June 9, 2009
The University of Kentucky men’s team jumped from 20th to No. 11 in the final U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll of the season. The NCAA Outdoor Championships open Wednesday at the University of Arkansas and continue through Saturday.
Texas A&M moved from No. 2 to No. 1 in the final poll. Oregon also moved up a spot to No. 2, followed by four Southeastern Conference squads — previously top-ranked Florida, Arkansas (up from 6), LSU (up from 8th) and South Carolina. In all, the SEC has eight of the top 20 teams.
Texas A&M also moved from No. 2 to No. 1 in the women’s poll, switching places with Oregon. Third is LSU, which leads five SEC teams in the top 20.
UK has the top-ranked women’s team from the state, improving from No. 34 to 32.
The UK men are led by Rashaud Scott, the Field Athlete of the Year in the Southeast Region (see below). He is coming off a sweep of regional shot put and discus titles and is defending NCAA champion in the latter event. He is ranked No. 1 in the discus and No. 8 in the shot. Teammate Chase Madison is No. 7 in the discus.
In addition, the Wildcats qualified in both the 4-by-100 and 4-by-400 relays, ranking sixth and 12th, respectively.
Rondel Sorrillo, who anchors the 4-by-100 unit, also made it in the 100 (ranked No. 22) and 200 (No. 5).
Louisville’s men improved from 37th to 29th in the team rankings. The Cardinals are led by a pair of top 10-ranked athletes — Corey Thorne, No. 2 in the steeplecase, and Tone Belt, No. 6 in the high jump.
Western Kentucky jumped 14 spots to No. 37. The Hilltoppers are led by Gavin Smellie, ranked No. 2 in the 200, and Mandhla Mgijima, No. 7 in the long jump.
Eastern Kentucky moved from No. 163 to 137. The Colonels’ lone NCAA qualifier is 5,000-meter runner Joseph Maina (No. 27).
UK’s women have four NCAA qualifiers, all ranked 17th or better: Ashley Muffet (No. 4, discus), Kristin Smith (No. 7, hammer throw), Ashley Trimble (No. 11, heptathlon) and Emilee Strot (No. 17, discus).
Louisville is ranked No. 35, an improvement of 14 spots. The Cards are led by Jere’ Summers, who ranks sixth in the discus and 10th in the shot.
Western Kentucky jumped 19 spots to No. 53. Janet Jesang, No. 5 at 5,000 meters, leads the Hilltoppers.
The final team rankings:
WOMEN
1. Texas A&M
2. Oregon
3. LSU
4. Arizona State
5. Tennessee
6. Florida State; 7. Southern Cal; 8. Penn State; 9. Baylor; 10. Texas.
11. Michigan; 12. UCLA; 13. Miami (Fla.); 14. Florida; 15. Washington.
16. UTEP; 17. Oklahoma; 18. Arkansas; 19. Nebraska; 20. Auburn.
21. Illinois; 22. Virginia Tech; 23. Indiana; 24. BYU; 25. Stanford.
MEN
1. Texas A&M
2. Oregon
3. Florida
4. Arkansas
5. LSU
6. South Carolina; 7. So. Cal; 8. Stanford; 9. Nebraska; 10. Ariz. State.
11. KENTUCKY; 12. Fla. State; 13. Miss. State; 14. Texas; 15. Auburn.
16. Minnesota; 17. Kansas State; 18. Texas; 19. Baylor; 20. Georgia.
21. Wash.; 22. Arizona; 23. Cal; 24. Boise State; 25. Wash. State.
Division I regional athletes and coaches of the year
Rashaud Scott
Erik Jenkins
Kentucky shot put/discus ace Rashaud Scott has been named by the USTFCCCA as men’s Field Athlete of the Year in the Southeast Region.
Western Kentucky’s Erik Jenkins was named Women’s Head Coach of the Year in the Southeast Region.
The full list of award winners follows.
Name (school) region
Tiffany Ofili
Women’s track — Tiffany Ofili (Michigan) Great Lakes; Clara Grandt (West Virginia) Mid-Atlantic; Angela Bizzari (Illinois) Midwest; Jenny Barringer (Colorado) Mountain; Danette Doetzel (Providence) Northeast; Murielle Ahoure (Miami, Fla.) South; Porscha Lucas (Texas A&M) South Central; Francena McCorory (Hampton) Southeast; Charonda Williams (Arizona State) West.
Destinee Hooker
Women’s field — Kara Patterson (Purdue) Great Lakes; Gayle Hunter (Penn State) Mid-Atlantic; Liz Roehrig (Minnesota) Midwest; Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) Mountain; Tahari James (Boston U.) Northeast; Kim Williams (Florida State) South; Destinee Hooker (Texas) South Central; Dorotea Habazin (Virginia Tech); Southeast; Sarah Stevens (Arizona State) West.
Trindon Holliday
Men’s track — Adam Harris (Michigan) Great Lakes; Sean Tully (Villanova) Mid-Atlantic; German Fernandez (Oklahoma State) Midwest; Gil Roberts (Texas Tech) Mountain; Kyle Heath (Syracuse) Northeast; Calvin Smith (Florida) South; Trindon Holliday (LSU) South Central; Sam Chelanga (Liberty) Southeast; Galen Rupp (Oregon) West.
Aston Eaton
Men’s field — Derek Drouin (Indiana) Great Lakes; Clarence Smith (Penn State) Mid-Atlantic; Will Claye (Oklahoma) Midwest; Dimitrios Fylladitakis (UTEP) Mountain; Nico Weiler (Harvard) Northeast; Chris Hill (Georgia) South; Jason Colwick (Rice) South Central; RASHAUD SCOTT (KENTUCKY) Southeast; Ashton Eaton (Oregon) West.
T. Buford-Bailey
Women’s head coach — James Henry (Michigan) Great Lakes; Beth Alford-Sullivan (Penn State) Mid-Atlantic; Tonja Buford-Bailey (Illinois) Midwest; Wes Kittley (Texas Tech) Mountain; Bill Morgan (Connecticut) Northeast; Caryl Smith Gilbert (Central Florida) South; Jim Bevan (Rice) South Central; ERIC JENKINS (WESTERN KENTUCKY) Southeast; Dan Steele (Oregon) West.
Brian Forrester
Women’s assistant — Brian Forrester (Akron) Great Lakes; Chris Miltenberg (Georgetown U.) Mid-Atlantic; Marc Burns (Wichita State) Midwest; Scott Irving (U.S. Air Force Academy) Mountain; Clive Terrelong (Connecticut) Northeast; Karen Harvey (Florida State) South; Vince Anderson (Texas A&M) South Central; Carrie Lane (Virginia) Southeast; Robert Johnson (Oregon) West.
Chris Bucknam
Men’s head coach – Dennis Mitchell (Akron) Great Lakes; Joe Compagni (Monmouth) Mid-Atlantic; Gary Pepin (Nebraska) Midwest; Mark Robison (Brigham Young) Mountain; Nathan Taylor (Cornell) Northeast; Michael Holloway (Florida) South; Tie: Chris Bucknam (Arkansas) and Sean Brady (Southeastern Louisiana) South Central; Jason Vigilante (Virginia) Southeast; Ron Allice (Southern California) West.
Don Babbitt
Men’s assistant – Rodney Zuyderwyk (Purdue) Great Lakes; Sheila Burrell (Georgetown U.) Mid-Atlantic; Billy Maxwell (Nebraska) Midwest; Dion Miller (Texas Tech) Mountain; Michelle Eisenreich (Brown) Northeast; Don Babbit (Georgia) South; Dick Booth (Arkansas) South Central; Tim Hall (Clemson) Southeast; Mark MacDonald (Washington State) West.
No Comments » | 
100 meters, 200 meters, 4-by-100 relay, 4-by-400 relay, Angela Bizzari, Arizona State University, Ashley Muffet, Ashley Trimble, Ashton Eaton, Auburn University, Baylor University, Beth Alford Sullivan, Bill Morgan, Billy Maxwell, Blessing Okagbare, Boise State University, Boston University, Brian Forrester, Brigham Young University, Brown University, Calvin Smith, Carrie Lane, Caryl Smith Gilbert, Central Florida, Charonda Williams, Chase Madison, Chris Bucknam, Chris Hill, Chris Miltenberg, Clara Grandt, Clarence Smith, Clemson University, Clive Terrelonge, Colorado, Corey Thorne, Cornell, Dan Steele, Danette Doetzel, Dennis Mitchell, Derek Drouin, Destinee Hooker, Dick Booth, Dimitrios Fylladitakis, Dion Miller, Don Babbit, Dorotea Habazin, Eastern Kentucky University, Emilee Strot, Erik Jenkins, Florida State University, Francena McCorory, Galen Rupp, Gary Pepin, Gavin Smellie, Gayle Hunter, Georgetown University, German Fernandez, Gil Roberts, Great Lakes Region, Hammer throw, Hampton, Harvard University, Indiana University, James Henry, Janet Jesang, Jason Colwick, Jason Vigilante, Jenny Barringer, Jere' Summers, Jim Bevan, Joe Compagni, Joseph Maina, Kansas State University, Kara Patterson, Karen Harvey, Kim Williams, Kristin Smith, Kyle Heath, LSU, Liberty, Liz Roehrig, Marc Burns, Mark MacDonald, Mark Robison, Michael Holloway, Michelle Eisenreich, Mid-Atlantic Region, Midwest Region, Minnesota, Mississippi State University, Monmouth University, Mountain Region, Murielle Ahoure, Nathan Taylor, Nebraska University, Nico Weiler, Northeast Region, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma University, Penn State University, Porscha Lucas, Providence, Purdue University, Rashaud Scott, Rice University, Robert Johnson, Rodney Zuyderwyk, Ron Allice, Rondel Sorrillo, Sam Chelanga, Sarah Stevens, Scott Irving, Sean Brady, Sean Tully, Sheila Burrell, South Central Region, South Region, Southeast Region, Southeastern Louisiana, Stanford University, Syracuse University, Tahari James, Texas A&M, Texas Tech University, Tiffany Ofili, Tim Hall, Tone Belt, Tonja Buford Bailey, Track and field, Trindon Holliday, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Associ, UCLA, UTEP, University of Akron, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of California, University of Connecticut, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Illinois, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Oregon, University of Southern California, University of Tennessee, University of Texas, University of Virginia, Villanova University, Vince Anderson, Virginia Tech, Washington, Washington State University, Wes Kittley, West Region, West Virginia University, Western Kentucky University, Wichita State University, Will Claye, discus, high jump, shot put, steeplechase | 
Permalink
Posted by Mark Maloney
May 13, 2009
Rashaud Scott
Kentucky’s Rashaud Scott remains the No. 1 discus performer, but the Wildcats team dropped from 21st to No. 25 in the released U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association men’s poll that was released Wednesday.
Cross-state rival Louisville, led by second-ranked steeplechaser Corey Thorne, also fell, from No. 25 to 27.
Oregon reclaimed the No. 1 team ranking, dropping Florida to No. 2.
Florida and Kentucky are among seven Southeastern Conference teams ranked in the top 25. The SEC Championships open Thursday and last through Sunday at Florida.
Texas A&M is No. 1 in the women’s poll. Kentucky is 37th, Louisville 42nd. LSU is the top-rated SEC team, No. 4.
MEN
Team Conference Points
1. Oregon (Pac-10) 278.52
2. Florida (SEC) 265.86
3. Florida State (ACC) 265.23
4. Texas A&M (Big 12) 236.25
5. Nebraska (Big 12) 205.59
6. Arizona State (Pac-10) 187.09
7. South Carolina (SEC) 172.25
8. Arkansas (SEC) 169.58
9. Texas (Big 12) 162.35
10. Stanford (Pac-10) 162.10
11. Baylor (Big 12) 159.03
12. LSU (SEC) 158.29
13. Auburn (SEC) 149.12
14. Washington (Pac-10) 137.66
15. Texas Tech (Big 12) 120.31
16. Souther Cal (Pac-10) 119.30
17. California (Pac-10) 114.77
18. Minnesota (Big Ten) 111.72
19. Brigham Young (Mountain West) 94.94
20. Georgia (SEC) 93.64
21. Washington State (Pac-10) 91.25
22. Virginia Tech (ACC) 91.17
23. Liberty (Big South) 91.11
24. Missouri (Big 12) 90.43
25. KENTUCKY (SEC) 90.27
Other Kentucky and SEC teams — 27. Louisville (Big East), 79.85; 34. Tennessee, 68.73; 37. Western Kentucky (Sun Belt) 62.39; 43. Alabama, 54.34; 46. Mississippi State, 50.94; 71, Mississippi, 25.68; 146. Eastern Kentucky (Ohio Valley) 1.88.
WOMEN
1. Texas A&M (Big 12) 302.56
2. Oregon (Pac-10) 256.51
3. Florida State (ACC) 242.82
4. LSU (SEC) 220.09
5. Southern Cal (Pac-10) 212.44
6. Texas (Big 12) 192.53
7. Arizona State (Pac-10) 170.80
8. Baylor (Big 12) 169.52
9. Virginia Tech (ACC) 154.60
10. Brigham Young (Mountain West) 153.40
11. Michigan (Big Ten) 150.96
12. Tennessee (SEC) 148.34
13. UCLA (Pac-10) 146.00
14. Auburn (SEC) 126.52
15. Stanford (Pac-10) 119.98
16. Miami, Fla. (ACC) 112.82
17. Washington (Pac-10) 111.96
18. Nebraska (Big 12) 111.93
19. Oklahoma (Big 12) 111.81
20. Penn State (Big Ten) 110.29
21. Minnesota (Big Ten) 95.52
22. Arkansas (SEC) 92.82
23. Texas Tech (Big 12) 89.26
24. SMU (Conference USA) 88.60
25. Indiana (Big Ten) 86.12
Other Kentucky and SEC teams — 29. Florida, 71.01; 37. Kentucky, 59.25; 39. Mississippi, 55.93; 42. Louisville (Big East), 52.88; 53. South Carolina, 42.53; 60. Alabama, 37.76; 72. Georgia, 25.96; 73. Western Kentucky (Sun Belt), 24.58; 83. Mississippi State, 17.06.
Event-by-event leaders (plus Kentuckians in top 20)
MEN
Gavin Smellie
100 — Jacoby Ford (Clemson) 10.11; 13. Gavin Smellie (WKU) 10.29.
200 — Trey Harts (Baylor) 20.29; 6. Gavin Smellie (WKU) 20.58.
400 — Gil Roberts (Texas Tech) 45.27.
800 — Tevan Everett (Texas) 1:47.39.
1,500 — Matt Centrowitz (Oregon) 3:36.92.
5,000 — Brandon Bethke (Arizona State) 13:27.74.
10,000 — Sam Chelanga (Liberty) 27:28.48.
110 hurdles — Oma Osaghae (Texas Tech) 13.42.
400 hurdles — Jeshua Anderson (Washington State) 49.44.
Corey Thorne
3,000 steeplechase — Jake Morse (Texas) 8:34.57; 2. Corey Thorne (U of L) 8:39.19; 12. Matt Hughes (U of L) 8:47.36.
4-x-100 relay — Florida State 38.75; 17. WKU 39.93.
4-x-400 relay — Florida State 3:01.54; 8. UK 3:05.77.
High jump — (Tie) Trent Arrivey (Washington State) and Matt Fisher (Minnesota) 7-4 1/2; 13. Tone Belt (U of L) 7-1.
Pole vault — Jason Colwick (Rice) 18-9 1/4.
Long jump — Brian Chibudu (Florida State) 26-5; 4. Mandhla Mgijima (WKU) 25-11; 6. Rudon Bastian (U of L) 25-8.
Triple jump — Will Claye (Oklahoma) 55-3/4.
Shot put — Ryan Whiting (Arizona State) 66-11 1/2; 15. Steve Hnat (U of L) 60-6 1/2; 16. Rashaud Scott (UK) 60-3 3/4; 20. Chase Madison (UK) 59-11 1/4.
Discus — Rashaud Scott (UK) 212-9; 6. Chase Madison (UK) 196-7.
Hammer throw — Chris Rohr (Missouri) 235-11.
Javelin — Cyrus Hostetler (Oregon) 272-10.
Decathlon — Ashton Eaton (Oregon) 8,091.
WOMEN
100 — Alexandria Anderson (Texas) 11.09.
200 — Tiffany Townsend (Baylor) 22.63; 20. Miaie Williams (WKU) 23.43.
400 — Jessica Beard (Texas A&M) 51.52.
800 — Molly Beckwith (Indiana) 2:02.51.
1,500 — Jenny Barringer (Colorado) 4:08.38.
Janet Jesang
5,000 — Jenny Barringer (Colorado) 15:07.64; 10. Janet Jesang (WKU) 15:52.22.
10,000 — Lisa Koll (Iowa State) 32:43.85; 20. Janet Jesang (WKU) 34:08.18.
100 hurdles — Tiffany Ofili (Michigan) 12.82.
400 hurdles — Eric Cray (Bethune-Cookman) 51.80.
3,000 steeplechase — Nicole Bush (Michigan State) 9:39.38.
4-x-100 relay — Texas A&M 42.91.
4-x-400 relay — LSU 3:31.81; 20. WKU 3:37.43.
High jump — Destinee Hooker (Texas) 6-3 1/2; 11. Rachel Gehret (U of L) 5-11 1/4.
Pole vault — Natalie Willer (Nebraska) 14-4 1/2.
Long jump — Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) 22-6 1/4.
Triple jump — Kim Williams (Florida State) 44-9 3/4; 10. Seidre Forde (U of L) 42-11 3/4.
Ashley Muffet
Ashley Trimble
Shot put — Mariam Kevkhishvili (Florida) 59-2 1/4; 12. Ashley Muffet (UK) 53-4 1/2; 20. Khadija Abdullah (U of L) 52-2.
Discus — Annie Alexander (Tennessee) 188-9; 3. Ashley Muffet (UK) 187-8; 13. Jere’ Summers (U of L) 173-8; 17. Emilee Strot (UK) 171-2.
Hammer throw — Eva Orban (Southern Cal) 226-10; 11. Jere’ Summers (U of L) 199-10; 13. Kristin Smith (UK) 199-2.
Javelin — Kara Patterson (Purdue) 191-7.
Heptathlon — Brianne Theisen (Oregon) 5,986; 20. Ashley Trimble (UK) 5,438.
No Comments » | Alexandria Anderson, Annie Alexander, Arizona State University, Ashley Muffet, Ashley Trimble, Ashton Eaton, Atlantic Coast Conference, Auburn University, Baylor University, Bethune-Cookman, Big 12 Conference, Big South Conference, Blessing Okagbare, Brandon Bethke, Brian Chibudu, Brianne Theisen, Brigham Young University, Chase Madison, Chris Rohr, Clemson University, Colorado, Corey Thorne, Cyrus Hostetler, Decathlon, Destinee Hooker, Eastern Kentucky University, Emilee Strot, Eric Cray, Eva Orban, Florida State University, Gavin Smellie, Gil Roberts, Hammer throw, Indiana University, Iowa State University, Jacoby Ford, Jake Morse, Janet Jesang, Jason Colwick, Javelin, Jenny Barringer, Jere' Summers, Jeshua Anderson, Jessica Beard, Kara Patterson, Khadija Abdullah, Kristin Smith, LSU, Liberty, Lisa Koll, Mandhla Mgijima, Mariam Kevkhishvili, Matt Centrowitz, Matt Fisher, Matt Hughes, Miaie Williams, Michigan State University, Mississippi State University, Missouri, Molly Beckwith, Mountain West Conference, Natalie Willer, Nebraska, Nicole Bush, Ohio Valley Conference, Oklahoma University, Ole Miss, Oma Osaghae, Oregon, Pacific-10 Conference, Penn State University, Purdue University, Rachel Gehret, Rashaud Scott, Rice University, Rudon Bastian, Ryan Whiting, Sam Chelanga, Seidre Forde, Southeastern Conference, Southern Methodist University, Stanford University, Steve Hnat, Tevan Everett, Texas A&M, Texas Tech University, Tiffany Ofili, Tiffany Townsend, Tone Belt, Track and field, Trent Arrivey, Trey Harts, Triple jump, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Associ, UCLA, UTEP, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of California, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Miami (Fla.), University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California, University of Tennessee, University of Texas, Virginia Tech, Washington, Washington State University, Western Kentucky University, Will Claye, dash, discus, high jump, hurdles, long jump, pole vault, relay, run, shot put, steeplechase | Permalink
Posted by Mark Maloney
February 4, 2009
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
|
Rank
|
School
|
Points
|
Last Week
|
|
1
|
Arkansas
|
182.55
|
1
|
|
2
|
Arizona State
|
138.82
|
2
|
|
3
|
Oregon
|
124.70
|
4
|
|
4
|
Florida
|
122.07
|
3
|
|
5
|
Texas A&M
|
116.48
|
5
|
|
6
|
Florida State
|
98.50
|
6
|
|
7
|
Texas
|
81.96
|
9
|
|
8
|
Texas Tech
|
81.08
|
7
|
|
9
|
BYU
|
72.39
|
8
|
|
10
|
LSU
|
72.06
|
10
|
|
11
|
Louisville
|
67.33
|
11
|
|
12
|
Georgia
|
61.32
|
12
|
|
13
|
Stanford
|
58.05
|
25
|
|
14
|
South Carolina
|
57.69
|
14
|
|
15
|
Northern Iowa
|
55.79
|
13
|
|
16
|
Nebraska
|
53.59
|
19
|
|
17
|
Arizona
|
51.90
|
22
|
|
18
|
Michigan
|
50.38
|
15
|
|
19
|
Kansas State
|
49.56
|
18
|
|
20
|
Baylor
|
48.22
|
17
|
|
21
|
Kentucky
|
46.00
|
16
|
|
22
|
Oklahoma
|
43.96
|
NR
|
|
23
|
Missouri
|
41.33
|
23
|
|
24
|
Clemson
|
40.84
|
NR
|
|
25
|
Boise State
|
40.19
|
20
|
Dropped Out: #21 Georgetown and #24 Oklahoma State.
WOMEN
|
Rank
|
School
|
Points
|
Last Week
|
|
1
|
Texas A&M
|
149.55
|
1
|
|
2
|
Tennessee
|
123.95
|
2
|
|
3
|
Michigan
|
120.37
|
3
|
|
4
|
Oregon
|
114.48
|
10
|
|
5
|
LSU
|
109.45
|
4
|
|
6
|
Texas
|
92.54
|
6
|
|
7
|
Virginia Tech
|
88.09
|
7
|
|
8
|
Florida State
|
87.51
|
5
|
|
9
|
Arizona State
|
83.62
|
8
|
|
10
|
Penn State
|
77.89
|
18
|
|
11
|
South Carolina
|
72.49
|
12
|
|
12
|
Arkansas
|
69.27
|
14
|
|
13
|
Texas Tech
|
67.77
|
11
|
|
14
|
Arizona
|
65.93
|
13
|
|
15
|
Minnesota
|
64.93
|
9
|
|
16
|
Stanford
|
60.80
|
16
|
|
17
|
Florida
|
59.00
|
15
|
|
18
|
North Carolina
|
52.51
|
17
|
|
19
|
BYU
|
48.06
|
NR
|
|
20
|
Nebraska
|
44.38
|
19
|
|
21
|
UTEP
|
43.80
|
20
|
|
22
|
Louisville
|
43.66
|
21
|
|
23
|
Auburn
|
43.31
|
22
|
|
24
|
Miami (Fla.)
|
36.24
|
24
|
|
25
|
Baylor
|
34.53
|
23
|
2 Comments | Arizona State, Arkansas, Ashton Eaton, Auburn, Brandon Austin, Dorian Ulrey, Florida, Georgia, Jamaica, Jose Acevedo, Justin Austin, LSU, Meyo Invitational, Michigan, Mikel Thomas, Notre Dame, Olympics, Oregon, Penn State National Invitational, Rod McCravy Memorial, Rondel Sorillo, Shawn Forrest, South Carolina, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Track and field, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Associ, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Usain Bolt, Venezuela, Washington Invitational | Permalink
Posted by Mark Maloney
January 8, 2009
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
MEN
|
Rank
|
School
|
Points
|
Final ‘08
|
|
1
|
Oregon
|
132.21
|
19
|
|
2
|
Arizona State
|
129.59
|
1
|
|
3
|
Arkansas
|
129.31
|
6
|
|
4
|
Florida
|
126.03
|
8
|
|
5
|
Florida State
|
104.43
|
2
|
|
6
|
Texas A&M
|
102.28
|
10
|
|
7
|
Texas
|
81.73
|
3
|
|
8
|
LSU
|
79.42
|
4
|
|
9
|
Louisville
|
72.92
|
–
|
|
10
|
BYU
|
71.06
|
–
|
|
11
|
Kentucky
|
68.58
|
–
|
|
12
|
Texas Tech
|
67.14
|
–
|
|
13
|
Northern Iowa
|
65.07
|
9
|
|
14
|
Baylor
|
58.93
|
19
|
|
15
|
Nebraska
|
56.35
|
17
|
|
16
|
South Carolina
|
54.75
|
–
|
|
17
|
Michigan
|
53.68
|
–
|
|
18
|
Kansas State
|
52.00
|
–
|
|
19
|
Arizona
|
51.59
|
–
|
|
20
|
Georgia
|
48.95
|
–
|
|
21
|
Georgetown
|
48.59
|
17
|
|
22
|
Boise State
|
48.22
|
–
|
|
23
|
Missouri
|
42.83
|
–
|
|
24
|
UCLA
|
42.61
|
14
|
|
25
|
Stanford
|
41.33
|
7
|
WOMEN
|
Rank
|
School
|
Points
|
Final ‘08
|
|
1
|
Texas A&M
|
149.39
|
7
|
|
2
|
LSU
|
127.20
|
2
|
|
3
|
Michigan
|
119.57
|
3
|
|
4
|
Tennessee
|
117.19
|
8
|
|
5
|
Florida State
|
109.87
|
6
|
|
6
|
Arizona State
|
84.35
|
1
|
|
7
|
Virginia Tech
|
82.42
|
10
|
|
8
|
Oregon
|
81.98
|
–
|
|
9
|
Texas Tech
|
81.27
|
10
|
|
10
|
Minnesota
|
74.08
|
15
|
|
11
|
Arkansas
|
69.90
|
–
|
|
12
|
Texas
|
68.83
|
4
|
|
13
|
Florida
|
67.64
|
8
|
|
14
|
Penn State
|
67.63
|
16
|
|
15
|
Arizona
|
66.71
|
22
|
|
16
|
South Carolina
|
64.65
|
–
|
|
17
|
Stanford
|
61.33
|
5
|
|
18
|
North Carolina
|
46.32
|
21
|
|
19
|
UTEP
|
44.63
|
13
|
|
20
|
Miami (Fla.)
|
39.27
|
17
|
|
21
|
Texas Christian
|
37.31
|
–
|
|
22
|
Kentucky
|
36.56
|
–
|
|
23
|
Alabama
|
33.76
|
25
|
|
24
|
Nebraska
|
33.73
|
–
|
|
25
|
Louisville
|
31.87
|
–
|
1 Comment | Andre Black, Andrew Acosta, Andrew Wheating, Arizona State, Ashley Muffet, Ashton Eaton, Chase Madison, Colin Boevers, Corey Thorne, Galen Rupp, Jenna Martin, Jere' Summers, Jessica Beard, Jose Acevedo, Kentucky, LSU, LaTavia Thomas, Louisville, Michael Johnson Jr., Mikel Thomas, Oregon, Rashaud Scott, Rudon Bastian, Saravia Richardson, Seidre Forde, Steve Hnat, Texas A&M, Tone Belt, indoor track and field, pre-season rankings | Permalink
Posted by Mark Maloney
Eastern Kentucky moved from No. 163 to 137. The Colonels’ lone NCAA qualifier is 5,000-meter runner Joseph Maina (No. 27).
Ask me when I fell in love with sports and you may as well ask when I first registered a pulse. I can't recall ever being without either. 
![](”http://markmaloney.bloginky.com/files/rss.gif")
