.png&width=16&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men Fourth, Women Fifth in Big South Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll
03.12.2026 | Track and Field
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South Conference released the Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll, and the UNC Asheville men are predicted to finish fourth, with the women predicted to finish fifth.
Last year, the men finished third while the women finished sixth at the outdoor championships. Shemarr Session and DaMarr Harvey represented Asheville at the NCAA East First Round, with Session also representing Asheville as the Big South Freshman of the Year. Harvey won the 100m and 200m outdoor championships, and Jan Malek won the 3,000m steeplechase championship. Seven school records were set during outdoor season.
2026 BIG SOUTH MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD PRESEASON POLL
| Rk - School (first-place votes) | Points |
| 1 - High Point (7) | 63 |
| 2 - Charleston Southern (1) | 54 |
| 3 - USC Upstate | 51 |
| 4 - UNC Asheville | 40 |
| 5 - Gardner-Webb | 30 |
| 6 - Winthrop | 26 |
| 7 - Longwood | 14 |
| 8 - Radford | 10 |
At last year's championships, Aneta Kucerova won the women's 3,000m steeplechase and Jaelyn Arnold earned a third-place finish in the shot put to highlight the women's team. The women's team recorded 62 personal bests during last year's outdoor season.
2026 BIG SOUTH WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD PRESEASON POLL
| Rk - School (first-place votes) | Points |
| 1 - High Point (7) | 63 |
| 2 - Charleston Southern (1) | 57 |
| 3 - Radford | 48 |
| 4 - Gardner-Webb | 38 |
| 5 - UNC Asheville | 33 |
| 6 - USC Upstate | 22 |
| 7 - Winthrop | 18 |
| 8 - Longwood | 9 |
Asheville opens its outdoor season by hosting the Big South Conference vs Southern Conference Challenge March 20-21 at the Karl Straus Track.
To stay updated with all things surrounding Asheville track & field, follow the team on 𝕩.
Players Mentioned
