KENOSHA, Wis. — Elmhurst will enter the 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship as the favorite in the pre-championship coaches’ poll. The Bluejays, who won their first conference title last season, will begin their title defense Friday at Art Keller Field in Kenosha, Wis. 
 
2026 CCIW Outdoor Women's Track & Field Pre-Championship Coaches' Poll

Team (First-place votes)	Points
1. Elmhurst (7)	63
2. North Central (2)	57
3. Illinois Wesleyan	49
4. Augustana	41
5. Carthage	36
6. Wheaton	33
T7. Carroll	18
T7. Millikin	18
9. North Park	9

Daily admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Children ages 5 and under, along with CCIW students with a valid ID, will be admitted free. Live results will be provided by Trackside Timing, and live video coverage will be available through the CCIW Network.

Elmhurst received 63 points and seven first-place votes to secure the top position in the poll. North Central was second with 57 points and two first-place votes as the Cardinals look to return to the top of the standings after winning four consecutive conference titles from 2019 through 2024. Illinois Wesleyan was third with 49 points, followed by Augustana in fourth with 41 points, Carthage in fifth with 36 points and Wheaton in sixth with 33 points. Carroll and Millikin tied for seventh with 18 points, while North Park was ninth with nine points.
 
Competition will begin Friday at 10 a.m. with the opening of the heptathlon and the hammer throw. Friday’s field event schedule also includes the pole vault at noon, javelin at 3 p.m. and long jump at 4 p.m. The first track finals will be Friday evening in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 6:15 p.m. and the 10,000-meter run at 7 p.m.
 
The championship will continue Saturday at 10 a.m. as the heptathlon concludes with the long jump, javelin and 800-meter run. Saturday’s track finals are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. with the 4x100-meter relay and continue through the 4x400-meter relay at 5:50 p.m. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 6:25 p.m.
 
The CCIW Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship has been contested since 1987. Augustana owns a league-high 12 team titles, followed by North Central with 11. Elmhurst enters this year’s meet as the defending champion after winning the program’s first CCIW outdoor title in 2025. The championship will be hosted in Kenosha for the first time since 2019.