Indianapolis, Ind. - The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced this morning that both the Lewis University men's and women's track and field program were tabbed second in their respective GLVC Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll.
On the women's side, UIndy topped the charts with 166 points and nine first-place votes with the Flyers in second with 159 points and four first-place votes. Lincoln landed in third with 144 points while Southwest Baptist was tabbed fourth with 127 points. Missouri S&T and Maryville were tied for fifth with 116 points to round out the top five. Drury (83), Truman State (76), McKendree (75), Rockhurst (57), UIS (50), Quincy (40), William Jewell (37) and Upper Iowa (28) comprised the remainder of the preseason poll.
On the men's side UIndy again was tabbed first with 140 points and nine first-place votes with the Flyers close behind in second with 136 points and four first-place votes. Lincoln was picked third with 118 points with Missouri S&T in fourth with 109 points. Soithwest Baptist rounded out the top five with 102 points. Maryville (92), Drury (69), Truman State (64), McKendree (47), William Jewell (39), Rockhurst (38), Quincy (34) and UIS (26) comprised the rest of the preseason coaches poll.
On the women's side, Lewis returns the reigning GLVC Field Athlete of the Year and NCAA Division II long jump champion
Denise Hernandez (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS). The red and white also welcome back All-American and GLVC High Jump Champion
Karmen Kurowicka (Itasca, Ill./Lake Park HS). 2025 GLVC Champions
Madilyn Calloway (Rochester, Ind./Rochester Community) (10,000m),
Mary Edwards (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) (3,000m),
Brynlee Keeran (Catlin, Ill./Catlin HS) (pole vault), and
Aubrey Brinkman (Mapleton, Ill./Illini Bluffs HS) (discus) are also back for the Flyers this outdoor season.
On the men's side, All-American
Levi Graham (Plainfield, Ill./Minooka) (hammer) GLVC Champions
Evan Horgan (Loves Park, Ill./Belvidere North) (1500m, 5000m) and
Brian Holmes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) (110 hurdles) are back for the Flyers. NCAA National Championship qualifiers
Abraham Christian (Huntley, Ill./Huntley HS) and
Neil Erasmus (George, South Africa/) are also back after successful indoor seasons.
Both sides are coached by
Dana Schwarting, who enters his 19th season and is the reigning GLVC Coach of the Year after leading both the men and women to their respective GLVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships last season.
Lewis begins its outdoor slate this weekend at Wash U at the WashU invite in St. Louis, Mo.
