ST. LOUIS -- The Northern Iowa men and Indiana State women have been picked to win the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship crowns in a poll of the league's head coaches.

On the men's side, the Panthers garnered six first-place votes and 93 total points to lead the way in the poll. Indiana State (88 points) edged Illinois State (87 points), collecting a trio of first place votes, while the Redbirds grabbed the last available first-place vote.

On the women's side, Indiana State tallied 10 first-place votes and 120 total points as the pre-championship favorite. Illinois State garnered one first-place vote and 106 points, while Northern Iowa followed closely behind with 101 total points. 

The 2026 MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 1-2. A full schedue of events, ticket information and merchandise can be found on Championship Central.