The Illinois Springfield men's indoor track and field team was picked 10th in the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Wednesday.
Lewis was selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference title after receiving nine first-place votes and 141 total points. Rounding out the top five in the poll were Lincoln, Indianapolis, Missouri S&T, and Southwest Baptist.
The Prairie Stars, led by head coach Emmons King, will look to build on a strong showing from last season as they continue to grow within the league. UIS, which competes primarily in the distance events, finished ninth at the 2025 GLVC Indoor Championships. The team brings back All-GLVC standout Isaac Cortes, who earned runner-up honors in the 5,000 meters and placed fourth in the 3,000 meters last season.
The full preseason poll is listed below:
| Place | School | Points (1st-place votes) |
| 1. | Lewis | 141 (9) |
| 2. | Lincoln | 135 (4) |
| 3. | Indianapolis | 118 |
| 4. | Missouri S&T | 111 |
| 5. | Southwest Baptist | 92 |
| 6. | Drury | 79 |
| 7. | Maryville | 78 |
| 8. | Truman State | 72 |
| 9. | McKendree | 45 |
| 10. | Illinois Springfield | 40 |
| 11. | Rockhurst | 38 |
| William Jewell | 38 | |
| 13. | Quincy | 27 |
The Prairie Stars will open the 2026 indoor season in January.