Track and Field Squads Earn Top-Six Preseason Rankings
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 | Track and Field
The University of Florida track and field teams each are ranked among the nation's top six in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Indoor Preseason Top-25 Poll, the New Orleans-based organization announced Tuesday evening.
The Florida men's team is ranked No. 2 in the nation according to the USTFCCCA indoor preseason poll, while the Gator women are ranked No. 6. Both squads posted top-10 finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last June. At the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships, the Gator men placed second, while the women were 12th.
Florida State is ranked first in the men's preseason poll, followed by Florida at No. 2. Oregon (No. 3), Nebraska (No. 4) and Arkansas (No. 5) round out the top-five. The Gators are one of seven Southeastern Conference teams ranked in the men's preseason top-25 as Arkansas (No. 5), LSU (No. 9), South Carolina (No. 12), Auburn (No. 15), Kentucky (No. 17) and Georgia (No. 19) all are nationally ranked.
Texas A&M is the top-ranked women's squad followed by No. 2 Oregon. LSU (No. 3), Florida State (No. 4) and BYU (No. 5) round out the top-five. The Gators are one of five SEC teams ranked in the women's preseason top-25 as LSU (No. 2), South Carolina (No. 7), Tennessee (No. 12) and Arkansas (No. 17) all are nationally ranked.
ABOUT THE RANKINGS
Rankings for the preseason release derive mostly from data accumulated in the previous indoor season and include marks from athletes eligible for their teams for the 2010 indoor campaign. Other information was reported to and compiled by the USTFCCCA, including transfers and returning athletes that redshirted the previous year. Marks achieved during the December portion of the 2010 season are also considered. Mathematical formulae are used to compile a team's ranking based on an athlete's or relay's standing in relation to others in the same event across the country.
In the 2009 indoor and outdoor seasons, the preseason rankings identified three of four eventual champions (Oregon men-indoor, Texas A&M women-outdoor, Texas A&M men-outdoor). Of those placed in the top five during the preseason, 75 percent went on to finish in the top eight and 85 percent went on to finish in the top 10 at nationals. Of those ranked in the top 10 during the preseason, 70 percent finished in the top 10, 83 percent in the top 15, and 90 percent in the top 20.
The first regular release of updated rankings for NCAA's Division I will start on Tuesday, Jan. 26, with updates occurring the following seven Tuesdays leading to the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 12-13. In addition, the 2010 preseason watch list for The Bowerman will be announced next Tuesday, January 12.
For more on the rankings and links to guideline and rationale information visit
http://www.ustfccca.org/rankings/division-i-rankings.
Florida opens its 2010 indoor season Jan. 15-16, when it travels to Lexington, Ky., to participate in the two-day Kentucky Invitational. The event is hosted by the University of Kentucky at its E.J. Nutter Fieldhouse.
For more information on Florida track and field, please log on to www.GatorZone.com.
2010 USTFCCCA MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD INDOOR PRESEASON TOP-25
| Rank | School | 2009 Final Poll |
| 1 | Florida State | 3 |
| 2 | Florida | 2 |
| 3 | Oregon | 1 |
| 4 | Nebraska | 5 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 8 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | T16 |
| 7 | Arizona State | 5 |
| 8 | Texas A&M | 9 |
| 9 | LSU | 4 |
| 10 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 11 | Baylor | 5 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 20 |
| 13 | Virginia Tech | 22 |
| 14 | Texas Tech | 13 |
| 15 | Auburn | NR |
| 16 | Stanford | 11 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 19 |
| 18 | Washington State | NR |
| 19 | Georgia | NR |
| 20 | California | 12 |
| 21 | Oklahoma State | NR |
| 22 | Kansas State | T16 |
| 23 | New Mexico | T16 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | NR |
| 25 | Kansas | NR |
2010 USTFCCCA WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD INDOOR PRESEASON TOP-25
| Rank | School | 2009 Final Poll |
| 1 | Texas A&M | 2 |
| 2 | Oregon | 9 |
| 3 | LSU | 6 |
| 4 | Florida State | 8 |
| 5 | BYU | 3 |
| 6 | Florida | 12 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 12 |
| 8 | Washington | NR |
| 9 | Clemson | NR |
| 10 | Penn State | 7 |
| 11 | Nebraska | NR |
| 12 | Tennessee | 1 |
| 13 | Virginia Tech | NR |
| 14 | Connecticut | NR |
| 15 | Texas | 4 |
| 16 | Baylor | NR |
| 17 | Arkansas | 20 |
| 18 | Louisville | 22 |
| 19 | Illinois | NR |
| 20 | Indiana State | 22 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | NR |
| 22 | West Virginia | NR |
| 23 | Southern Illinois | NR |
| 24 | North Carolina | 12 |
| 25 | UTEP | NR |
END OF REPORT
