Texas A&M Men, Kansas Women Named Preseason DI Outdoor Favorites

NEW ORLEANS – The Texas A&M men and the Kansas women are the early outdoor favorites in the first edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Computer Rankings released Tuesday.

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The role of favorite is nothing new to Texas A&M, which has claimed three of the past four NCAA DI Outdoor titles (2009-11), but for Kansas – ranked No. 1 for the first time outdoors in program history – it would be the first track & field team title in program history, indoors or outdoors.

Preseason national team rankings are calculated using data from previous seasons as a base of evaluation. Marks gained in the early part of this season will supersede previous-year marks if they are superior. Read more about the process here.

The first regional rankings will be released April 2.

Texas A&M Begins Outdoor Season Ahead of Indoor Champ Arkansas, Defending Champ Florida

Texas A&M is projected – using marks from the 2012 outdoor season and the early portion of the 2013 season, but not the indoor season – as a narrow favorite over recently crowned indoor champ Arkansas and a heavy favorite over defending outdoor champion Florida. The Aggies, with nine individuals or relay teams ranked inside the preseason top five of their respective events, are scored at 328.71 team points, while Arkansas sits at 306.75 and Florida at 220.46.

Sprints and hurdles are shaping up to be the backbone of the Aggies: Wayne Davis II  is the nation’s top returner in the 110 hurdles, while indoor champ at 200 meters Ameer Webb (No. 2 at 200, No. 10 at 100), Prezel Hardy, Jr. (No. 2 at 100, No. 5 at 200), and Deon Lendore (No. 4 at 400) combine for a potent sprints corps.

Arkansas will look to carry its momentum from its indoor championship to the outdoor season, where it boasts five returners from 2012 – or 2011 after a redshirt season – who are ranked within the top five of their events. Indoor pole vault champ Andrew Irwin enters the outdoor campaign No. 1, as does Raymond Higgs in the long jump.

After losing their streak of three consecutive indoor titles to the Razorbacks during the indoor season, the Florida Gators will look to keep at least one trophy in Gainesville as they defend their 2012 outdoor crown. Six returners from 2012 are ranked within the top six of their events, including defending triple jump champion Omar Craddock and indoor 60 hurdles champ Eddie Lovett. The Gators also boast indoor long jump champion Marquis Dendy, who should provide a boost to the Gators’ chances outdoors.

Texas (214.91 team points) came in at No. 4 in the preseason projections, with the top-ranked returners at 1500 meters and in the decathlon in Kyle Merber and Isaac Murphy, respectively. Auburn rounded out the top five behind sprinter Harry Adams, the top-ranked returner at both 100 and 200 meters and a leg of the top-ranked 4×100 relay. Adams was the only sprinter to go sub-10 last season at 100 meters.

Kansas Starts Outdoor Campaign in Close Race With Indoor Champ Oregon

Kansas starts the season No. 1 for the women with 307.29 points, on the strength of 11 returners from 2012 ranked in the top 10 of their events, including top-ranked Andrea Geubelle (triple jump, No. 8 long jump) and Alena Krechyk (hammer throw). Geubelle took both the long jump and triple jump titles at the recent indoor championships, and the Jayhawks finished runner-up as a team.

Flying right behind the Jayhawks in the No. 2 position are the Oregon Ducks at 295.04 team points, going for the triple crown with NCAA titles in cross country and indoor track already this academic year. The Ducks, like the Jayhawks, boast 11 returners from last season ranked in the top 10 of their events, including English Gardner, the defending champ at 100 meters. Oregon has finished runner-up at the past four NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The Arizona Wildcats are ranked No. 3 to begin the season with 262.22 team points, marking their highest-ever position in the rankings. Like Kansas and Oregon, Arizona will benefit from 11 returners from a year ago ranked in their events’ top 10, including top-ranked Brigetta Barrett – winner of the past five high jump NCAA titles both indoors and out – and Georganne Moline in the 400 hurdles, both of whom were Olympians in 2012.

Defending outdoor champ LSU starts the season No. 4 with 231.47 team points. The Lady Tigers boast three individuals ranked as the top returners in their respective events, including reigning The Bowerman winner Kimberlyn Duncan at both 100 and 200 meters and Charlene Lipsey at 800 meters.

Texas rounded out the top five with a team score of 217.95. The Longhorns enter with seven returners ranked in the top ten of their events, including Christy Udoh and Chalonda Goodman at No. 4 and 8, respectively, at 200 meters.

Here’s a breakdown of how previous preseason No. 1 teams have faired in years past: