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

Florida's men are the reigning outdoor champions and are coming off a runner-up finish at NCAA Indoors.

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

Monday, March 20, 2017 | Track and Field

Florida's men are the reigning outdoor national champions and open at No. 1 for the first time since 2012, when it won the outdoor title

By: Zach Dirlam

NEW ORLEANS – Florida's men and women will both begin the outdoor campaign ranked in the top 10, with the former opening at No. 1 and the latter at No. 6, respectively, in Monday's (March 20) United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason National Team Rankings.

UF's men, the reigning outdoor national champions and runner-up finishers at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships, sit atop the preseason rankings for the first time since 2012. The Gators won the program's first outdoor national title that year, one of the six they boast since 2010.

The Gators also started at No. 1 in 2010 and 2011, going on to finish second and third, respectively, at the NCAA Outdoor Championships those seasons.

For the women, this marks the third time in the last four seasons the Gators are a preseason top-6 team.

INSIDE THE RANKINGS

Florida's men lead the nation with 10 returning top-5 times/marks, as well as 11 returning top 10s
The Gators' five returning top-3 times/marks are tied with LSU for the most on any men's team in the nation
Andres Arroyo (800 meters), KeAndre Bates (Long Jump; Triple Jump), Anders Eriksson (Hammer Throw), reigning NCAA and SEC champion Eric Futch (400-meter hurdles), Yanick Hart (110 Hurdles), TJ Holmes (400 hurdles), Ryan Schnulle (800 meters), in addition to the 4x100 and 4x400 relays make up Florida's returning top-5 performers
Florida's women return four top-3 times/marks, tied for the second-most nationally behind only Oregon's six
Reigning SEC 100 meters champion Kyra Jefferson (200 meters; 400 meters), Marija Vucenovic (Javelin Throw), as well as the 4x100 and 4x400 relays make up UF's returning top-5 performers

The Gators opened their outdoor season this past Saturday (March 18) at the Black & Gold Challenge, with Hannah Brookover's all-time top 10 steeplechase run highlighting the performances by the distance corps.

Congrats to @Hannahbrookover, the new No. ?? steeplechaser in ???? HISTORY!

Did it in her first race ?????? #GoGators pic.twitter.com/0XJ5lWAN4x
— Gators T & F and XC (@GatorsTF) March 18, 2017

For a detailed discipline-by-discipline look at UF's 2017 campaign, follow the link below to a photo-based season preview.

To look back on UF's runner-up finish at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships, follow the link below to a visual recap.

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

2016 OUTDOOR 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

2017 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason National Team Rankings
1. FLORIDA (282.97 points)
2. Oregon (277.54)
3. Arkansas (253.11)
4. Texas A&M (232.69)
5. LSU (218.03)
6. Virginia (183.26)
7. Texas (169.14)
8. Alabama (167.36)
9. Georgia (156.00)
10. Stanford (153.94)
Complete Release

Women's Indoor Track & Field Preseason National Team Rankings
1. Oregon (345.06 points)
2. Kentucky (333.88)
3. Arkansas (293.38)
4. LSU (266.32)
5. USC (248.20)
6. FLORIDA (241.82)
7. Georgia (197.42)
8. Texas (178.59)
9. Stanford (175.25)
10. Florida State (174.59)
Complete Release

The Gators continue their 2017 outdoor season Saturday (March 25) at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational, hosted by Miami. Action will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, via Watch ESPN, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

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