Florida Strengthens Lead In NCAA DI Men’s ITF Rankings

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

NEW ORLEANS — We’re just a few weeks into the 2017 NCAA Division I indoor track & field season, but the Florida men are already pulling away from the pack — and they have a freshman leading the way.

NCAA Division I National Team Rankings Top 5 – Men 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Florida Oregon LSU Georgia Arkansas 175.67 pts 135.05 pts 118.49 pts 88.76 pts 86.82 pts View Complete National Team Computer Rankings

The Gators owned the top spot in the preseason edition of the USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings and two weeks later, extended their lead over No. 2 Oregon. Florida held a 151.28-140.45 edge on January 9 and it has increased to 175.67-135.05 in the most recent version that was released Monday.

Scores were determined by using preseason event rankings that include the top marks of recent NCAA indoor track & field seasons by returning student-athletes and the top marks of the current 2017 campaign. Marks from the outdoor season are not included, nor are marks from incoming freshmen recorded in high school.

The closer an athlete is to the top of his or her event rankings, the more points he or she earns toward the team total. Points from all applicable athletes are added up to determine team scores.

The point system used in the rankings is not the same as the scoring system used for the NCAA Championships.

Grant Holloway pushed the Gators further ahead thanks to an NCAA-leading mark in the long jump. Holloway, who already leads the nation in the 60 hurdles (7.63) soared 8.05m (26-5) in the long jump this past weekend to take over that lead as well. Holloway is one of two men since 1999 to break 7.75 in the hurdles and jump 8.05m or farther under a roof (Ashton Eaton is the other).

Third-ranked LSU strengthened its spot in the rankings thanks to a big heave by Johnnie Jackson in the weight throw. Jackson uncorked a throw of 23.56m (77-3¾) this past weekend and is now No. 1 in the USTFCCCA Individual Rankings.

Strong efforts in the field events pushed Georgia from No. 8 to No. 4. The Bulldogs saw Alex Poursanidis post a mark of 22.11m (72-6½) in the weight throw and take over the No. 5 spot in the USTFCCCA Individual Rankings.

Both Alabama and Virginia surged into the top-10. This is the first time since the 2016 preseason that the Crimson Tide has been in the mix and the first time in program history for the Cavaliers.

Seventh-ranked Alabama is there thanks to Daniel Haugh and Jereem Richards. Haugh is ranked 4th in the weight throw (22.46m/73-8¼) while Richards moved up to 3rd in the 200 this past weekend with a time of 20.57.

Ninth-ranked Virginia is led by a pair of throwers — Filip Mihaljevic and Jordan Young. Mihaljevic is No. 1 in the shot put and Young is No. 2 in the weight throw.

The other big move in the men’s rankings belonged to Kansas. The Jayhawks went from No. 59 to No. 20 after Jake Albright cleared 5.54m (18-2) in the pole vault and took over 2nd place in the USTFCCCA Individual Rankings.

We’re less than two months away from finding out which team is No. 1 at the end of the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in College Station, Texas.