2017 NCAA DI Men’s Outdoor Team Rankings – Week 4

NOTE: Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for rankings. Please check your membership status HERE.

NEW ORLEANS – No teams have more depth in NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field than Texas A&M and Florida. That’s why they’ve been the top-2 teams for the past four weeks in the National Team Computer Rankings released each Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Since Week 1, the Gators led the Aggies. Well, now it’s Week 4 and that all changed.

Enough data has been collected from the current season, which means marks from past seasons were thrown out of the National Team Computer Rankings. That led the a seismic shift in the top-5 of the rankings as Texas A&M vaulted ahead of Florida and took over the top spot in all the land for the first time since Week 9 of 2016.

No team in the top-5 was safe from Week 3 to Week 4 as none remained in place. Georgia jumped two spots to No. 3, Texas Tech moved up to No. 4 and Alabama fell to No. 5. Oregon had previously been ranked 3rd, but tumbled 10 spots to No. 13.

Let’s get back to the Aggies, however, as they’ve stood out thus far. Texas A&M owns five NCAA-leading marks in 2017: Fred Kerley in the 400 (44.60), Robert Grant in the 400 hurdles (49.40), Ioannis Kyiazis in the javelin throw (88.01m/288-9), Lindon Victor in the decathlon with his collegiate record total (8472) and the 4×400 relay team (3:01.74). Kerley ran that NCAA-leading time this past weekend at the Michael Johnson Classic.

While the Gators don’t have any NCAA-leading marks, they boast eight in the top-3. Andres Arroyo joined that club this past weekend at the Virginia Challenge when he ran the 3rd fastest time over 800 meters this season (1:45.74).

A pair of big marks this past weekend in the field pushed the Bulldogs to No. 3. Alex Poursanidis unleashed the 2nd best mark of the season in the hammer throw (71.88m/235-10), while Denzel Comententia comes in at No. 4 in the shot put (20.33m/66-8½).

This is the Red Raiders’ best ranking since 2012 and were pushed forward by Charles Brown and Trey Culver. Brown leads the nation in the long jump with a windy 8.25m (27-1) and Culver holds down 2nd in the high jump (2.24m/7-4½). Don’t forget about Benard Keter (5th in the steeple) or Tech’s 4×400 relay team either.

Outside of the top-5, LSU and Virginia remained in 6th and 9th, respectively. Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake came through in a big way for the Tigers this past weekend with the 2nd fastest time in the 200 this season (20.15), while Filip Mihaljevic and Jordan Young keep the Cavs afloat with top-2 marks in the shot put and triple jump, respectively.

Auburn soared seven spots from Week 3 to Week 4 (21st to 14th) and has Odean Skeen to thank for it. Skeen notched the nation’s top time over 100 meters with a wind-legal 9.98. That pushed the Tigers’ total to 130.87 points and gave them their best ranking since the 2013 season.

Another big mover this week was Penn State as it jumped from No. 29 to No. 16. Isaiah Harris made his open 800 debut in a winning effort and is the national leader at 1:45.12, while Michael Shuey is ranked 4th in the javelin throw at 75.34m (247-2).

We’re going to see a lot more changes to the National Team Computer Rankings in the upcoming weeks as athletes hit their midseason form. And don’t forget to watch the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships from June 7-10 in Eugene, Oregon.