NEW YORK - Two-time defending CUNY Athletic Conference men's outdoor track and field champion Medgar Evers was picked to repeat as the conference's preseason coaches' poll was released Thursday morning.

The Cougars, who have won the last two CUNYAC men's outdoor track and field titles, collected all four possible first place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team) and totaled 16 points.  2025 runner-up Hunter was picked second with the other first place vote and 13 total points.

CCNY was tabbed third with 10 points, followed by Lehman (6) and York (5)

The 2025-26 CUNYAC men's outdoor track and field Athletes to Watch were also announced Thursday.

Medgar Evers captured its second straight men's outdoor track and field title in 2025, defeating Hunter 273-166.  Three of the five conference teams have already started spring compeitition, with the other two slated to begin this coming weekend.

The 2026 CUNYAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships? are set for Saturday, May 2 at Icahn Stadium.

2026 CUNY Athletic Conference
Men's Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll
(first place votes in parentheses)

1. Medgar Evers (4) - 16
2. Hunter (1) - 13
3. CCNY - 10
4. Lehman - 6
5. York - 5

2026 CUNYAC Men's Outdoor Track and Field
Athletes to Watch

Mustapha Abubakar, CCNY - Abubakar, the CUNYAC indoor Rookie of the Year, posted the No. 2 time in the conference in the 60-meter dash (6.92) and the No. 3 time in the 200 (22.13) during the indoor season. He was USTFCCCA All-Region in the 60.

Hengzhi Zhu, Hunter - Zhu was the conference champion in the 10,000 meter run in 2025 and was second in the 5,000.  He placed third in the mile at this year's indoor championship.

Marc Saint-Hilaire, Lehman - Saint-Hilaire was the conference champion in the 800 during the indoor season and owns the top time in the event in the conference early in the outdoor campaign.

Reco Griffith, Medgar Evers - Griffith was the outdoor Rookie of the Year in 2025 atter setting a conference championship record in the 100 meter dash.  He won the 60 and 200 during indoor this season and was the Track Performer of the Year.

Tahkwai Wilson-Hill, York - Wilson-Hill returns to the Cardinals after being named York's 2022-23 indoor and outdoor Newcomer of the Year.  He was a member of York's bronze medal 4x100 relay squad at the 2023 outdoor championship.

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