April 09, 2008
Now a month into the outdoor season Texas A&M travels to UCLA this weekend for the Rafer Johnson / Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational at Drake Stadium in Westwood, California. As the Aggies head west they will take a new set of rankings with them.
Following the preseason outdoor rankings from a few weeks ago, the first set of regular season rankings were released this week by the USTFCCCA. Texas A&M men moved from No. 16 to No. 1 while the Aggie women are No. 3 after a preseason ranking of No. 4.
The No. 1 ranking for the men is the first for any men?™s sport at Texas A&M since baseball earned a No. 1 ranking in May of 1999. Other Aggie squads ranked No. 1 during the season included baseball in 1993 (April, May and June) and baseball in 1989 (for 11 weeks) as well as football in 1957 (prior to Rice game on Nov. 16).
?The early season rankings indicate where people are at this point of the season,? said Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry. ?Our people have competed on a level that is very good right now. The level of competition we have faced and the way we have responded so far shows how well we?™ve started the outdoor season. We?™ve had some great performances.
?Yet, it?™s early in the outdoor season. We know we have to continue to get better every week and we?™ll see how things hold up.?
Based on the results from the first three weeks of the season the Aggie men have accumulated 257.54 points in the ranking system used by the coaches association.
Behind A&M?™s No. 1 standing are 2. Florida (249.43), 3. UCLA (246.32), 4. LSU (230.40); 5. UTEP (184.99); 6. Florida State (165.93); 7. Arizona State (150.97); 8. BYU (150.64); 9. Alabama (144.40); 10. Mississippi State (142.87).
In the women?™s rankings Arizona State (317.50) moved into the No. 1 position ahead of LSU (271.09). They are followed by 3. Texas A&M (252.08); 4. USC (217.56); 5. Florida (201.79); 6. Oregon (182.40); 7. Miami (178.77); 8. Florida State (174.82); 9. Baylor (150.27); 10. Virginia Tech (147.91).
The Aggie men have four marks that currently rank second in the nation on the collegiate level. They include Nick Robinson in the 400 hurdles with a career best of 50.01 seconds, Tyron Stewart with a career best triple jump of 52-9 ?˝ (16.09), along with the 4 x 100 (38.90) and 4 x 400 relays (3:04.09).
Texas A&M women lead the nation in the 4 x 100 relay with a 42.97 clocking, which also ranks second in the world. The 4 x 400 relay (3:32.21) is second collegiately. Simone Facey ranks 3rd nationally in the 100 with her PR of 11.11 seconds while Porscha Lucas is 4th in the 100 with a PR of 11.20, which she has run twice this season.
The UCLA Invitational will feature open events and a distance carnival on Friday while Saturday will showcase the events that were filled by invitation. In addition there will be a ceremony honoring Rafer Johnson and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Action begins at 1 p.m. on Friday and concludes with distance races at 10:30 p.m. Field events start at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday and the meet concludes at 3 p.m.