Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Louisville held its spot at No. 11, while Kentucky dropped from 16 to 21 in the latest men’s indoor track and field rankings, released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

On the women’s side, U of L dropped one spot to No. 22, while UK dropped out of the poll from No. 25.

Jose Acevedo

U of L is scheduled to send split squads this weekend to UK’s Rod McCravy Memorial meet and to Notre Dame’s Meyo Invitational.

UK’s Jose Acevedo was a double-winner last weekend at the Penn State National Invitational. The Olympian from Venezuela took the 200 in 21.35 seconds, then led off UK’s winning 4-by-400 relay (3:13.90). Justin Austin, Mikel Thomas and Brandon Austin joined Acevedo on the relay.

Thomas, an Olympic hurdler for Trinidad and Tobago, is joined at UK this season by Olympic teammate Rondel Sorillo, a junior transfer from the University of Trinidad. Sorillo made it to the second round of the 200 meters last summer at Beijing, running

Rondel Sorillo

20.58 to win his first-round heat — over eventual gold-medal winner Usain Bolt of Jamaica. Acevedo placed fifth in the same heat.

As for the weekly rankings, Arkansas’ men remain No. 1, led by back-to-back winner of the Southeastern Conference Track Athlete of the Week Dorian Ulrey. Ulrey and Shawn Forrest ran 1-2 in the Washington Invitational 3,000 meters, with Ulrey posting the best time in the nation this season.

Arizona State remains No. 2, while Oregon moves up a spot to No. 3, trading places with Florida.

Oregon Olympian Ashton Eaton scored 6,174 heptathlon points at the Washington Invitational, the second-best score in NCAA history. Eaton won six of seven events: 60 meters (6.84), long jump (24-11), high jump (6-10.5), 60m hurdles (7.91), pole vault (16-3.5) and 1,000m (2:39.92). Eaton thus earned Athlete of the Week honors from USA Track & Field.

UK, which will host the SEC Indoor Championships, Feb. 27-March 1, is among six ranked SEC men’s teams. The others: Arkansas (1), Florida (4), LSU (10), Georgia (12) and South Carolina (14).

 Texas A&M, Tennessee and Michigan remain 1-2-3 in the women’s ratings.

Tennessee leads six SEC teams in the rankings. The others: LSU (5), South Carolina (11), Arkansas (12), Florida (17) and Auburn (23).

USTFCCCA Division indoor track and field rankings (Feb. 4, 2009) 

SEC teams underlined.

MEN

 Dropped Out:  #21 Georgetown and #24 Oklahoma State. 

WOMEN

Granted, Kentucky-Louisville basketball and football rivalries are what get the average fan anxious.

That doesn’t mean that athletes in other sports are any less passionate about beating their in-state competition.

If pre-season predicitions are anywhere close to accurate, look for some intense battles during the indoor track and field season.

Both the men’s and women’s teams from Kentucky and Louisville are among the top 25 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I rankings.

The Louisville men open the season at No.9, Kentucky at No. 11.

On the women’s side, UK checks in at No. 22, U of L at No. 25.

Oregon, 19th in last year’s NCAA Championships, is the top-ranked men’s team. The Ducks have a pair of Olympians in Galen Rupp and Andrew Wheating, as well as two All-Americans in Andrew Acosta and Ashton Eaton.

Defending NCAA champ Arizona State is No. 2.

U of L is especially strong in the jumps, with Tone Belt, Andre Black, Rudon Bastian and transfer Michael Johnson Jr. Belt won the NCAA long jump in 2007, while Black won the triple jump.

The Cardinals also return Steve Hnat in the shot put and distance runner Corey Thorne.

UK, which will play host to the Southeastern Conference Championships, features a pair of Olympians in sprinter Jose Acevedo (Venezuela) and hurdler Mikel Thomas (Trinidad & Tobago). The Wildcats likely will continue their recent run of excellent showings in the 4-by-400 relay and are deep in the weight events with Rashaud Scott, Chase Madison and Colin Boevers leading the big guys.

UK is among six SEC men’s teams ranked in the top 20, and among six SEC women’s teams in the top 25.

Texas A&M tops the women’s list, followed by 2008 NCAA runner-up LSU.

A&M is led by sprinter Porscha Lewis and 400-meter champion Jessica Beard.

LSU is paced by defending 800-meter champion LaTavia Thomas.

Defending champion Arizona State is rated No. 6.

UK’s top threats include Jenna Martin (400) and Ashley Muffet (throws).

U of L features Jere’ Summers (throws), Seidre Forde (triple jump) and transfer sprinter Saravia Richardson.

The NCAA Championships are set for March 13-14 at College Station, Texas.

USTFCCCA Division I indoor pre-season rankings

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WOMEN