Kansas Women Join Arkansas Men On Top of DI Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – The Kansas Jayhawks women’s team has flown past the Clemson Tigers into the No. 1 position for the first time in program history in Tuesday’s latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Computer Rankings, while the Arkansas men remain on top for the fourth straight week.

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Behind strong performances at the Armory Collegiate Invitational from National Athlete of the Week senior jumper Andrea Geubelle (No. 1 in the long jump at 21-11½/6.69m), senior thrower Alena Krechyk (No. 2 in the weight throw at 71-4¾/21.76m) and junior pole vaulter Natalia Bartnovskaya (No. 3 at 14-1¼/4.30m), the Jayhawks surged into the top spot with a net gain of 20.67 team points for a total of 173.37. After finishing runner-up at last season’s NCAA Indoor Championships, Kansas had spent three weeks at the second spot in this season’s computer rankings.

Though many of Clemson’s top student-athletes turned in strong performances, including another sub-8.00 60 hurdles performance from standout Brianna Rollins, the Tigers gained less than a point for a total of 158.21.

The LSU women jumped two spots to No. 3 with 152.31 team points on the strength of reigning The Bowerman winner Kimberlyn Duncan’s nation-leading 60 meters performance at 7.16 and the sixth-best weight throw performer in the nation in junior Denise Hinton (69-9¾/21.28m).

Arkansas remains at No. 4 with 147.26, while three-time defending champion Oregon falls two spots to No. 5 with 135.84 points.

The Arkansas men do not appear to be in danger of befalling the same fate as the Clemson women in the near future, as they still hold a commanding 221.74 point total, compared to No. 2 three-time defending champion Florida’s 121.53.

No. 3 Texas A&M (118.03), No. 4 Oregon (95.89) and No. 5 Arizona State (89.56) comprise the top five for the second straight week. The only shift in the top 10 was a switch between Indiana and Minnesota to No. 7 and No. 8, respectively.

The National Computer Team Rankings project how a team will finish in a National Championship Meet setting, rather than a triangular or dual. The rankings are compiled from meet data in the 2012-13 season, but also from returners from the 2011-12 to take into account what a roster might look like should all student-athletes perform at their top level. This is the final edition of the rankings in which preseason data will be factored into team scores.

The next round of computer rankings will be released February 12. The 2013 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Fayetteville, Ark., March 8-9.

Biggest Jump (Men): 13 – Nebraska
Biggest Jump (Women): 12 – Wichita State