GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Belmont Abbey has been picked fourth in in the 2026-26 Conference Carolinas Men's Indoor Track & Field preseason poll, the league office announced today. Voting was conducted among the head coaches with each omitting their own team in the ranking.

The Crusaders were firmly planted in its spot with 151 points, 21 behind UNC Pembroke (172) for third and 15 ahead of Southern Wesleyan (136). Mount Olive and Converse each received seven first-place votes and were separated by just one point (189 to 188, respectively) for the top two places. UNC Pembroke got the last first-place vote.

Lees-McRae earned 123 points to take the sixth spot and was followed by North Greenville (102), Shorter (89), Emmanuel (86) and Young Harris (84). King (74), Barton (66), Ferrum (45), Erskine (43) and Francis Marion (27) rounded out the ranking.

Three Crusaders were listed among the conference's athletes to watch, including Joshua Gulapa (Sr., Multis), who won the inaugural heptathlon last year, while finishing third in the 60m hurdles. Noah Whack (So., Multis and Justin Johnson (Fr.,  Jumps/Sprints) were also included.

The 2025 Conference Carolinas Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held on February 22-23 at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.
 

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2026 Conference Carolinas
Men's Indoor Track & Field Preseason Poll
 

	School	Total (First Place)
1	Mount Olive	189 (7)
2	Converse	188 (7)
3	UNC Pembroke	172 (1)
4	Belmont Abbey	151
5	Southern Wesleyan	136
6	Lees-McRae	123
7	North Greenville	102
8	Shorter	89
9	Emmanuel	86
10	Young Harris	84
11	King	74
12	Barton	66
13	Ferrum	45
14	Erskine	43
15	Francis Marion	27