Carmel, IN – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) has announced the results of the 2025-26 Women's Indoor Track and Field preseason poll, with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology taking first in the women’s polls in a vote amongst league coaches.  The preseason poll from last season mirrored this first-place projection; however, at last year’s HCAC Championships, the Berea College Mountaineers came into their first year of competition and surprised the league, by capturing the the women’s title.  Most of the voting coaches, save for one, did not pick the Mountaineers to repeat the crown in 2026, instead ranking them at fourth in the preseason poll.
 
Lodged in between the Engineers and Mountaineers, the Manchester Spartans are picked to finish second and Hanover College is slotted in third place.  Transylvania rounds out the top five predicted finishers.  Listed below are the full 25-26 HCAC Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll results. 
 
2025-26 Women's Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll

1 - Rose-Hulman 81 (9)
2 - Manchester 72
3 - Hanover 61
4 - Berea 57 (1)
5 - Transylvania 48
6 - Mount St. Joseph 37
7 - Earlham 32
8 - Franklin 22
T9 - Anderson 20
T9 - Bluffton 20

The HCAC Indoor Championships will be hosted at Mount St. Joseph University on February 28, 2026 and fans can again tune into live coverage on HCAC.tv.
 
As we head into the season, here are some things to watch for from each of the HCAC teams.
 
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin’ Engineers – Predicted Finish = First Place
 
Nine of the ten coaches believe that Rose-Hulman will be the team to beat in 2025-26, and given that a coach cannot vote for their own team, the Engineers are clearly the team that others feel will be up front. Coach Shane Mills, in his second season with the Engineers, will count heavily on lots of points from several all-HCAC returners, led by Junior Rose Talbert (Monticello, IL).  Talbert comes out of last season as a NCAA First-Team All-American in the Outdoor 400 meters.  Don’t expect a roof and an indoor surface to slow her down as she looks to be a dominant performer in the HCAC. 
 
Senior Alex Adams (Independence, OH) is also a returning all-HCAC runner, having won last season’s 100 meter dash at the HCAC Indoor Championships.  Adams also served as the anchor leg in a strong Rose-Hulman 4x100 relay team that dominated the second-place finishers by nearly two seconds at the 2025 Indoor Championships.
 
When the hurdles are set out, Coach Mills anticipates that Senior Narindwa Semakula (New Brighton, Minn) will repeat her strong 2025 Indoor Championship victory with another solid season.  The Engineers also will look for Freshman Ainsley Coffey (Mesa, AZ) to come into the HCAC and make an immediate impact in the hurdles. Looking at the field events, the Engineers boast of returning all-HCAC pole vaulter Irene Lema Madueno (Arcadia, CA).  Rose-Hulman also expects strong performances from all around Freshman athlete Abigail Drumm (The Woodlands, TX) who will compete in sprints, hurdles and jumps for the Engineers.

In the distance events, Junior Brianna Bittel (San Jose, CA) who finished as a second team all-HCAC runner at the recent HCAC Cross Country Championships will add some different distances into her repertoire and should impress during the indoor season.    
 
Manchester University Spartans – Predicted Finish = Second Place
 
Coach Brian Cashdollar’s Manchester University Spartans have shown that they will always be right in the fight, or winning, HCAC Championships.  The other coaches recognize those strengths and are guessing the Spartans will be right near the top again this season.   
 
It’s easy to see how the coaches believe that the Spartans will be competitive, as the team will bring back several all-conference performers this season.  The Spartans are always tough in the distance events and throws and Coach Cashdollar does not expect that to change during this indoor season.
 
Look for NCAA Cross Country national championship qualifier Chesnee Miller (Akron, Ind.) to be a dominant force under the indoor lights as well.  Miller was the champion at the recent HCAC Cross Country Championships and everyone in the conference knows to watch for her at the front of the distance packs.  Rylee Stephany (Laporte, IN) blends different distances to also expect to earn lots of points for the Spartans.  In the middle distances, Ava Egolf, a native to North Manchester, IN should perform strongly for the Spartans.
 
In the throws, Manchester will miss all everything HCAC legend Carley Camp.  While Camp was ever genial outside of the throws ring, the other coaches will not miss her dominant performances nearly as much.  Look for Katrina Sejour, Jr (Logansport, IN) to step in and pick up many of the points that Camp leaves behind.
 
Finally, in sprints and hurdles, the Spartans expect that Coco Truelove (Albion, IN) should be a leader for MU.  Truelove’s strong performances in last spring’s HCAC Outdoor Championship would bolster that expectation. 
 
Hanover College Panthers – Predicted Finish = Third Place
 
Panther’s head coach Richard Annorat will bring a bevy of all-conference returners into this year’s indoor season. 
 
Three of those returners come in the distance events, where distance coach, and HCAC veteran, Brady Wells will help Coach Annorat give some formidable issues to the other conference teams.  The Panthers are returning a quartet of All-HCAC runners in the distance events: Callie Swegman (Columbus, IN), Elyse Wilson (Mechanicsburg, OH), Lilyanna Smith (Spencer, IN) and Izzy Miklozek (Terre Haute, IN) are all returning for this indoor season Hanover expects strong performances from all of these ladies.  You can also expect that Kaylee Kinser, a sophomore from Charlestown, Indiana will bring the same speed that landed her a fourth-place finish in the HCAC Cross Country Championships onto the indoor surface and give the Panthers several additional points.
 
In the sprints, look for Sophomore Anna Stanfield (Mount Vernon, IN) to lead the way for Hanover.
 
Looking at the field events, Coach Annorat believes that Cheveann Leslie (North Vernon, IN) will make some noise in the shot put and Senior Kennadi Lakins (Crothersville, IN) should be an excellent long and high jumper for the Panthers this season.
 
 
Berea College Mountaineers – Predicted Finish = Fourth Place
 
You couldn’t blame the reigning HCAC Indoor Champion Mountaineers for gaining a little motivation after seeing the preseason prediction of a fourth place finish.  Coach Michael Thomas did lose some exceptional runners but Berea brings back two All-HCAC performers into the 25-26 indoor season.
 
Madison Stonestreet (Clarksburg, WV) was a first-team all-conference finisher at the recent HCAC Cross Country Championships, and can likely find that same form inside.  In the middle distances, look for all-HCAC returner Muhorakeye Joyeuse (Cincinnati, OH) to pace the Mountaineers and for Kristin Fischli, a Senior from St. Petersburg, Florida to shine as well. 
 
Coach Thomas expects for Jaleesa Herman (Catherin, Jamaica) to be a top contender in the hurdles and Katrina Kovalevskaya (Knoxville, TN) to put down great times in the sprints. 
 
Don’t look past these Mountaineers as they try to repeat their 2025 Championship.
 
 
Transylvania Pioneers – Predicted Finish = Fifth Place
 
Coach Matt Andrews has the Transylvania Pioneers poised to contend strongly in the upcoming season. 
 
In the distance events, the Pioneers return two All-HCAC performers in Kaycee Moore (Morehead, KY) and Gwyneth Cunningham (Louisville, KY).  Coach Andrews is also excited to welcome first year distance runner Ella Detjen, a Lexington local onto the Pios squad and expects her to do good things. 
 
In the sprints, Olivia Sparks (Lexington, KY) won last year’s 100 meter dash and is an exceptional performer for Transylvania that the entire conference knows will again be a top contender.  Jataiza Pinkney, also from Lexington, is expected to be another strong performer for the Pioneers.
 
 
Mount St. Joseph University Lions – Predicted Finish = Sixth Place
 
The HCAC coaches predict that Mount St. Joseph will be slightly stronger than last year’s seventh place Indoor Championship finish.  With the team set to host this season’s event, Coach Adam Cokonougher certainly hopes so, and he brings back some impressive athletes that will help the cause. 
 
The Lions are a well-rounded team, and that always spreads several points around.  In the sprints, All-HCAC returner Emerson Pinger (Felicity, OH) will be a leader for MSJ.  Bella Patura , a freshman from Batavia, Ohio will help Pinger by being a solid hurdler for the Lions.
 
The throws promise to give MSJ some success.  Madalyn Hudnall (Waldron, IN) comes into her senior season hoping to live up to the standards she set as an all-conference performer last season.  Sienna Slaughter (Mt. Washington, KY) and Asia Branch (Pickerington, OH) will also be athletes to watch in the throws.  Finally, the Lions expect freshman Sophie Rawlings (Winter Park, FL) to compete solidly throughout the year.
 
For the distance events, two all-HCAC runners return for Coach Cokonougher. Amanda Zerhusen, a Sophomore Cincinnati local and Sicilia Eshman, from nearby Mason, Ohio might have run over from their childhood homes.  If they did, it was at a quick pace, and we will see that indoors for the Lions this season. 
 
Earlham College Quakers – Predicted Finish = Seventh Place
 
The preseason projections have Coach Chris Krystofiak and his Earlham Quakers predicted to finish right where they ended at the 2025 Championships.  Coach Krystofiak hopes he can rely on a couple of strong jumpers to boost that outcome.  Prynces Robinson, a sophomore from Houston, TX finished her debut season at the conference championship with a third-place long jump performance and a second-place finish in the triple jump.  Robinson’s teammate Isa Slone (Oakwood, OH) also had an impressive Freshman season last year.  She will try to outjump her second-place finish in the long jump and if she can do it, will score big points for the Quakers. 
 
In the distance events, the Quakers are paced by returning All-HCAC runner Cleo Saltz (Bedford Hills, NY).  Saltz hopes that teammate Mallory Rich (Terre Haute, IN) is also able to pick up some points in the middle-distance events.
 
Leading the sprinters and hurdlers for Earlham are a pair of underclassmen.  Sofie Kurrasch (Mooresville, IN) will be a solid performer in both sprints and hurdles, and newcomer Sarah Riley (Enon, OH) is a sprinter that the Quakers look forward to bringing into HCAC competition as a quick competitor.
 
 
Franklin College Grizzlies – Predicted Finish = Eighth Place
 
Picked to finish in eighth place, the Grizzlies, led by Head Coach Brandon Dworak do not return any all-conference competitors.  The team does have some new talent that look to make an early impact, especially in the jumps. 
Alaina Kellerman (Batavia, OH), Grace Tincher (Palmyra, IN) and Amani Byrd (Lafayette, IN) will all make their HCAC debuts and should have some success for the Grizzlies.  Besides jumps, Tincher and Byrd will also look to contribute in the sprint events.  Those new talents will be joined by sophomore Fiona Sodrel (Bargersville) that will help the Grizzlies improve in the middle-distance events.  If the young Grizzlies can reach the eighth place that is predicted, it would be a two-place improvement over last year and make for a promising future. 
 
Anderson College Ravens – Predicted Finish = Ninth Place (Tie)
 
Coach Nic Huffman and the Anderson Ravens return to indoor competition with one All-HCAC performer.  Sophomore Katie Ripberger (Rushville, IN) finished third in the 100-meter hurdles and fourth in the 400-meter hurdles at last year’s Championship.  She will look to improve on those times for Anderson. 
 
In the distance events, Hattie Harlow, a newcomer from Russiaville, Indiana will look to learn from her talented senior classmate Paige McKain (Brownstown, IN).  Another freshman, Naomi Hoover (Columbus, OH) hopes to bolster the team at the middle distances.
 
Coach Huffman has brought in a promising newcomer in the throws events also, as Lai Waller-Thomas (Fort Wayne, IN) should compete formidably in the shot put.
 
 
Bluffton College Beavers – Predicted Finish = Ninth Place (Tie)
 
The Bluffton Beavers also return one All-HCAC performer. Second year coach Chris Scott is hoping that Sophomore Amelia Adams (Celina, OH) can best her second place, all-conference pole vault finish from 2025.  Adams also finished in fourth place in the high jump, so watch for her to be successful this season. 
 
Sara Smith, a freshman from Mansfield, Ohio will join the Beavers and hopes to be a solid contender in the distance events. 
 
The Beavers have a smaller roster this year, but look for Coach Scott to continue to grow this Beavers team with solid competitors.

For more information on HCAC Track and Field, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the Internet at www.heartlandconf.org.  Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.