UF Men Top Preseason Rankings, Women Open Sixth; Two Gators Make The Bowerman Watch List
Thursday, January 7, 2016 | Track and Field
The UF men won the NCAA Indoor Championship the two times since 2010 they opened No. 1
NEW ORLEANS – Preseason accolades are beginning to roll in for the University of Florida track and field program, with the men's and women's teams drawing high praise in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason Indoor National Team Computer Rankings—which were released Wednesday (Jan. 6) afternoon—and placing two individuals on The Bowerman Preseason Watch Lists.
For the first time since 2012, the UF men sit atop the preseason men's rankings.
The Gators were also the preseason No. 1 in 2011 and checked in at No. 2 in 2010, the same spot it's occupied each of the past three seasons. Moreover, the 2011 and 2012 men's teams that started the year at No. 1 went on to cap UF's run of three consecutive NCAA Indoor Championship victories.
Florida's men are currently riding the third-longest run of consecutive top-three finishes (seven) at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Division I history.
On the women's side, Florida grabbed the No. 6 spot, marking its fourth consecutive top-10 preseason ranking.
The 2014 and 2015 teams ended their campaigns in the same spot they began, finishing No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. This year, the women are looking to crack the top four at the national indoor meet for a third straight time, something that's only been done twice in school history.
On an individual note, Kyra Jefferson and Najee Glass were both named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch Lists, which were unveiled on Wednesday and Thursday (Jan. 7) afternoon. Jefferson is the reigning indoor 200 meters national champion, while Glass was named the 2015 USTFCCCA South Region Men's Indoor Athlete of the Year.
Preseason Men's Indoor Track & Field National Team Top 10
1. FLORIDA (141.21 points)
2. Texas (125.39)
3. Oregon (98.93)
4. Virginia Tech (96.00)
5. Alabama (78.77)
6. Georgia (74.23)
7. TCU (71.28)
8. Washington (71.27)
9. Texas A&M (70.07)
10. Arkansas (69.75)
Complete Release
Preseason Women's Indoor Track & Field National Team Top 10
1. Arkansas (181.79 points)
2. Georgia (171.70)
3. Texas (122.57)
4. Kansas State (120.25)
5. Oregon (107.29)
6. FLORIDA (98.78)
7. Southern California (93.94)
8. Kentucky (89.68)
9. Wisconsin (71.70)
10. Georgetown (70.91)
Complete Release
NOTABLE PRESEASON NEWS & NUMBERS
- Florida returns eight athletes who've won individual national championships
- The Gator men own nine top-10 performances by returning athletes across all events, which is tied with Texas for the most nationally
- UF's men lead the country with six top-three performances by returning athletes across all events--no other team has more than four
- Florida's women are one of six teams with three top-three performances by returning athletes across all events
- The men's and women's teams return 10 USTFCCCA All-Americans, with a combined 101 honors between them
- UF also returns 13 SEC Champions that own a total of 19 individual conference titles
- Najee Glass followed fellow senior returnee Arman Hall as the USTFCCCA Men's Indoor Athlete of the Year
- Glass is one of five SEC athletes named to The Bowerman Men's Preseason Watch List
- Kyra Jefferson is making her fifth appearance on The Bowerman Women's Watch List
- Jefferson is one of six SEC athletes named to The Bowerman Women's Preseason Watch List
PRESEASON CENTRAL
- READ: Gators' Post-Summer Training Update
- USTFCCCA Preseason National Rankings by Event
- Complete The Bowerman Men's Preseason Watch List
- Complete The Bowerman Women's Preseason Watch List
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: GoGators PushTheButton #GatorFlightSchool
Players Mentioned
