NEW YORK - Medgar Evers was voted first in the 2026 CUNY Athletic Conference women's outdoor track and field preseason poll released Thursday afternoon.

The Cougars, who placed second in last season's outdoor championship and are coming off winning the conference's indoor track and field title, collected four first place votes and 16 points.  Five-time defending champion Hunter received the other first place vote and totaled 12 points.

CCNY (11), Lehman (7) and York (4) rounded out the poll.

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

Hunter won its fifth straight women's outdoor track and field title in 2025, edging Medgar Evers 227-213.  The Hawks title was their 11th overall, breaking a tie with CCNY with 10 crowns apiece.

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

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

1. Medgar Evers (4) - 16
2. Hunter (1) - 12
3. CCNY - 11
4. Lehman - 7
5. York - 4

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

Jennifer Hepburn, CCNY - Hepburn was the conference's Rookie of the Year during the 2026 indoor season.  She captured gold at the indoor conference championship in the 60, 200 and 400.

Taelyn Murray, Hunter - Murray was the conference champion last season in the shot put and also placed second in the triple jump and the 100-meter hurdles.

Amariah Emanuel-Tyler, Lehman - Emanuel-Tyler placed seventh during the indoor season in the long jump and was fifth in the same event at last year's outdoor championship. She was also last year's outdoor Sportsmanship Award winner.

Rinnah Brown, Medgar Evers - Brown was the Most Valuable Performer at last year's outdoor championship, collecting points for the Cougars in eight events including first place in the 100 meter hurdles and second 400 hurdles and the high jump.

Keanna Clouden, York - Clouden placed fifth in the 200 and ninth in the 100 at last season's outdoor championship, and eighth in the 400 during the 2026 indoor meet.

---

For the latest news on the CUNY Athletic Conference, log on to cunyathletics.com – the official site of the CUNY Athletic Conference. Also, become a follower of the CUNYAC on Instagram (@CUNYAC), X (@CUNYAC), Threads (@CUNYAC) and YouTube (@CUNY Athletic Conference), and "LIKE" Us on Facebook (CUNY Athletic Conference). 

Sign up to receive the latest CUNY Athletic Conference news delivered right to your email inbox HERE.