By: by Scott Lipsky
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Kennesaw State Owls men’s indoor track and field is ranked 59th in the nation in the second poll of the season released on Tuesday by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
This is the first time Kennesaw State has been nationally ranked in track and field. They became a full-fledged program in the fall of 2005 and became eligible for national rankings and NCAA championship qualifying this season after the athletic program successfully completed the NCAA’s mandatory four year, Division I re-classification period. They are the only team in the Atlantic Sun Conference to be ranked this week.
The recognition comes right on the heels of senior jumper Jerome McKinzie earning an NCAA Championship provisional qualifying mark in the high jump, clearing 2.20 meters at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational at the University of Florida in Gainesville. His mark is currently the third highest in the nation this season in the high jump.
McKinzie was just one of several Owls to experience a high level of success in Gainesville. Five Owls won events and seven athletes broke school records last weekend, as the Black and Gold continue to re-write program history with every meet they compete in. In three meets this season, Don McGarey’s squad has already shattered 10 of 26 school records, with five of those records being set by freshmen.
Owls head coach Don McGarey is confident that with so many of his athletes performing well, this national recognition could be just the beginning.
" While our ranking is on the strength of high jumper Jerome Mckinzie, I expect to see a few others continue to step up to place us in an even better position," said Mcgarey, who saw his share of national recognition as a member of Louisiana State's track and field program during his college years. "Fifty ninth out of approximately 257 DI indoor track and field programs places us in the top 25%, so I see this as a good start, but not where we want to settle."
Josh McNair was recognized for his performance in the Shot Put and Weight Throw at the Niswonger Invitational on January 22-23 when he was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Men’s Field Athlete of the Week last week. He stepped up again in Gainesville, winning both of those events and setting a school record in the Shot Put in the process.
The Owls do not compete this weekend, but will be back in action on February 12 at the UNC Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.
For a full look at the weekly national rankings, you can visit http://www.ustfccca.org/rankings/division-i-rankings
