KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Back by strong showings at the Indiana Relays and the Jack Jennett Invite, the Indiana State women's and men's track & field teams moved up in the national computer rankings which were released today by U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Sycamore women moved up two spots and are now ranked 17th in the nation which is their highest spot in the rankings since the 2010 season. The men moved up one spot and are closing in on the top 25 as the Sycamores are now ranked 32nd in the nation.

The two Indiana State teams are also among the best according to the Great Lakes Region rankings which were also released today with both now ranked fifth in the Great Lakes Region. The men moved up three spots while the women are two spots better than a week ago.

With their 17th ranking, the Sycamore women are the highest ranked from the Missouri Valley Conference. Illinois State remained 26th with Wichita State moving up eight spots to 35th, Southern Illinois down six to 85th, and Missouri State up 11 spots to 91st. Indiana State is also the top ranked team among major universities in Indiana. Purdue dropped eight spots to 59th with Notre Dame down six to 88th, Indiana jumped up eight spots to 101st, and Butler lost 14 spots to 110th.

The top three teams remained the same in the women's national rankings with Clemson holding on to the top spot followed by Kansas and Oregon. Arkansas and Louisiana State moved up to fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Indiana State men are also the highest ranking team in the national poll from the Missouri Valley Conference with their 32nd spot in the computer rankings. Illinois State dropped six spots to 74th with Southern Illinois down 11 to 100th, and Drake down six to 111th. The Indiana Hoosiers are the top ranked team among major universities in Indiana despite dropping to eighth in the national rankings. Indiana State improved one spot to 32nd with Notre Dame down four to 46th, Purdue down four to 80th, and Butler down five to 106th.

Arkansas remained the top ranked team in the men's national rankings with Florida moving past Texas A&M for the second spot. The Aggies are third with Oregon moving up to fourth and Arizona State dropping down to fifth.

Michigan moved into the top spot in the Great Lakes Region women's rankings followed by Notre Dame, Kent State, Ohio State, and Indiana State in the top five. The second five is led by the Indiana followed by Michigan State, Wisconsin, Akron, and Cincinnati.

Indiana continues to lead the men's Great Lakes Region rankings followed by Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State and Indiana State in the top five. The second five is led by Michigan followed by Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame, Akron, and Wisconsin.

SYCAMORES IN THE RANKINGS

Several Indiana State athletes are among the best in the nation with their individual performances this season.

Felisha Johnson has the best distance of 75-feet-3.25-inches in the weight throw and is currently second in the shot put after posting a school record distance of 58-feet-4.75-inches at the Indiana Relays. Johnson leads the Valley and the Great Lakes Region in both events.

Leeann Michl ranks 19th nationally in the 800 meters after running a time of 2:08.85 (converted from an actual time of 2:10.34) at the Coughlan-Malloy Cup. She leads the Missouri Valley and the Great Lakes Region in the event.

The 4x400 meter relay team of Macey Black, Stacia Weatherford, Michl, and Shelby Higginbottom has the 26th fastest time in the nation after running 3:42.52 (converted from an actual time of 3:45.47) in winning the event at the Gene Edmonds Cup. The team leads the Valley and has the third fastest time in the Great Lakes Region.

Greggmar Swift is fourth in the national 60 meter hurdle rankings with his personal best time of 7.72 seconds set by winning the event at the Gene Edmonds Cup last Saturday. Swift leads the Valley and the Great Lakes Region in the event. Swift also has the Valley's and Great Lake Region's best time in the 60 meter dash (54th nationally) with a time of 6.81.

Brandon Pounds ranks fourth in the national weight throw rankings after posting a distance of 68-feet-0.5-inches at the Indiana Relays. Pounds leads the Valley and is second in the Great Lakes Region for the event.

Robert Webb ranks 20th in the nation for the Heptathlon after scoring a school record 5,221 points at the Jack Jennett Invite. Webb leads the Valley in the event and ranks second in the Great Lakes Region.

USTFCCCA Rankings