ST. LOUIS --Â The Missouri Valley Conference released its pre-championship coaches' poll Tuesday, and both Illinois State track and field teams earned top-three projections ahead of the 2026 MVC Outdoor Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on May 16-17.
The Illinois State women were picked to finish third with 99 total votes, while the Redbird men tied with Indiana State for second with 85 total votes.
Both squads feature some of the conference's top individual performers heading into the championship meet.
For the women, Mattison Plummer ranks first by over 15 seconds in the 3000m steeplechase (10:13.21).
On the men's side, Zach Paul holds the conference's fastest time in the 100m dash at 10.17. Illinois State's 4x400m relay team, featuring Paul, Enyinnaya Nwagwu Jr., Jake Welch and Evan Watson, leads the MVC by over a second. Seth Nelson has the top pole vault mark this season at 5.30m, while Garrett Taylor leads the conference in the discus with a throw of 56.57m.
MEN
1. Northern Iowa – 100 pts. (10)
2. Illinois State – 85 pts.
    Indiana State – 85 pts.
4. Southern Illinois – 65 pts.
5. Bradley – 60 pts.
WOMEN
1. Northern Iowa – 115 pts. (6)
2. Indiana State – 113 pts. (4)
3. Illinois State – 99 pts.
4. Bradley – 88 pts. (1)
5. Murray State – 75 pts.
