KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State enters the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships with two teams ranked in the top 25 of the nation according to the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) computer rankings released Tuesday.

The Sycamore men had their highest ranking since the USTFCCCA began the ratings system in 2008 when they climbed to 20th a week ago but Indiana State fell five spots to 25th in the latest rankings. This is the sixth straight week that the Sycamore women have been ranked in the top 20 as they moved up one notch to 17th in this week's rankings.

This is just the second time since 2008 that both the Sycamore men and women have been ranked in the top 25 and the third time that the two teams have been ranked in the top 30 at the same time. The two Sycamore teams were ranked in the top 30 in the same week last year when the Indiana State men were 28th and the women 29th during Week 6 of the ratings.

The Sycamore women improved to 17th after two straight weeks at 18th after senior Felisha Johnson posted the fifth best weight throw in collegiate history and extending her national lead in winning the event at the EIU Friday Night Special. Johnson is also second in the shot put with freshman Katie Wise 40th in the 60 meters.

The Indiana State remained in the top five but dropped five spots in the national rankings to 25th. The Sycamores are led by senior Brandon Pounds who is the top weight thrower in the nation, junior Greggmar Swift who is fifth in the 60 meter hurdles, and junior Chris Fields who is 32nd in the men's weight throw.

Louisiana State remained the top women's team in the national rankings with Oregon jumping four spots to second. Arkansas dropped a spot to third with Clemson now fourth and Kansas fifth. Arkansas is the top ranked men's team followed by Florida, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Nebraska.

The Sycamore women are the highest ranked team in the national rankings from the Missouri Valley Conference with their 17th ranking. Wichita State moved up one spot to 19th with Illinois State down to 36th, Southern Illinois dropping three to 86th, and Missouri State down 13 to 90th. Indiana State is also the top ranked team among major universities in Indiana. Notre Dame jumped 43 spots to 31st with Purdue down 11 to 63rd, and Indiana down nine to 108th.

The Indiana State men are also the highest ranking team in the national poll from the Missouri Valley Conference with their 25th ranking. Southern Illinois dropped two spots to 65th with Northern Iowa remaining 81st, and Wichita State down four to 127th. The Indiana Hoosiers are the top ranked team among major universities in Indiana as they moved up one to ninth in the national rankings. Indiana State follows in 25th with Notre Dame up 11 spots to 42nd, Purdue up six to 46th, and Butler up nine to 133rd.

The two Indiana State teams are also among the best according to the Great Lakes Region rankings which were also released today. The Indiana State women remained eighth in the Great Lakes Region while the Sycamore men dropped a spot to 10th.

Michigan retained its hold on the top spot in the women's Great Lakes Region rankings followed Notre Dame, Kent State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. The second five is led by Michigan State followed by Akron, Indiana State, Indiana, and Eastern Michigan.

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

The 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held this weekend at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

USTFCCCA Rankings

SYCAMORE WOMEN 10TH, MEN 13TH

IN FINAL INDOOR DUAL MEET RANKINGS

The final edition of the Track and Field News magazine's indoor dual meet rankings were released Monday with the Indiana State women finishing the indoor season ranked 10th and the men ranked 13th in the national poll.

There was not any change in the women's rankings with Louisiana State on top followed by Texas A&M, Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Kent State, Michigan State, and Indiana State. The second 10 has Princeton in 11th followed by Kansas State, Alabama, Eastern Michigan, South Florida, Indiana, Purdue, North Carolina, Grand Valley State, and Harvard.

The top five remained the same in the men's poll with Texas A&M holding the top spot followed by Arkansas, Nebraska, Louisiana State, and Texas. Connecticut moved up two to sixth followed by Michigan, Kansas State, Indiana, and Purdue. The second 10 is led by Michigan State in 11th followed by Notre Dame, Indiana State, Washington State, Princeton, Akron, Grand Valley State, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, and Alabama.

The indoor national rankings are only a warm up for the big prize, the overall indoor/outdoor dual meet national rankings. A preview of the outdoor season's dual meet action will appear in the April issue of Track and Field News.

To be considered for the indoor rankings, a team must compete in at least one dual meet during the indoor season, using TFN's definition of a dual meet as a scored meet between four or fewer teams. Rankings will be kept during the outdoor season for an indoor/outdoor composite.

T&FN's dual meet rankings, compiled by Jesse Squire (www.tracksuperfan.com) are a revival of annual rankings compiled from 1970 to 1995. A full compilation of past dual meet rankings can be found at www.tracksuperfan.com.