KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Southern men's and women's track & field teams were both selected as top four teams in the 2026 MIAA outdoor preseason rankings, the league announced Thursday.
 
The MSSU men totaled 63 points for third in the preseason poll while the Lion women earned 71 points for fourth in the league's preseason standings.
 
Pittsburg State was selected first across both men's (81 points, nine first-place votes) and women's (100 points, 10 first-place votes) polls in the preseason rankings voted on by the league's head coaches.
 
The MSSU men were the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships runners-up while the Lions' women secured fourth at the conference meet in Emporia, Kansas.
 
The Southern javelin throwers opened the outdoor campaign March 6 at the Stallion Transportation Harding Invitational in Searcy, Arkansas.
 
MSSU continues its 2026 outdoor season this weekend at Missouri S&T's 2026 Miner Invitational Friday and Saturday in Rolla, Missouri.
 
2026 MIAA MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [9] – 81 points
2. Northwest Missouri [1] – 72 points
3. Missouri Southern – 63 points
4. Washburn – 57 points
5. Central Missouri – 47 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 42 points
7. Emporia State – 36 points
8. Fort Hays State – 26 points
9. Rogers State – 14 points
10. Missouri Western – 12 points
 
2026 MIAA WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 100 points
2. Northwest Missouri [1] – 91 points
3. Washburn – 82 points
4. Missouri Southern – 71 points
5. Central Missouri – 65 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 56 points
7. Fort Hays State – 46 points
8. Emporia State – 34 points
9. Missouri Western – 21 points
10. Rogers State – 20 points
11. Central Oklahoma – 18 points