Arizona, Washington make big jumps in USTFCCCA polls
SAN FRANCISCO -- The ARIZONA women and WASHINGTON men made the biggest jumps in their respective national weekly polls that the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released today. Both went into last week unranked but after strong recent performances, the Wildcat women are No. 21 and the Husky men are No. 23.
Washington had nine victories at the Pepsi Team Invitational in Eugene, Ore., over the weekend, including sweeping the distance events from 1,500-meters and up. The field included host OREGON, USC and Penn State, who are ranked No. 3, No. 14 and No. 18, respectively. The Pac-12 has the second-most ranked teams in the country this week, going up to five, with No. 16 STANFORD and No. 17 COLORADO joining the Ducks, Trojans and Huskies in the poll.
On the women’s side, the Conference now boasts three teams in the top 25 after the Wildcats made their jump. At the Jim Click Shootout in Tucson, UA senior Nenya Hailey and junior Sage Watson turned in the top hurdles times in the country, Hailey running the fastest at the 100-meter distance (12.96) and Watson at 400-meters (55.45). Hailey’s 55.97 in the 400-meter hurdles is also third in the nation.
The Oregon women also made a jump in the polling, going to fourth after starting last week at No. 6. The Ducks are just behind third-ranked USC and STANFORD has remained at No. 13.
The National Team Computer Rankings are complied by a mathematical formula based on national descending order lists. The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national team race. Rankings points do not equate with NCAA Championships team points. Preseason marks will be included through week three of the rankings.
The next USTFCCCA ranking will be released on April 18. For more information, visit www.ustfccca.org.