June 1, 2010
NEW ORLEANS - Texas A&M track and field teams moved back into the No. 1 position as USTFCCCA rankings were released on Tuesday. These rankings reflect only entries into the NCAA Championship field for the weekend of June 9-12 on the University of Oregon campus.
While Oregon will have a home-field advantage as they play host to the national championships at historic Hayward Field, the Aggies enter the meet as defending NCAA team champions. Texas A&M was No. 1 in both USTFCCCA national rankings going into last year's meet as well.
The Aggie men were runner-up to Florida during the NCAA Indoor meet and tied Oregon for second place. They now lead the men's rankings with the Gators at No. 2 and the Ducks at No.3. The rest of the top 10 includes 4. LSU, 5. Texas Tech, 6. Arizona State, 7. Southern California, 8. Florida State, 9. Mississippi State, and 10. Stanford.
Other Big 12 schools in the top 25 include: 11. Oklahoma, 16. Nebraska, 17. Kansas, 21. Texas; 23. Baylor and 25. Missouri.
A&M women moved ahead of Oregon in the latest rankings. The top 10 also includes 3. LSU, 4. Florida State, 5. Penn State, 6. Oklahoma, 7. Florida, 8. Clemson, 9. Arkansas, and 10. Virginia Tech. Other Big 12 schools in the top 25 include: 14. Texas Tech, 17. Texas, 19. Iowa State, and 22. Kansas.
Including relay alternates, the Aggies will have a squad of 28 traveling to Eugene for the NCAA Championships. The A&M men will have 13 athletes in nine events to total 16 entries. The Aggie women have 15 athletes in 11 events for 21 entries.
The 21 entries by A&M tops the women's field as LSU and Oregon have 17 each. They are followed by Penn State (12), Clemson (11), Arkansas (10) and Texas Tech (10).
In sprint and hurdle events the Aggies total 14 entries, including both relays. The breakdown includes 100 (4), 200 (3), 400 (1), 100 hurdles (2), 400 hurdles (2), 4 x 100 and 4 x 400. A&M will have also have seven entries among the long jump (2), triple jump (2), javelin (2) and heptathlon (1).
Texas A&M shares the men's entry lead at 16 with Oregon. They are followed by LSU (15), Florida (13), Texas Tech (12), Florida State (11), Oklahoma (11) and USC (11).
In track events the Aggies and Ducks are even with nine events apiece, but will not face one another in any event. A&M has seven sprint entries in the 100 (2), 200 (2) and 400 (3) along with both relays while Oregon counters with entries in the distance events, which include the 800 (3), 1500 (3), 5000 (2) and 10,000 (1).
Both teams have entries in the decathlon and they will face one another in the long jump and javelin among the field events. Aggie entries include the long jump (2), triple jump (3), javelin (1) and decathlon (1). The Ducks are in the long jump (2), hammer (1), javelin (2) and decathlon (2).
Entries by conference have the Big 12 leading men's and women's fields. On the men's side the Big 12 totaled 87 entries, placing it ahead of the SEC (82), Pac-10 (67), ACC (47) and Big 10 (43). Among the women the Big 12 totaled 82 entries, placing it ahead of the SEC (79), Pac-10 (65), ACC (48), and Big 10 (45).
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS - Eugene, Oregon
Aggies who have qualified for the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus.
MEN (13 athletes, 9 events, 16 entries)
100: Curtis Mitchell
200: Curtis Mitchell, Gerald Phiri
400: Demetrius Pinder, Tabarie Henry, Bryan Miller
4x1: Curtis Mitchell (Demetrius Pinder)
4x4: Curtis Mitchell, Kyle Dykhuizen)
Long Jump: Melvin Echard, Julian Reid
Triple Jump: Zuheir Sharif, Melvin Echard
Javelin: Sam Humphreys
Decathlon: Trinity Otto
WOMEN (15 athletes, 11 events, 21 entries)
100: Porscha Lucas, Jeneba Tarmoh, Gabby Mayo, Dominique Duncan
200: Porscha Lucas, Dominique Duncan
400: Jessica Beard
100H: Gabby Mayo, Vashti Thomas
400H: Donique' Flemings
4x100: Porscha Lucas, Elizabeth Adeoti)
4x400: Donique' Flemings, Ashika Charan, Sandy Wooten)
Long Jump: Ashika Charan.
Triple Jump: Ashika Charan
Javelin: Hillary Pustka
Heptathlon: Daphne Fitzpatrick