KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State men's track & field team moved up four spots while the women dropped a couple in the fifth week of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national computer rankings. The Indiana State men were one of the few schools to move up in the national rankings as the team improved to 91st while the women slipped to 37th which is still among the highest they have been ranked since 2010.
Illinois State is the highest ranking Missouri Valley Conference team in the men's national rankings despite dropping to 61st in the fifth week of the rankings. Southern Illinois fell to 70th with Wichita State down to 86th, Indiana State now 91st, Northern Iowa dropping to 102nd, and Drake remaining 163rd. Loyola-Chicago, who will join the MVC in 2014, dropped to 44th.
Indiana is the highest ranked men's team from the state of Indiana even though they spiraled down to 34th and out of the top 25 for the first time this season. Purdue fell to 54th with Notre Dame falling to 55th, Indiana State now 91st, and Butler dropping to 144th.
Wichita State is the top Missouri Valley Conference school in the women's national rankings with the Shockers cracking the top 25 for the first time this season and come in at 24th in the Week Five rankings. Despite dropping two spots, Indiana State is next at 37th with Illinois State tumbling to 42nd. Southern Illinois improved to 69th with Northern Iowa up to 125th and Missouri State dropping down to 137th. Loyola-Chicago, who will join the MVC in 2014, fell to 76th.
Notre Dame is the highest ranked women's team from the state of Indiana with the Fighting Irish 36th after dropping six spots in the Week Five rankings. The Sycamores are next at 37th with Indiana down to 50th, Butler unchanged at 67th, and Purdue down to 96th.
GREAT LAKES REGION RANKINGS
The fifth week of the region rankings were also released Tuesday by the USTFCCCA with the Sycamore men and women moving upward in the Great Lakes Region with the men now eighth and the women sixth in their respective rankings.
Wisconsin took over the top spot in the men's Great Lakes rankings with Ohio State dropping down to second followed by Indiana, Notre Dame, and Akron. The second five is led by Michigan followed by Purdue, Indiana State, Michigan State, and Kent State. Rounding out the top 15 are Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Milwaukee, and Butler.
Notre Dame remained on top of the women's Great lakes rankings with Michigan State taking over second ahead of Michigan who dropped to third. Ohio State and Kent State remained fourth and fifth, respectively. Indiana State leads the second five at sixth followed by Wisconsin, Akron, Indiana, and Cincinnati. Rounding out the top 15 are Miami (Ohio), Purdue, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Butler.
WOMEN IN THE RANKINGS
Several members of the Indiana State track & field team are ranked in the top 50 of the nation and/or lead the Missouri Valley Conference after the first full weekend of the outdoor season.
Felisha Johnson ranks second nationally in the shot put (first in the Valley, first in the Great Lakes, and first in the East) with a school record heave of 59-7” (18.16m) at the Drake Relays (April 27). Johnson also ranks 32nd nationally in the discus (third in the Valley, fourth in the Great Lakes and ninth in the East) with a season best throw of 172'-6” (52.59m) at the Sea Ray Relays (April 13). The senior also ranks 59th nationally (fourth in the Valley, seventh in the Great Lakes and 24th in the East) in the hammer throw with a distance of 187'-9” (57.24m) at the SIU Bill Cornell Spring Classic (March 30).
Nicole Hope ranks 15th in the nation for the women's pole vault (first in the Missouri Valley, second in the Great Lakes, and fifth in the East) after clearing a career best height, and the second best in Indiana State history, of 13'-9¼” (4.20m) at the Jesse Owens Track Classic (Apr. 20).
Kimyanna Rudolph ranks 22nd in the nation for the women's pole vault (second in the Missouri Valley, fourth in the Great Lakes, and 10th in the East) by clearing a career best height of 13'-5¼” (4.10 meters) at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (April 6). The height ranks third on the Indiana State all-time list.
Stacia Weatherford ranks 25th nationally in the 400 meter hurdles (first in the Valley, second in the Great Lakes and 13th in the East) with a time of 58.57 seconds at the Drake Relays (April 27). She is also second in the Valley for the 100 meter hurdles (51st in the East and 91st nationally) with a time of 13.80 seconds at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (Apr. 6).
Mary Theisen ranks 49th nationally in the discus (fourth in the Valley and 16th in the East) with a season best throw of 168'-0” (51.22m) at the Sea Ray Relays (April 13). She also ranks 52nd nationally (sixth in the Valley, eighth in the Great Lakes, and 20th in the East) in the shot put after posting a heave of 51'-0.75” (15.56m) at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (April 6).
Richelle Kimble ranks 72nd in the nation for the pole vault (fourth in the MVC and 35th in the East) after clearing 12'-9½” (3.90m) at the Auburn Tiger Tack Classic (April 6).
Shelby Higginbottom, Leeann Michl, Stacia Weatherford, and Macey Black combined to run the third fastest 4x400 meter relay in school history with a time of 3:40.31 at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (April 6). That ranks 79th in the nation, second in the Valley, seventh in the Great Lakes, and 43rd in the East.
Leeann Michl has the top 800 meter time in the Valley (seventh in the Great Lakes, 45th in the East, and 82nd nationally) after running 2:07.91 at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (April 6).
Ioanna Koltsidou cleared a career best 5'-8” (1.73m) at the Stan Lyons Invitational (April 27) which ranks fourth in the Valley, eighth in the Great Lakes, 53rd in the East, and 90th nationally.
Kaisha Martin, Macey Black, Demetra Camble and Katie Wise combined to run the second fastest 4x100 meter relay in school history with a time of 45.59 at the Drake Relays (April 27). The time leads the Missouri Valley while ranking fourth in the Great Lakes, 47th in the east and 94th nationally.
Carmelia Stewart had a career best leap of 40'-4” (12.29m) in the triple jump at the Drake Relays (April 27) which ranks fifth in the Valley, sixth in the Great Lakes, 56th in the East, and 97th nationally.
Katie Wise leads the Valley in the 100 meters (fifth in the Great Lakes, 60th in the East and 117th nationally) after running 11.73 in the preliminaries of the event at the Sea Ray Relays (April 12).
MEN IN THE RANKINGS
Several members of the Indiana State track & field team are ranked in the top 50 of the nation and/or lead the Missouri Valley Conference after the first full weekend of the outdoor season.
Brandon Pounds ranks 16th in the nation for the hammer throw after he posted a distance of 213'-5” (65.05m) at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (April 6). That is second in the Valley, second in the Great Lakes, and sixth in the East. He also ranks second in the Valley, 44th in the East, and 102nd nationally in the discus with a distance of 170'-7”(52.00m) at the Sea Ray Relays (April 12).
John Mascari set the school record in the 10,000 meters at the Drake Relays (April 27) as he won the event in 29:19.74. The time moved him into 20th in the nation while leading the Valley, ranking second in the Great Lakes and 12th in the East. He also ranks second in the Valley for the 5,000 meters (107th in the East) with a time of 14:26.06 at the SIU Bill Cornell Spring Classic (March 30).
Greggmar Swift ranks 24th nationally in the 110 meter hurdles (first in the Valley, second in the Great Lakes, and seventh in the East) with a time of 13.76 seconds at the Drake Relays (April 27).
Maurice Lyke currently ranks 39th nationally in the 110 meter hurdles (second in the MVC, fifth in the Great Lakes, and 24th in the East) with a time of 14.03 at the Sea Ray Relays (April 12). He also ranks 51st nationally for the long jump with a leap of 24'-4½” (7.43m) at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (April 6) and again at the Drake Relays (April 26). That leads the Valley, ranks third in the Great Lakes, and 24th in the East.
Dustin Betz ran a career best 8:56.49 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Drake Relays (April 26) which is the second fastest in the Valley, eighth in the Great Lakes, 15th in the East, and 40th nationally.
Jonathan Jackson currently ranks 47th in the nation for the 400 meter hurdles (first in the Valley, sixth in the Great Lakes, and 18th in the East) with a career best time of 52.14 seconds at the Drake Relays (April 27).
Max Tuttle currently ranks 55th in the nation for the 400 meter hurdles after he ran 52.28 at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (April 6). That is the second best time in the Valley, ranks eighth in the Great Lakes, and 22nd in the East.
Robert Webb scored a career high 6,723 points in the Decathlon at the Drake Relays (April 24-25) which is the fifth best total in the Valley, 27th in the East and 61st in the nation.
Derek Bunch had a career best throw of 56'-10¼“ (17.33m) in the shot put at the Sea Ray Relays (April 12) which is third in the Valley (36th in the East and 70th nationally).
Adarius Washington ran 14.19 in the 110 meter hurdles at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic (April 6) which ranks fourth in the Valley, 46th in the East, and 72nd nationally.
Shaun Smith leads the Valley in the 100 meters (second in the Great Lakes, 57th in the East, and 90th nationally) with a time of 10.52 seconds at the Sea Ray Relays (April 12). He also leads the Valley for the 200 meters (151st in the East) with a time of 21.66 at the Sea Ray Relays (April 12).
Keith Housley, Greggmar Swift, Justin Baxtron, and Shaun Smith combined for a 40.81 finish in the 4x100 meter relay at the Sea Ray Relays (April 12) which is the top time in the Valley (fifth in the Great Lakes, 52nd in the East, and 108th nationally).
USTFCCCA Rankings
