RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference has announced the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll for Women's Track & Field. Amongst the ten groups for the GAC, Southern Arkansas' Women rank fourth after receiving 53 points in the voting. 

The Muleriders are one of three Natural State schools to make up the top four, as Ouachita Baptist ranks in third with 66 points, and Harding sits at second with 76 points and four first-place votes. At the top of the standings, the defending GAC Champions, Oklahoma Baptist, rank first with 77 points and six first-place votes. 

The group has already competed in three outdoor meets this season, and two of the major highlights thus far have been seniors Jordan Collins and Diamond Brunn. Collins has already set two new program records for the Muleriders, as the Texan posted a time of 23.94 in the 200m (t-6th NCAA DII) and a time of 54.00 in the 400m (2nd NCAA DII). Collins has also claimed the title of GAC Women's Track Athlete of the Week once this season. For Brunn, the senior from Killeen, Texas has competed in two meets this season and recorded 6.02m in the long jump at last weekend's Louisiana Classics, which ranks second in NCAA DII. 

Remaining on the schedule for Southern Arkansas, a select few will make a trip to Austin, Texas for the Texas Relays (Apr. 2-4), while the remainder of the team will head to Nacogdoches, Texas for the Carl Kight Invitational & Multis (Apr. 2-3). The Muleriders will then head to Searcy, Arkansas for the Chick-fil-A Bryan Phillips Open (Apr. 9-11). To finish the regular season, the Blue and Gold stay at home for the Dan Veach Invitational (Apr. 18). The Great American Conference Championships will be set to follow, as SAU will make its third trip to Searcy to compete for individual championships and a team championship (Apr. 29-May 1).