Arkansas and Clemson Retain Top Spots in DI With Texas A&M Charging

NEW ORLEANS – Arkansas’ men’s team and Clemson’s women retain the top spots in the latest National Computer Team Rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), but the Aggies of Texas A&M are charging forward in both sets of rankings.

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Now that the dust has settled from this past weekend’s DI Meet of the Week at the Texas A&M Triangular featuring the Aggies, Arkansas and LSU, Texas A&M finds its men’s program second in the nation and the women fourth – both up two spots from the preseason projections. The men’s team supplants three-time defending champions Florida from the second spot, while the women’s team pushes LSU out of the top five after Arkansas moved up two spots to No. 5.

Though the Aggie men emerged victorious over No. 1 Arkansas, the National Computer Team Rankings project how a team will finish in a National Championship Meet setting, rather than a triangular or dual. The rankings are compiled from meet data in the 2012-13 season, but also from returners from the 2011-12 to take into account what a roster might look like should all student-athletes perform at their top level.

The Clemson women have widened their lead based on strong performances the last two weeks at their home Tiger Challenge and the Auburn Invitational. The hurdles and sprints have been dominated by the Tigers so far this young season, with Brianna Rollins’ all-time collegiate-best 7.78 headlining a Clemson contingent in the top four spots in the 60 hurdles. Dezerea Bryant is also No. 1 and No. 2 in the 60 and 200 meters, respectively. No. 2 Kansas and No. 3 Oregon stood pat from their preseason positioning.

While Texas A&M took a leap forward, their rivals from Austin took a tumble as the Texas Longhorns’ men’s team sustained the largest fall in this week’s rankings, down eight from No. 3 to No. 11. Arizona State moves up to No. 4 to fill the void, marking their first top-five appearance since the fourth ranking of the 2010 season.

The next round of computer rankings will be released January 29. The 2013 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Fayetteville, Ark., March 8-9.

Biggest Jump (Men): 5 – Penn State, Mississippi State, Kansas State
Biggest Jump (Women): 11 – Dartmouth
Biggest Fall (Men): 8 – Texas
Biggest Fall (Women): 2 – Eight teams