FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- The 2025-26 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Women’s Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll reflects a competitive landscape filled with returning champions, emerging stars, and several programs poised for significant steps forward this winter. With standout student-athletes returning across every event group and multiple teams bringing back All-MIAA performers and national qualifiers, the upcoming season promises another exciting chase for the conference crown. As teams prepare for the 2026 MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on February 28 at Trine University, the poll offers an early look at how the league may stack up in the months ahead.
1. Calvin University – 11 points (4 first-place votes)
Calvin tops the 2025-26 MIAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll after capturing the 2025 conference title, the program’s first since 2017, with an impressive 190 points.
The Knights return a deep roster headlined by senior distance standout Sophie Bull, a 2025 First Team All-MIAA honoree who swept the 3000m run (10:15.54) and 5000m run (18:03.48) at the conference meet. Bull earned Second Team All-America recognition in the 5000m run after placing 10th nationally in 17:07.71. Calvin also features senior hurdler Mia DeJonge, a First Team All-MIAA selection who won the 60m hurdles (9.30), and senior pole vaulter Katie Seinen, who set a new MIAA record at 3.41m. Graduate student sprinter Sydney Radigan returns as a 2025 Second Team All-MIAA honoree and the runner-up in both the 60m dash (7.78) and 200m dash (25.14). The Knights also bring back all four members of last year’s runner-up 4x400m relay (4:08.65): sophomores Jessica Bossenbroek, Audrey Howell, and Peyton Ludwig, along with senior Marcail Schuurmann.
Head coach Adam Haldorson enters his fourth season after being named the 2025 MIAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.
2. Trine University – 12 points (3 first-place votes)
Trine earns the second spot in the preseason poll following a strong runner-up finish at the 2025 MIAA Championships with 154.5 points.
The Thunder return senior Bailey Puckett, a 2025 First Team All-MIAA honoree who won the mile in 5:04.66 and went on to place 18th at the NCAA Championships with a time of 5:03.45. Senior Eleanor Young, the MIAA runner-up in the mile (5:07.27), and senior distance runner Sidney Swick, the league’s runner-up in the 5000m run (18:18.62), return as 2025 Second Team All-MIAA selections.
3. Hope College – 16 points (1 first-place vote)
Hope ranks third entering the 2025-26 campaign after finishing with 142.5 points at last year’s MIAA Championships.
The Flying Dutch return one of the nation’s premier sprinters in senior Sara Schermerhorn, a 2025 First Team All-MIAA honoree and two-time MIAA Most Valuable Women’s Indoor Track Athlete. Schermerhorn swept the sprints at the conference meet by winning the 60m dash (7.77), 200m dash with a new MIAA record (24.82), and 400m dash with another MIAA record (58.27). She also helped guide the Flying Dutch to victory in the 4x400m relay (4:04.06) alongside returning teammates senior Frances Cozzens, sophomore Sofia Fisher, and senior Catherine Leahy. At the NCAA Championships, Schermerhorn earned First Team All-America honors in the 400m with a seventh-place finish (56.48) and Second Team All-America honors in the 200m with a ninth-place finish (24.87). Leahy also returns as a 2025 Second Team All-MIAA honoree following her runner-up performance in the 400m dash (58.74).
The Flying Dutch welcome new head coach Jordan Bartolazzi, a four-time CCIW Track and Field Coach of the Year who previously served as director of track and field and cross country at Elmhurst University.
4. Albion College – 30 points
Albion enters the season in fourth place in the poll after finishing fourth at the 2025 MIAA Championships with 48 points.
The Britons return junior Brianna Bennett, who helped the distance medley relay earn Second Team All-MIAA honors with a runner-up finish in 13:04.95. Senior thrower Leilani Casteele is also back after placing eighth in the weight throw with a mark of 12.83m.
5. Kalamazoo College – 34 points
Kalamazoo is ranked fifth as the program officially adds track and field for the first time since the early 1980s.
The Hornets will rely on cross country standouts sophomores Ava King, Allison Mayer, and Nora O’Leary, along with senior Maya Alkema, as they transition into the indoor season.
Cross country head coach Kyle Morrison, who has served at Kalamazoo since 2019, also leads the track and field program.
6. Adrian College – 38 points
Adrian takes sixth in the preseason poll after placing sixth at last year’s MIAA Championships with 24 points.
The Bulldogs return sophomore Alysia Townsend, a 2025 Second Team All-MIAA honoree who was the conference runner-up in both the high jump (1.58m) and long jump (5.33m) during her collegiate championship debut. Sophomore Piper Pierce also returns after placing ninth in the long jump (4.96m) and finishing 12th in the triple jump (9.54m).
Adrian enters the season under new leadership as former assistant coach Kaylie Laskody was promoted to head coach in May 2025.
7. Alma College – 41 points
Alma is picked seventh in the poll following a seventh-place finish at the 2025 MIAA Championships with 23 points.
Senior Helena Snyder highlights the returning Scots after winning the high jump (1.58m) and earning First Team All-MIAA honors. Snyder also placed eighth in the 60m hurdles (9.83). Additional contributors include sophomore Lauren Brawt, who was sixth in the 400m dash (1:01.32), and senior Jordan Fox, who placed ninth in the 800m run (2:26.75).
8. The University of Olivet – 42 points
Olivet rounds out the preseason poll in eighth after finishing fifth at last year’s championships with 37 points.
Key returners include junior Aubrey Connelly, who placed seventh in the 400m dash (1:03.17) and ran on the third-place 4x400m relay. Junior Joey Wilson returns after finishing ninth in the high jump (1.44m), and sophomore Kenzie Gray is back following a sixth-place finish in the shot put (10.97m).
Up Ahead
The 2026 MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held on Saturday, February 28, at Trine University’s Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic and Recreation Center, followed by the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships on March 13–14 at the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, Alabama.