2017 NCAA DI Outdoor Men’s Team Rankings – Week 7

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

NEW ORLEANS – The Southeastern Conference is king.

There is no other way around it.

Conference Championship Weekend reaffirmed that truth this past weekend as the SEC took firm control of the NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings that were released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The SEC has 7 of the top-10 teams, including No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4. Texas A&M and Florida reside in those top-2 spots once again, while Georgia and Alabama moved up to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.

While the Aggies lost ground on the rest of the field (dropped 11.53 points in the rankings), we can’t go any further without detailing what Fred Kerley and Lindon Victor did this past weekend in Columbia, South Carolina. Kerley won the 400-meter crown and ran the 2nd fastest time in collegiate outdoor history during the prelims (44.09). Victor decided to one-up himself and better his collegiate record in the decathlon by 67 points (8539 to 8472).

The Bulldogs moved up from No. 4 to No. 3 thanks to a pair of incredible efforts at the SEC Outdoor Championships by Devon Williams and Keenon Laine. Williams is already a lock to compete at NCAAs in the decathlon with his 9th best score in collegiate history (8345), so he turned his attention to a few individual events – but one was better than the others. The senior beat everybody in the 110 hurdles, including indoor 60 hurdles champion Grant Holloway and crossed the finish line in 13.37 to move up to No. 1 on the NCAA DI Descending Order List. Then it was Laine’s turn in the high jump as he captured SEC glory with a clearance of 2.25m (7-4½) to move up to No. 2 on the NCAA DI Descending Order List.

The Crimson Tide inched up the rankings on the merits of Jereem Richards and the 4×400 relay team. Richards finished runner-up to Christian Coleman at 200 meters this past weekend and notched the 2nd fastest time in NCAA DI this season (19.98w). Alabama’s 4×400 relay team is now ranked 3rd in the nation at 3:02.75 and Richards ran the 2nd leg of that quartet.

Auburn surprised everybody and moved up 9 spots in the rankings from No. 18 to No. 9. That is the best billing for the Tigers since the 2013 Preseason when they were 5th. Auburn soared after it watched Nathon Allen and its unheralded 4×400 relay team shine at SECs. Allen clocked the 2nd fastest time in NCAA DI this season over 400 meters (44.52) and anchored the Tigers’ to a runner-up finish in the 4×400. Auburn’s time in the relay is ranked 2nd in the nation as well.

Kansas came in at No. 11, right outside of the top-10. The Jayhawks saw Gleb Dudarev improve his collegiate lead in the hammer throw (74.20m/243-5) and Mitchell Cooper take over control of 2nd place nationally in the discus throw (63.98m/209-11).

Houston is now 17th following an 8-spot jump. The Cougars were led by Elijah Hall at the AAC Championships as he recorded a wind-aided time of 19.96w in the 200 meters and moved up to No. 1 on the NCAA DI Descending Order List.

While Penn State dropped two spots from No. 17 to No. 19, Malik Moffett’s effort this past weekend at the Big Ten Championships shouldn’t go overlooked. Moffett won the long jump title with a leap of 8.00m (26-3) just before capturing 1st place in the 200 meters with a wind-aided time of 19.87, the 8th fastest wind-aided time in collegiate history.

There were two new additions to the top-25: No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana (up 17 spots from No. 40) and No. 25 Virginia Tech (up one spot from No. 26).

Next up on the docket for these athletes and teams is the NCAA Division I East and West Prelims from May 25-27. Then it’s time for the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 7-10, which you can see live on the ESPN family of networks during that time.