BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Southwest Minnesota State University men's outdoor track & field team was selected to place 10th in the annual NSIC preseason coaches' poll released on Thursday.
 
"We have a youth movement on our team with a large contingent of freshmen and sophomores leading the way," said SMSU seventh-year head coach, Kirk Nauman. "They are excited to get outside and see what they can do."
 
SMSU freshman Brad Tang (sprints) and sophomore Colton Johnson (jumps) were named an 'Athlete to Watch' this season.
 
"Brad had a breakout freshman indoor season breaking the SMSU 60 M record and placing fourth in the same event at the NSIC Indoor Championships," Nauman said. "Brad is excited to see what outdoor has in store for him."
 
"Colton had a big indoor campaign in which he broke the SMSU record in the long jump and had a NCAA Provisional mark in the triple jump," Nauman said. "He was a finalist in both events at the NSIC Indoor Championships where he placed fourth in the triple jump."
 
SMSU, which finished 11^TH at the 2025 NSIC Outdoor Championships, begins the outdoor season on March 28 at the CSB / SJU Optimistic Invitational in Collegeville, Minn. It's the first of nine scheduled meets prior the conference championships.
 
The NSIC Outdoor Championships will be held May 7-9, in Duluth, Minn.