Oregon Women Surge to No. 1 After Busy Weekend, Fresh Data Repositions Top 25

Oregon Women Surge to No. 1 After Busy Weekend, Fresh Data Repositions Top 25
Courtesy: Tom Lewis, USTFCCCA
February 15, 2010
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Monday afternoon the fourth weekly update of the NCAA Division I National Team Rankings for indoor track & field. The women of Oregon (201.15) moved from No. 4 in the country to No. 1 after a weekend in which the Ducks posted three marks that currently rank in the top three in the country and an additional five marks than currently rank in the nation’s top 10.

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Texas A&M’s (185.40) keep a hefty lead in the men’s standings as the men of Oregon (138.25) move from No. 4 to No. 2 after a record-setting weekend.

For the first time this season, the national team rankings are compiled using only data from the 2010 indoor season. The only exception is combined event marks from 2009: those hang in the rankings until week six. As a result of phasing out preseason data, a major amount of shifting among the top five through top 25 occurred.

MEN: Texas A&M Sticks to No. 1, Oregon Clears the Way to No. 2
Texas A&M keeps hold of the No. 1 spot for the third-consecutive week, improving by 19.61 ranking points after helping the Big 12 to another victory at the Texas A&M Challenge featuring teams from the SEC, Big 12, and Conference USA. As the dust settles, the Aggies still have the national leader in the 200 meters (Curtis Mitchell, 20.69), triple jump (Zuheir Sharif (Franklin HS, Elk Grove), 16.55m, 54-3¾), and the 4×400-meter relay (3:04.86).

No. 2 Oregon (138.25) took advantage this past weekend at Washington’s Husky Classic of great competition fields and the fast and efficient 307-meter course in Seattle, adding multiple distance qualifiers to its season resume. Bowerman watchlister Andrew Wheating took over the collegiate lead at 800 meters with a 1:46.36 run and was followed by freshman Elijah Greer (1:47.33) who now ranks third in the country in the event. In addition, freshman Mac Fleet (University City HS, San Diego) broke Galen Rupp’s school record in the mile with a 3:57.70 clocking and has the second-best time in the NCAA thus far this season.

No. 3 LSU moved up two spots in the rankings as the Tigers solidified much of its claim from the preseason data, adding the fourth-best 4×400-meter relay clocking in the nation (3:07.22) this past weekend at the Tyson Invitational. A 1:48.41 run by junior Richard Jones (Benicia HS) at 800 meters also helped LSU over the hump to the nation’s top three once again.

Florida fell a spot to No. 4 despite the national-leading 6.59, 60 meter time posted by sophomore Jeff Demps and the 4×400 relay clocking a 3:05.52 this past weekend.

Arizona State moved up two spots as the Sun Devils added a 7:54.27 run by sixth-ranked Brandon Bethke and a 70-7¼ (21.52m) toss by Bowerman watchlister Ryan Whiting in the shot put.

The top 10 is rounded out by No. 6 Arkansas, No. 7 Indiana, No. 8 Nebraska, No. 9 Texas Tech, and No. 10 Baylor

The SEC leads the way with seven members ranked in the national top 25, followed by the Big 12 who has six.

WOMEN: Oregon Takes Over as No. 1 on Overall Team Effort
Oregon takes over as the nation’s top ranked team after a big weekend of marks achieved at the UW Husky Classic in Washington. Along with Nicole Blood’s (Royal HS, Simi Valley, CA)15:51.59 run at 5000 meters, the Duck 4×400 team clocked the nation’s second-best time with a 3:33.31 clocking this past weekend. In addition, Jamesha Youngblood (Hercules HS) moved to No. 3 in the nation with a 21-6¼ (6.56m) leap. Sophomore Amber Purvis (Benicia HS) scored national top-10 marks in both the 60 (7.32) and the 200 (23.47). Freshmen Anne Kesselring (mile) and Jordan Hasay (Mission Prep, San Luis Obispo) (3000m) also climbed into the national top 10 in their respective events.

No. 2 Texas A&M (173.70) improved their 4×400-meter relay time this past weekend to 3:35.00. Sophomore Jeneba Tarmoh (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose) clocked a 23.37 at 200 meters to move to into the nation’s top five in the event.

No. 3 Florida (118.25) sits a distant third, but improved two spots in the rankings after a 4:31.24 national-leading, mile run by Charlotte Browning.

At No. 4, it’s Tennessee (107.41) who had Phoebe Wright widen her lead in the 800 meters with a 2:02.84 clocking and senior Jackie Areson adding a 15:53.54 5000-meter time for the third-best performance in the nation in 2010.

Arkansas (99.62) moved up six spots to No. 5 after a 3:32.87 national-leading performance in the 4×400 and a 52.43 clocking by junior Shelise Williams (Woodrow Wilson HS, Long Beach) in the open 400.

No. 6 Clemson, No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Auburn, No. 9 Villanova, and No. 10 Penn State round out the top 10.

The SEC leads the conferences with five members in the top 25. The ACC have four among the nation’s top teams.

About the Rankings
For more on the rankings and links to guideline and rationale information visit …
http://www.ustfccca.org/rankings/division-i-rankings

USTFCCCA
NCAA Division I
Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Team Rankings
2010 Week #4 – February 16

Rank School Points Last Week
1 Texas A&M 185.40 1
2 Oregon 138.25 4
3 LSU 108.01 5
4 Florida 93.67 3
5 Arizona State 84.96 7
6 Arkansas 84.75 8
7 Indiana 82.18 13
8 Nebraska 82.10 6
9 Texas Tech 78.41 10
10 Baylor 71.42 14
11 Penn State 70.87 15
12 Florida State 57.68 2
13 Stanford 57.56 11
14 Auburn 54.36 18
15 Virginia Tech 54.31 12
16 Oklahoma 53.62 9
17 Minnesota 52.99 17
18 Arizona 51.36 25
19 New Mexico 47.19 20
20 Alabama 45.68 –
21 Kentucky 45.34 21
22 California 44.64 16
23 Georgia 44.06 22
24 Ohio State 41.86 –
25 Oklahoma State 39.11 23



Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Team Rankings
2010 Week #4 – February 16

Rank School Points Last Week
1 Oregon 201.15 4
2 Texas A&M 173.70 1
3 Florida 118.25 5
4 Tennessee 107.41 6
5 Arkansas 99.62 11
6 Clemson 97.49 7
7 LSU 93.83 3
8 Auburn 89.35 17
9 Villanova 86.21 8
10 Penn State 83.53 9
11 Southern Illinois 77.06 14
12 BYU 74.66 2
13 Oklahoma 69.36 19
14 Nebraska 67.26 15
15 Louisville 65.01 12
16 Arizona 62.50 18
17 UTEP 56.51 16
18 Indiana 54.01 25
19 Indiana State 53.62 24
20 Virginia Tech 46.64 21
21 Florida State 46.07 10
22 Middle Tennessee 43.67 –
23 Miami (Fla.) 39.52 –
24 Georgetown 37.21 –
25 San Diego State 36.76 –