WICHITA – Wichita State men's track and field was picked second, and the women were tabbed sixth in the American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches' Polls, voted on by the league's head coaches, the conference announced Tuesday morning.
 
The Shocker men received two first-place votes and 72 points, just six points behind preseason favorite and reigning champion South Florida (78 points, 7 first-place votes). Charlotte earned the final first-place vote and was selected third with 69 points.
 
The Wichita State women tied with the Bulls, earning 85 points to be selected sixth in the poll, while reigning champion Charlotte received 137 points and five first-place votes to edge the 2026 American Conference indoor champion North Texas for the first-place spot. The Mean Green received seven first-place votes and 135 points, and Rice claimed the final first-place vote and 117 points.
 
The 2026 American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships are set to take place May 14-16 in Denton, Texas at the UNT Track and Field Stadium.

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American Conference Men's Outdoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll

1.	South Florida (7)	78
2.	Wichita State (2)	72
3.	Charlotte (1)	69
4.	North Texas	48
5.	Tulsa	47
6.	Rice	40
7.	Tulane	32
8.	UTSA	26
9.	Memphis	21
10.	East Carolina	17

 
American Conference Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll

1.	Charlotte (5)	137
2.	North Texas (7)	135
3.	Rice (1)	117
4.	Tulane	102
5.	UTSA	92
6.	South Florida	85
	Wichita State	85
8.	East Carolina	82
9.	Memphis	54
	Tulsa	54
11.	Temple	28
12.	Florida Atlantic	25
13.	UAB	18