Florida Men Move Into Division I Top Spot As NCAA Championship Looms

Florida Men Move Into Division I Top Spot As NCAA Championship Looms
The Gators lead the NCAA-Championship field with 12 entries, six of which come from sprint/hurdles



March 8, 2010



NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Monday evening the seventh weekly update of the NCAA Division I National Team Rankings for indoor track & field. This week’s rankings include only season bests from the athletes declared and accepted into the competition field for this weekend’s NCAA Championships to be held Friday-Saturday, March 12-13, in Fayetteville, Ark.



The men of Florida (167.57) jumped to the No. 1 spot in the nation after the final list of qualifiers for the NCAA Championships has been analyzed. The Gators enter the meet with three top-seeded entries, including Jeff Demps in the 60-meter dash, Calvin Smith in the 200 meter, and Christian Taylor in the triple jump.



Oregon’s men (146.21) climbed to No. 2 and clam national leaders Andrew Wheating in the 800 meters, Ashton Eaton in the heptathlon, and the leading distance medley relay team. Oregon is the defending indoor national champions.



Texas A&M slipped to No. 3, but still hold six marks that fall as top five seeds including the nation’s leading – and, world leading – 4x400-meter relay team.



On the women’s side, Oregon (189.58) remains as the nation’s top ranked team for the fourth-straight week. The Ducks lead the women’s field with 16 entries, including four in the sprint/hurdle events, four in the distance, three in the mid-distance events, both relays, two jump entries, and a pentathlete. Oregon has the top seeded DMR team and five other entries that seeded third or better.



No. 2 Texas A&M (150.72) will enter the championships with 12 entries, nine of which come from sprint and hurdle events. Jessica Beard has the top seed in the 400-meter dash with a 51.15, oversized-track clocking from the Big 12 Championships.



LSU (124.22) surged to the third spot on the rankings as last chance weekend added two more possible high-scoring positions in sprinting events.



About the Rankings

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