Gators Men No. 1, Women No. 6 in USTFCCCA Preseason National Rankings

Michael Timpson Jr., Ryan Clark, Shayne Rodney

Florida's men and women are both looking to bounce back from rocky indoor seasons a year ago.

Gators Men No. 1, Women No. 6 in USTFCCCA Preseason National Rankings

Monday, January 9, 2017 | Track and Field

This is the fourth time in the last seven seasons Florida's men open the season ranked No. 1

By: Zach Dirlam

NEW ORLEANS – The University of Florida track and field program enters the 2017 campaign with a pair of top-six teams, as its men are No. 1 and its women check in at No. 6 in Monday's (Jan. 9) USTFCCCA Preseason National Team Rankings.

This is the second consecutive year and fourth time since 2011 UF's men open the season ranked No. 1. Both the 2011 and 2012 teams began the year ranked No. 1 and went on to win the NCAA Indoor Championships. Last year's team finished seventh at NCAA Indoors, but captured the program's sixth national title since 2010—more than any team in the country during that span—at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

UF's women also nabbed the No. 6 spot in last year's preseason rankings. It is the fifth consecutive top-10 preseason ranking for the Gators.

INSIDE THE RANKINGS

Florida's men lead the nation with four returning times/marks that rank No. 1 nationally—Andres Arroyo (800 meters), KeAndre Bates (long jump), Grant Holloway (60-meter hurdles), 4x400 relay (Eric Futch, Kunle Fasasi).
- Only two other teams (Oregon, LSU) boast more than one—both have two
Clayton Brown's season-opening high jump mark of 2.25 meters ranks third among all returners, giving UF a nation-leading five returning top-three times/marks.
The Gators also see Ryan Clark (60 meters), Yanick Hart (60 hurdles), KeAndre Bates (triple jump) return top-10 times/marks, giving them a total of eight—which only trails Oregon (10) for the most nationally.
Florida's women boast a pair of top-three returners in Darrielle McQueen (triple jump) and Yanis David (triple jump).
The Gators also return a top-five times/marks from McQueen (long jump) and its 4x400 relay (Taylor Sharpe) and a top-10 time from Becky Greene (mile).

The Gators opened their 2017 season this past Saturday (Jan. 7), with Holloway's stellar evening headlining a slew of notable performances from underclassmen.

Today was a GOOD day. But they don't hand out championships in January.#TheMissionContinues #GoGators https ://t.co/lcYktva0O5
— Gators T & F and XC (@GatorsTF) January 8, 2017

For a discipline-by-discipline breakdown of the 2017 Gators, check out the photo-based season preview below.

Below are the top stories from the 2016 season and listings of the 2017 USTFCCCA Preseason National Team Rankings.

2016 SEASON REWIND

Release: Jefferson, Reynolds Garner CoSIDA Academic All-America Honors
Release: Holloway Tabbed USTFCCCA National Men's Outdoor Coach of the Year
Release: Gators Total Nation-Leading 31 First-Team All-Americans
FEATURE: Florida's Wild Ride to NCAA Championships Redemption
FEATURE: Futch's Conversations with Mother, Grandfather Lead to Worry-Free Running
Release: Lemke Voted USTFCCCA South Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Release: Three Gators Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
Release: Eriksson Named SEC Co-Freshman Field Athlete of the Year
Recap: Gators Nab Three Titles to Close SEC Outdoors
FEATURE: Arroyo Races for Puerto Rican Heritage, Toward Olympic Dreams
Recap: Eriksson Wins Hammer Throw Title to Open SEC Outdoors
Release: Kyra Jefferson Makes Collegiate History
FEATURE: Inside the Gators' Record-Breaking 4x400 Relay Run

Men's Indoor Track & Field Preseason National Team Rankings
1. FLORIDA (151.28 points)
2. Oregon (140.45)
3. LSU (123.55)
4. Arkansas (99.02)
5. Syracuse (78.15)
6. USC (74.34)
7. Texas (71.79)
8. Georgia (71.47)
9. Colorado State (67.62)
10. Stanford (63.33)
Complete Release

Women's Indoor Track & Field Preseason National Team Rankings
1. Oregon (194.96 points)
2. Arkansas (178.61)
3. Georgia (155.90)
4. USC (111.00)
5. Texas (88.96)
6. FLORIDA (84.87)
7. LSU (84.20)
8. Kentucky (71.06)
9. Notre Dame (68.99)
10. Purdue (66.34)
Complete Release

The Gators continue their 2017 season Friday (Jan. 13) and Saturday (Jan. 14) at the Commodore Invitational, hosted by Vanderbilt.

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