Track and Field Squads Among Nation's Top 15
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | Track and Field
The Florida men's and women's track and field squads each are ranked among the nation's top-15 teams in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll headed into the upcoming NCAA Indoor Championships, the New Orleans-based organization announced Wednesday afternoon. The men are No. 4 nationally, while the women are No. 14.
The Gator men, who have been ranked among the nation's top-eight teams the entire season, have sent nine competitors (plus one relay alternate) to the NCAA Indoor Championships, including the 2009 Southeastern Conference Male Field Athlete of the Year, Christian Taylor (Fayetteville, Ga.), who was a part of three SEC Indoor Championships two weeks ago – the long jump, the triple jump and the 4x400m relay.
The Florida women, on the strength of an automatic-qualifying mark in the women's mile by junior Charlotte Browning (West Sussex, England), have moved up from No. 23 last week to No. 14 this week. The Gators, who have ranked in the nation's top 25 all season, have sent five athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championships, including defending NCAA shot put champion and the nation's top female shot putter this season, Mariam Kevkhishvili (Tbilisi, Georgia).
Florida is one of six SEC men's teams among this week's top 25, while the Gators are one of six league squads in the top 25 on the women's side, as well.
Florida returns to action on Friday when it commences its participation in the two-day NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Texas A&M University at its Gilliam Indoor Stadium. Complete results and a recap will be available at www.GatorZone.com.
The University of Florida is home of the 2009 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. For all of the latest information on Gator Track and Field, log on to www.GatorZone.com.
MEN'S USTFCCCA TOP-25 POLL – WEEK 7 (March 11, 2009)
1. Oregon
2. Arkansas
3. Florida State
4. Florida
5. Nebraska
6. LSU
7. Texas A&M
8. Arizona State
9. South Carolina
10. Oklahoma
11. Baylor
12. Texas Tech
13. Texas
14. Cal
15. Kentucky
16. Missouri
17. Virginia Tech
18. Tennessee
19. Stanford
20. Minnesota
21. Illinois
22. Arizona
23. New Mexico
24. Washington
25. Providence
WOMEN'S USTFCCCA TOP-25 POLL – WEEK 7 (March 11, 2009)
1. Texas A&M
2. Tennessee
3. LSU
4. Oregon
5. Florida State
6. Michigan
7. Texas Tech
8. South Carolina
9. Penn State
10. Texas
11. Arizona State
12. Clemson
13. Arkansas
14. Florida
15. Nebraska
16. Arizona
17. Virginia Tech
18. Washington
19. BYU
20. Connecticut
21. Auburn
22. Minnesota
23. Baylor
24. Miami
25. Stanford
END OF REPORT
