Tweet #theGAC  RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Tuesday, the Great American Conference announced the results of its 2026 GAC women’s track & field coaches’ poll. Oklahoma Baptist received six first-place votes from the league’s head coaches to enter the season as the preseason favorite.

In 2025, the Bison captured their fourth-straight GAC Championship title. They return three GAC champions in Asia Foster,  Jamora Horace and Altyn Bartley. Foster won the 200- and 400-meter dashes. She qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 400, where she placed seventh to earn First-Team All-America honors. In the 2025-26 indoor season, she again earned a spot to the National Championships in the 400. She finished 10th. She joined up with Bianca Gleim, Favour Okoye and Bella Driver to take eighth in the 4x400-meter relay. Horace won the high jump and went on to finish sixth at the NCAA Championships. She improved to fourth at the 2026 Indoor National Championships. Bartley took the title in the hammer throw. At the 2026 Indoor Championships, she finished 16th in the weight throw.

Harding received four votes and finished second in the poll. They return five individuals who qualified for the 2025 Outdoor National Championships - Tetiana Kharashchuk, Omolara Ogunmakinju, Hanna Onufriieva, Karyna Vehner and Cadence Sansom. Onufriieva and Sansom finished 10th,  in the triple jump and pole vault, respectively.  The Lady Bisons bring back three of their National Championship-qualifying 4x400 relay team - Kharashchuk, Ogunmakinju and Jayden Bowman. Additionally, they return all four of their GAC Champion 4x100 relay team - Kharashchuk, Leila Ngapout, Kewes Gomes and Jerlana Williams. Williams finished 10th in the 60-meter dash at the 2026 Indoor National Championships. Josie Parks, the GAC champion in the 1500, also returns.

Ouachita Baptist claimed third in the poll. The Tigers finished third at the GAC Championships. Kate Nachtigal, the league champion in the 3000-meter steeplechase returns. She qualified for the 2025 Outdoor National Championships, where she finished 22nd overall.

Southern Arkansas placed fourth. The Muleriders’ Diamond Brunn earned First-Team All-American honors in the long jump after she finished eighth at the 2025 Outdoor National Championships.

Northwestern Oklahoma State edged out Southeastern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene for fifth place. The Crimson Storm’s Abriel Thrash has advanced to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships each of the past two years in the heptathlon. She finished 11th in 2024 and sixth last year.

Arkansas Tech, Southwestern Oklahoma State and East Central rounded out voting.

The 2026 GAC Championships return to Searcy, Arkansas with all 10 teams competing from Wednesday, April 29 through Friday, May 1.