Gators Enter 2015 Indoor Season at No. 1 in USTFCCCA Preseason National Team Computer Rankings
Wednesday, January 7, 2015 | Track and Field
While the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason rankings are a preliminary prediction for the scope of the indoor track and field season, the Florida track and field squads are kicking off the 2015 indoor campaign exactly where they hope to end it: No. 1.
Both the Gator men's and women's track and field programs are the top-ranked teams in the preseason edition of the National Team Computer Rankings, released Tuesday by the USTFCCCA.
On the men's side, three SEC teams are ranked among the nation's top-four programs, while six of the league's teams are ranked in the top-13 nationally. A nation-leading eight SEC teams are ranked among the nation's top-25 on the women's side, including five of the top seven.
The national team rankings are compiled by mathematical formulae based on national descending order lists. The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national team race.
Preseason rankings include marks from 2014, and the National Team Computer Rankings will continue to do so through the third regular-season edition.
SCOUTING THE NO. 1 GATORS ENTERING 2015
The Florida track and field teams kick off the 2015 indoor season this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9-10, at the UAB Blazer Invitational in Birmingham. On the men's side a year ago in indoor action, the Gators finished second at SEC indoors and third at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Florida boasted the SEC and USTFCCCA Indoor Men's Runner/Athlete of the Year in Gino Hall, who also tied for the Cliff Harper High Point Trophy at SECs. Florida tallied 16 All-America honors indoors -- and the Gators excitedly return all of those performances, except two, with the departure of 2014 seniors Eddie Lovett (60H) and Sean Obinwa (800m). On the women's side, the Gators are geared up to build on one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2014. Florida claimed four conference individual and relay titles to lead the Orange and Blue to the 2014 SEC Indoor crown for the eighth time in school history. The Gators went on to finish third at NCAA indoors, where the contingent of athletes scored Florida's most points in 10 years (40.5). UF's 20 indoor All-America honors were the most in school history. Likewise with the men, the Florida women's program returns a majority of its All-Americans, with just three departing All-America scorers in Ebony Eutsey (400m), Cory McGee (Mile) & Agata Strausa (DMR).
Under the direction of head coach Mike Holloway -- entering his 20th season at Florida, 13th as head coach -- and for the second consecutive year, Florida will kick off the indoor campaign with competition at the UAB Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex, where the Gators notched 13 event victories and 10 meet records a year ago.
Men's Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings (Top 25) | Complete Men's Release
1. FLORIDA
2. Oregon
3. Arkansas
4. Texas A&M
5. Penn State
6. Nebraska
7. Stanford
8. Texas
9. Texas Tech
10. LSU
11. Georgia
12. Villanova
13. Alabama
14. Purdue
15. Wisconsin
16. Kennesaw State
17. Akron
18. Houston
19. Iowa State
20. Florida State
21. Kent State
22. Michigan State
23. UCLA
24. Ohio State
25. TCU
Women's Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings (Top 25) | Complete Women's Release
1. FLORIDA
2. Texas A&M
3. Oregon
4. Georgia
5. Texas
6. Kentucky
7. Arkansas
8. Providence
9. Florida State
10. Georgetown
11. Stanford
12. Kansas State
13. Oklahoma State
14. Maryland
15. Michigan
16. UCLA
17. Texas Tech
18. Auburn
19. Michigan State
20. Mississippi State
21. Clemson
22. Wisconsin
23. Southern Illinois
24. Missouri
25. North Carolina
