CANTON, Ga. - The Trinity Tigers were selected as the 2026 preseason favorite for the Southern Athletic Association title.
Trinity captured sic first place votes for 55 points while Centre had two first place votes for 49 points to edge out Berry in third with 46. Rhodes and Oglethorpe capped the top five with 37 and 31 points, respectively.
Voting was conducted among the SAA’s eight head coaches.
2026 MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL RESULTS
1. Trinity - 55 (6)
2. Centre - 49 (2)
3. Berry - 46
4. Rhodes - 37
5. Oglethorpe - 31
6. Southwestern - 27
7. Sewanee - 19
8. Millsaps - 16
In their first outdoor season competing in the Southern Athletic Association, the Tigers return five USTFCCCA All-Region selections. Among them, Bocar Diagana and Orie Piken advanced to the 2025 NCAA Championships and delivered All-America performances, providing veteran leadership and national-level experience to the squad.
Last spring, Centre snapped Berry’s championship streak to capture its first SAA title since 2015. The Colonels dominated in the field events, piling up 80 points in the jumps and adding 69 more in the throws to secure the team victory.
Berry, a three-time SAA champion with titles from 2022–2024, came up just short in 2025. Led by USTFCCCA All-Region honoree Dawson Livingston, the Vikings bring strength and experience in the throws and distance events as they look to return to the top of the podium
The 2026 SAA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship is slated for April 24-25 in Rome, Georgia, hosted by Berry College.
For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at
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