» Michael Johnson Jr. Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

UK, U of L track men & women in pre-season Top 25

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	–