GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas men's outdoor track & field head coaches picked the University of Mount Olive to win a 12th consecutive and 14th overall conference championship in the 2026 preseason poll released on Thursday.
The Trojans collected 184 points and 13-of-15 first-place votes to edge Converse University who received 182 points and one first place nod. Belmont Abbey College came in third with 163 points, followed by UNC Pembroke with 147 points. Southern Wesleyan University rounded out the top five with 144 points.
Lees-McRae College earned 126 points to take the sixth spot and was followed by King University (109), Young Harris College (94), Ferrum College (90), North Greenville University (87), Barton College (66), Emmanuel University (64), Erskine College (44) Shorter University (39), and Francis Marion University (36). Barton received the final first place vote.
The 2026 Conference Carolinas Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held on April 23-25 at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they can't vote for their own school.
2026 Conference Carolinas
Men's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll
|
School |
Votes(First Place) |
| 1 |
Mount Olive |
184 (13) |
| 2 |
Converse |
182 (1) |
| 3 |
Belmont Abbey |
163 |
| 4 |
UNC Pembroke |
147 |
| 5 |
Southern Wesleyan |
144 |
| 6 |
Lees-McRae |
126 |
| 7 |
King |
109 |
| 8 |
Young Harris |
94 |
| 9 |
Ferrum |
90 |
| 10 |
North Greenville |
87 |
| 11 |
Barton |
66 (1) |
| 12 |
Emmanuel |
64 |
| 13 |
Erskine |
44 |
| 14 |
Shorter |
39 |
| 15 |
Francis Marion |
36 |
2026 Conference Carolinas Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
Athletes to Watch
Barton
- Brandon Waller, So., Mid-Distance, Cabot, Arkansas
- Jordan Bobbitt, Jr., Sprints, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
- Brandon McClary, Fr.-RS, Sprints, Salisbury, North Carolina
Belmont Abbey
- Justin Johnson, Fr., Jumps/Sprints, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
- Abe McNelly, Fr., Multis/PV/HJ, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
- Noah Whack, So., Multis/PV/HJ, Summerville, South Carolina
Converse
- Dorian Bomar, Jr., Spartanburg, South Carolina (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas and national qualifier in the 4x100 meter relay; 2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas in 100 meters and 200 meters; 2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas in the 4x400 meter relay)
- Devron Davis, Sr., Columbia, South Carolina (2025 Conference Carolinas Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, 2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meter relay; 2025 national qualifier 4x100 meter relay; 2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas in the 200 meters and 4x400 meter relay, 2024 third team All-Conference Carolinas in the 100 meters)
- Isaac Gilmore, Sr., Rock Hill, South Carolina (2025 third team All-Conference Carolinas in the 4x400 meter relay, 2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas in the 4x400 meter relay)
Emmanuel
- Antavious "Tay" Lawton, Sr., Aiken, South Carolina
- Angel Aviles, Fr., Dalton, Georgia
- Cam Scott, Sr., Birmingham, Alabama
Erskine
- Nick Jefferson, Sr., Sumter, South Carolina
- Colby Wines, Jr., Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Markis Wells, So., Darlington, South Carolina
Ferrum
- Jahmal Jones, So., Martinsville, Virginia, (2026 Conference Carolinas champion 60 meter dash)
- Andre Lucas, So., Jacksonville, Florida
- Jordan Smith, So., Martinsville, Virginia
Francis Marion
- Ryan Hunter, Grad., Javelin/Sprints, Blythewood, South Carolina (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Justin Miller, Fr., Sprints, Elgin, South Carolina
- Jordan Davis, Fr., Throws, Hartsville, South Carolina
King
- Lynden Johnson, Sr., Sprints, Freeport, Bahamas
- Dominick Stevens, So., Sprints, Louisville, Tennessee, 2026 third team All-Conference Carolinas in the 200 meter dash)
- Nate Rosson, So., Pole Vault, Murfreesboro, Tennessee (202 third team All-Conference Carolinas in the pole vault)
Lees-McRae
- Isaac Reyna, Sr., Thomasville, North Carolina
- Josh Brett, Sr., St. Augustine, Florida
- Josh Ehresman, Sr., Fort Mill, South Carolina
Mount Olive
- Sigursteinn Asgeirsson, Jr., Throws, Thorgautsstadir, Iceland
- Leo Powell, Fr., Distance, Derby, United Kingdom
- Zion Richardson-Keys, Jr., Jumps/Hurdles, Chesterfield, Virginia
UNC Pembroke
- Gary Parker, Jr., Throws, Bladenboro, North Carolina
- Mekhi Hayes, So., Sprints, Chicago, Illinois
- Calen McKinney, Jr., Sprints, Indian Trail, North Carolina
North Greenville
- Taylor Campbell, Jr., Throws, Travelers Rest, South Carolina (Six-time All-Conference Carolinas)
- Ben Jaminet, Jr., Distance, Powdersville, South Carolina
- Troy Cocco, Fr., Awendaw, South Carolina
Shorter
- Nathaniel Williams, So., Shot Put, Conyers, Georgia
- Chase Jarvis, So., Sprints, Chatworth, Georgia
- Paul Schedlbauer, So., Distance, Rome, Georgia
Southern Wesleyan
- Ethan Shoemaker, Jr., Jumps, Seneca, South Carolina (2026 indoor and 2025 outdoor first team All-Conference Carolinas in high jump)
- Drew Jones, Sr., Distance, Riverview, Florida (2026 first team All-Conference Carolinas in distance medley relay and mile; 2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas in distance medley relay, 2024 first team All-Conference Carolinas in distance medley relay and USTFCCCA All-Region in distance medley relay)
- Dustyn Scruggs, Sr., Distance, Piedmont, South Carolina (2026 first team All-Conference Carolinas in 800 meters, 2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas in distance medley relay and second team in 800 meters)
Young Harris
- Ryland Hunley, So., Locust Grove, Georgia
- Xander Potter, So., Zebulon, Georgia
- Wyatt Whipp, Sr., Baton Rouge, Louisiana