KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. - Several members of the Indiana State track & field teams finished the Indoor regular season ranked among the best in the nation according to the national performance list released after the conclusion of last weekend's series of final qualifier meets.
Three Sycamores received bids to the2012 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships including senior Nicole Hope (women's pole vault), senior Felisha Johnson (women's shot put and women's weight throw), and junior Brandon Pounds (men's weight throw).
One of ISU's automatic qualifiers will not compete this weekend as senior Major Clay had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury suffered at the 2012 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships.
The loss of Clay from the NCAA field dropped the Sycamore men in the national rankings as they ended the regular season ranked 28th but dropped to 80th in the final poll released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The ISU women ended the regular season ranked 29th nationally and fell five spots to 34th in the final USTFCCCA poll. Team rankings in the final poll are based only on team members who have received a bid to the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Felisha Johnson ranks second in the women's weight throw with a distance of 71-feet 1¼-inch at the EIU Early Bird in December which automatically qualified her for her second NCAA Indoor Championships. She is the defending women's weight throw national champion and an All-American.
Johnson also qualified in the women's shot put and is ranked 11th in the final national performance list. The junior broke a 21-year-old Indiana State with a distance of 55-feet-5-¾-inches at the 2012 MVC Indoor Championships last weekend.
Nicole Hope qualified for the NCAA Indoors as she cleared a personal best height of 13-feet-11-inches in winning the MVC Indoor women's pole vault championship last month. The height ranks second on ISU's All-Time list.The Sycamore senior ranks 12th on the national performance list entering the Championships.
Mary Theisen finished the indoor season ranked 25th in the women's shot put with a personal best distance of 53-feet-3-inches thrown at the 2012 MVC Indoor Championships last weekend. The distance ranks third on the ISU All-Time list.
Richelle Kimble finished the indoor season ranked 33rd in the women's pole vault after clearing personal best 13-feet-5-inches at the 2012 MVC Indoor Championships last weekend. The height ranks third on ISU's All-Time list.
Leeann Michl closed out the indoor season ranked 44th on the national performance list in the 800 meters.
Brandon Pounds qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship in the men's weight throw after setting the Indiana State record with a throw of 70-feet-8½-inches at the EIU Friday Night Special. He ranks 11th on the final performance list but will have the 10 th best distance heading into the NCAAs. Pounds will be making his first trip to the NCAAs after provisionally qualifying as a freshman and sophomore but did not receive an invitation to the championships.
Major Clay finished the indoor season ranked third in the men's high jump after setting the Indiana State record by clearing seven-feet-five-inches at the EIU Friday Night Special. His injury at the MVC Indoors will keep the senior out of competition indefinitely.
Greggmar Swift finished the indoor season ranked 16th in the men's 60 meter hurdles with a time of 7.77 seconds posted in winning the event at the Gene Edmonds Cup (ISU vs. Purdue dual meet) on Jan. 21.
Ernest Rollins finished the indoor season ranked 25th in the men's triple jump with a distance of 51-feet-1¾ -inches accomplished in finishing second at the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 3.
USTFCCCA NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Indiana State men's and women's track & field teams remain among the best in the nation as the final week of the rankings were released Tuesday by the USTFCCCA. The final rankings are based on individuals who have been invited to the 2012 NCAA Track & Field Indoor Championships.
The Indiana State men dropped 52 spots in the final team rankings as they ended the indoor regular season ranked 28th but dropped to 80th in the final poll. Only four Valley schools have athletes advancing to the NCAA Indoor Championships with Southern Illinois ranked 43rd, Indiana State 80th, and Illinois State and Northern Iowa tied for 96th. Among the Division I schools in Indiana, the Hoosiers are ranked 14th in the nation followed by Notre Dame (38th), Purdue (63rd) and Indiana State (80th).
The Salukis of Southern Illinois are the top Missouri Valley Conference team in the women's rankings as they moved up to 11th in the final USTFCCCA women's national rankings. Indiana State dropped five spots 34th with Illinois State 43rd, Wichita State 48th, and Northern Iowa 71st. Among the Division I schools in Indiana, the Sycamores are the top team at 34th followed by Purdue (46th) and Notre Dame (78th).
GREAT LAKES REGION RANKINGS
The seventh and final week of the Great Lakes Region rankings was released Tuesday by the USTFCCCA with Ohio State leading both the men's and women's division.
The Indiana State men remain seventh behind Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan State. Trailing the Sycamores in the top 15 are Akron, Central Michigan, Kent State, Purdue, Eastern Michigan, Butler, Cincinnati, and Marquette.
The Sycamore women dropped a spot to seventh in the Great Lakes Region as they trail Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Indiana. Trailing Indiana State in the top 15 are Cincinnati, Kent State, Purdue, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Butler, Miami (Ohio), and Ohio.
