By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
NEW ORLEANS – Both track and field teams at Fort Hays State University will head into the postseason ranked in the top 20 in Division II according to the latest release of the USTFCCCA NCAA Division II National Track and Field Rating Index (Feb. 22). The men are 14th in this week’s rankings, while the women moved up two spots to 19th in the latest list.
The men accumulated 55.77 team points from 13 nationally-ranked performances. Ryan Stanley is second in the pole vault with his school-record mark of 17-1.75, while Nolan Churchman’s record total of 5,304 in the heptathlon is sixth-best nationally. Sprinter Philip Landrum is seventh in both the 60m (6.73) and the 200m (21.29).
The women picked up 45.58 points across eight top-ranked marks. Lyric Holman moved up to 10th in the country with her school-record 24.38 in the 200m dash this week. The sprinter also ranks fourth in the 60m with her school-record time of 7.45 Mattie Rossi is sixth in the pentathlon (3,670) and is seventh in the 60m hurdles (8.60). Alexandra Hart moved up to 13th nationally in the high jump after a clearance of 5-7.75 over the weekend.
Both teams maintained their spot in the conference power ranks, coming in fourth for the second week in a row. A potential finish of fourth or higher at the MIAA Indoor Championships would be the best-ever finish for either team since joining the conference in 2007. The Tiger men are fifth in this week’s central region rankings, while the women are eighth.
Next up for the Tigers is a trip to Maryville, Mo. for the MIAA Championships February 25-27. Nine nationally-ranked teams will be competing at the conference meet, including five on the men’s side and four women’s programs.