BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship will be held Friday and Saturday at the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University. Elmhurst, the defending conference champion, enters the meet as the top choice in the 2026 pre-championship coaches’ poll.
 
2026 CCIW Women's Indoor Track & Field Pre-Championship Coaches' Poll 

Team (First-place votes)	Points
1. Elmhurst (6)	62
2. North Central (3)	56
3. Illinois Wesleyan	52
4. Augustana	40
5. Carthage	37
6. Wheaton	30
T7. Carroll	17
T7. Millikin	17
9. North Park	13

In the poll released Thursday, Elmhurst received 62 points and six first-place votes. North Central was tabbed second with 56 points and three first-place votes. Host Illinois Wesleyan was picked third with 52 points, followed by Augustana with 40 and Carthage with 37. Wheaton (30), Carroll (17), Millikin (17) and North Park (13) completed the nine-team field.
 
Elmhurst Director of Track & Field David Stone, in his first year leading the program, addressed the expectations entering the weekend. 
 
“When they say that we’re the team to beat, you know, it really is a humbling moment,” Stone said. “I think it’s exciting for us, too … we were not in that position (in the past) … so, we’re pretty happy and humbled to be chosen for that.”
 
Elmhurst will look to build on a 2025 season that concluded with the program’s first CCIW Women’s Indoor Track & Field title. The Bluejays finished with 160 points, supported by five event wins. North Central placed second in 2025 with 106.5.
 
The two-day championship begins at 11:00 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Friday’s schedule opens with the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles at 11:00 a.m., with field events including the women’s pole vault at 12:30 p.m. and long jump at 4:00 p.m. The evening session includes the 5,000-meter runs at 4:10 p.m. and the distance medley relay at 5:50 p.m. Saturday features field events such as the high jump at 12:00 p.m. and shot put at 2:30 p.m., along with track finals including the mile at 12:30 p.m., 400 meters, and 800 meters. The meet concludes with the 4x400-meter relay at 5:10 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 5:40 p.m.