LUBBOCK – The ACU men's and women's track and field teams begin the 2011 indoor season this weekend at the Texas Tech Open at the Athletic Training Center.
The Texas Tech Open starts this Fri., Jan 14 at 6 p.m. with field events and running to start at 7 p.m. Saturday's festivities will begin with field events at 10 a.m. and running at 11:30 a.m. Results can be found at www.texastech.com.
In the first pre-season national computer rankings compiled by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA), the ACU men are ranked No. 5 in the nation and the ACU women No. 54 in the country entering the season.
Computer rankings were used for Division II in 2010, but for the first time, preseason data mixes with current-year data to produce a ranking score for each of the teams. The process is similar to what has been used by Division I since 2008. Preseason ranking data will continue to be part of the ranking process through week three (February 8).
Last year's national indoor runner-up, St. Augustine's, tops the pre-season poll, just ahead of Lincoln (Mo.), Ashland at No. 3, Central Missouri at No. 4 and ACU at No. 5. Defending indoor national champion Adams State checks in at No. 8 in the pre-season rankings.
The poll also reflects event-by-event national rankings based on the same criteria to determine the team poll.
ACU has the nation's top-ranked athlete in bow events as
Amos Sang enters the season as the No. 1-ranked 5000-meter runner in the country, while
Ramon Sparks is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the triple jump. Sparks is also ranked No. 3 in the long jump, while Sang is ranked No. 4 in the mile.
Sprinter
Desmond Jackson is ranked No. 4 in the nation in the 60 meters and No. 5 in the country in the 200 meters. Two-time outdoor national discus champion
Nick Jones returns to competition for the Wildcats after sitting out the 2010 season as a redshirt, and he's ranked No. 11 in the country in the shot put.
On the women's side, second-year head coach Roosevelt Lofton will welcome almost an entirely new roster. Senior
Destinee Nixon is ranked No. 15 in the country in the triple jump, while
Amanda Clemons is No. 25 in the triple jump.
Anais Belledant is ranked No. 12 in the mile.
