifth place at the Conference Carolinas Championship.  The Warriors had eight All-Conference finishes during the championship meet.  Southern Wesleyan will return Conference Carolinas Men's Indoor Track & Field Runner of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year, Ronan O'Neill.  They will look to look to build on the success last year in the Distance Medley Relay as the team of Drew Jones, Dustyn Scruggs, Ethan Marchman and Grady Clark look to reclaim their championship title.  Scruggs and Nate Hill will also return for the Warriors with their eyes on the 800 meters.  The Warriors will also look to Happy Lea and Ethan Shoemaker after their successful 2025 Outdoor Track & Field season.

The 2025 Conference Carolinas Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held on February 22-23 at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.