ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Winthrop University men's and women's indoor track & field squads have been placed at fifth and seventh in its respective polls, the conference office announced on Wednesday afternoon. 

For the men, High Point once again set the pace, grabbing all eight first-place votes to headline the preseason poll with 64 points. Charleston Southern followed in second with 52 points, just ahead of USC Upstate, who earned 47 to secure third. UNC Asheville checked in fourth at 44 points. Winthrop (29 points) and Gardner-Webb (28 points) landed fifth and sixth, while Longwood (13 points) and Radford (11 points) rounded out the poll. 

For the women, High Point tallied six first-place votes and 36 total points in the poll, ahead of Charleston Southern, who garnered 30 points. UNC Asheville claimed third with 19 points, while USC Upstate claimed fourth in the voting with 17 points. Winthrop (14 points) and Gardner-Webb (10 points) finished in fifth and sixth respectively, to round out the poll. 

The 2025-26 indoor track & field season begins this weekend and concludes at the Big South Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship on Feb 27 & 28 in Tryon, N.C. 

The full results to the poll can be found down below: 

2025-26 BIG SOUTH MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD PRESEASON POLL

Note: points are based on a weighted system.  First-place votes received 8 points, followed by 7 points for second-place, and so on.

2025-26 BIG SOUTH WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD PRESEASON POLL

Note: points are based on a weighted system.  First-place votes received 8 points, followed by 7 points for second-place, and so on.