GREENVILLE, S.C. – The UNC Pembroke men's outdoor track and field team was picked fourth, while the women's squad was selected sixth in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced Thursday afternoon.

The men's program is coming off a 2024-25 season where it earned a third-place finish at the Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championships. The Braves earned 147 points, slotting in behind 2025 outdoor conference champion Mount Olive who got 13 first-place votes and 184 points, Converse, who earned one first-place vote and 182 points, and Belmont Abbey, who picked up 163 points. Southern Wesleyan collected 144 points to round out the top five. The Black & Gold has finished in the top three in its last seven conference championships meets and will look to bring home the title for the first time since winning the Peach Belt Conference Championships in 2017.
 
After finishing fifth at the 2025 Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championships, the women's program was slotted in the sixth spot of the preseason poll after earning 123 points. 2025 champion, Mount Olive, took the top spot with 192 points and 13 first place votes, with Converse, earning 170 points and one first-place vote to settle in at second. North Greenville picked up 160 points to check in at third, with Belmont Abbey earning 152 points to take fourth, and Lees-McRae earning 132 points to round out the top five.
 
The Braves kicked off its outdoor portion of the schedule March 6-7 at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational, and will be back in action March 19 as they take part in the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The three-day meet will be held at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.

Men's Teams	Total (First Place Votes)
Mount Olive	184 (13)
Converse	182 (1)
Belmont Abbey	163
UNC Pembroke	147
Southern Wesleyan	144
Lees-McRae	126
King	109
Young Harris	94
Ferrum	90
North Greenville	87
Barton	66 (1)
Emmanuel	64
Erskine	44
Shorter	39
Francis Marion	36

 

Women's Teams	Total (First Place Votes)
Mount Olive	192 (13)
Converse	170 (1)
North Greenville	160
Belmont Abbey	152
Lees-McRae	132
UNC Pembroke	123
Francis Marion	114 (1)
Southern Wesleyan	110
Barton	81
King	80
Emmanuel	76
Ferrum	69
Shorter	46
Young Harris	42
Erskine	28