2019 NCAA DI Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Pre-Championships
NEW ORLEANS – We are finally able to get a crystal-clear picture of what teams are favored to end up on the podium this weekend at the 2019 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships thanks to the Pre-Championships Edition of the National Rating Index that was released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Using marks from only those athletes accepted into the national meet, Texas Tech is projected to take home its first team title in program history. The Red Raiders are expected to be followed by Florida, LSU and Texas A&M, in that order.
|
|||||||||||||||
|
PDFs: TEAM SUMMARY | EVENT SUMMARY |
|||||||||||||||
The 2019 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships get underway Friday, March 8 at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.
It should come as no surprise that Texas Tech is No. 1 after looking at their haul of entries. The Red Raiders not only have the most entries out of any men’s team (15), but a strong amount of quality entries, too. Texas Tech will have the top-2 athletes in the meet at 200 meters (Divine Oduduru and Andrew Hudson), the second fastest athlete at 60 meters (Oduduru), two of the top-6 long jumpers (Odaine Lewis and Charles Brown) as well as a number of others spread across just about every discipline.
The Gators won’t be denied, especially with Grant Holloway on their roster. Holloway is the top-ranked athlete in the 60, 60 hurdles and second in the long jump. He is also expected to contribute to Florida’s third-ranked 4×400 relay. The Gators are also looking for big points from AJ McFarland and Thomas Mardal in the weight throw.
The Tigers own six entries that are ranked in the top-6 nationally, including top-ranked marks from collegiate-record holder Mondo Duplantis in the pole vault and Rayvon Grey in the long jump. JuVaughn Harrison enters the meet ranked second nationally in the high jump.
The Aggies own a slim advantage over both Georgia and Houston for the final projected podium spot thanks to a better-rounded top end. Texas A&M has two top-ranked entries (Devin Dixon in the 800, Tahar Triki in the triple jump) and another ranked in the top-2 (4×400), while the Bulldogs have four entries ranked in the top-3 (two from Denzel Comenentia alone) and the Cougars own two top-ranked marks themselves (Kahmari Montgomery and the Montgomery-led 4×400).
Wisconsin has an outside shot at the podium according to the TFRI thanks to a loaded distance corps headlined by Oliver Hoare and Morgan McDonald, while Texas, Oregon and Florida State are projected to finish in the top-10.
Be sure to check back later this week as we’ll have much more about the biggest meet of the season.
