IRVING, Texas – In the inaugural American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll, coaches from across the league have made their picks and selected the UTSA women’s squad at fifth and the men at eighth in the 18th outdoor season with Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox leading the combined Roadrunners’ program.
In the first-time outdoor poll, the UTSA women registered 92 points for fifth, with Charlotte (137) picked to repeat for the third consecutive year, polling in a narrow lead over North Texas (135), ahead of Rice (117), Tulane (102) and then UTSA. Following the Roadrunners in the women’s polling are South Florida/Wichita State (85), East Carolina (82), Memphis/Tulsa (54), Temple (28), Florida Atlantic (25) and UAB (18).
The UTSA men were picked at eighth with 26 points. Topping the men’s poll, South Florida (78) is also looking for its third straight title, edging out Wichita State (72), then Charlotte (69), North Texas (48), Tulsa (47), Rice (40), Tulane (32) and UTSA. Following the Roadrunners in the early polling are Memphis (21) and East Carolina (17).
The Roadrunners earned sixth (59 points) in women’s and seventh (41 points) in men’s to wrap the 2026 indoor season at the American Conference Championships in February at the Birmingham Crossplex. Last outdoor season, UTSA accumulated 99 points for a third-place finish on the women’s side and 31 points at ninth for the men at the American Outdoor Championships in Charlotte. With a big burst on the final day of competition, the Roadrunner women delivered 10 total medals while collecting four individual titles. Three of those reigning conference champions return for this season: juniors Ida Breigan (long jump), Nyaluet Diew (shot put) and Edlin Laur (high jump). Last season, the men recorded three medalist performances at the conference meet.
The American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships is set to take place May 14-16 at the UNT Track & Field Stadium in Denton, Texas.
| American Conference Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coaches’ Poll | ||
| 1. | Charlotte (5) | 137 |
| 2. | North Texas (7) | 135 |
| 3. | Rice (1) | 117 |
| 4. | Tulane | 102 |
| 5. | UTSA | 92 |
| 6. | South Florida | 85 |
| Wichita State | 85 | |
| 8. | East Carolina | 82 |
| 9. | Memphis | 54 |
| Tulsa | 54 | |
| 11. | Temple | 28 |
| 12. | Florida Atlantic | 25 |
| 13 | UAB | 18 |
| (#) denotes first place votes | ||
| American Conference Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Coaches’ Poll | ||
| 1. | South Florida (7) | 78 |
| 2. | Wichita State (2) | 72 |
| 3. | Charlotte (1) | 69 |
| 4. | North Texas | 48 |
| 5. | Tulsa | 47 |
| 6. | Rice | 40 |
| 7 | Tulane | 32 |
| 8. | UTSA | 26 |
| 9. | Memphis | 21 |
| 10. | East Carolina | 17 |
| (#) denotes first place votes | ||
- UTSA -