LOUISVILLE, Ky. * The University of Louisville men*s track and field program continued its surge among the nation*s elite Tuesday entering the Trackwire Men*s Indoor Top 25 at No. 10, the program*s first ever Top 10 national ranking.
The Trackwire 25, established in 1997, is the most widely respected and reported ranking of Division I collegiate track & field teams. The ranking system projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualifying competitions across the country. This projection is generated by scoring the Dandy Dozen, a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA event.
*We fully understand that this is an early season ranking, but it*s a clear indication of where (UofL Vice President of Athletics) Tom Jurich and (UofL Associate AD/SWA) Julie Hermann want to take the entire athletic department at UofL,* said head coach Ron Mann, who is in just his third season at UofL. *This is validation for the university*s commitment to every sport on this campus and the continued support for our track and field program. And even though this Top 10 ranking has happened earlier than even I anticipated, I believe it is a clear indication of where the University of Louisville track and field program is going.*
UofL*s highest previous national ranking came on May 9, 2006, when the Cardinal men*s team entered the Trackwire Top 25 at No. 23 overall, the program*s first ever national ranking. The Cardinal men finished 30th overall at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships, the program*s best finish ever at nationals, confirming the program*s move into the national track and field spotlight.
The Cards* move into the Trackwire Top 10 in 2007 is led by sophomore jumpers Tone Belt and Andre Black. Belt, a native of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., and a two-time NCAA outdoor track and field All-America performer, is currently ranked No. 2 in the long jump (7.81m/25-07.50) and No. 6 in the high jump (2.21m/7-03.00) in Trackwire*s Dandy Dozen, while Black, from Mobile, Ala., is No. 4 in the triple jump (15.60m/51-02.25) and No. 10 in the long jump (7.36m/24-01.75).
Last week, the Cardinal men*s and women*s team competed for the second time during the indoor season and the first since returning from the holiday break setting six school records, earning five NCAA qualifying marks and winning three event titles at the Kentucky Invitational on Jan. 12-13 in Lexington, Ky. Belt led the way for the Cards winning the long jump and high jump titles, while Black won the triple jump title as both jumpers stayed unbeaten in those events this season.
Overall, the Cardinal men and women have set 12 school records and earned six NCAA qualifying marks through the first two meets of the season. The Cards have four meets remaining before the BIG EAST Indoor Championships on Feb. 17-18 in Akron, Ohio, while the NCAA Indoor Championships are set for March 9-10 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Up next, the Cards will return to Lexington on Friday and Saturday for the Rod McCravy Memorial at Nutter Field House on the campus of the University of Kentucky.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. * The University of Louisville men*s track and field program continued its surge among the nation*s elite Tuesday entering the Trackwire Men*s Indoor Top 25 at No. 10, the program*s first ever Top 10 national ranking.
The Trackwire 25, established in 1997, is the most widely respected and reported ranking of Division I collegiate track & field teams. The ranking system projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualifying competitions across the country. This projection is generated by scoring the Dandy Dozen, a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA event.
*We fully understand that this is an early season ranking, but it*s a clear indication of where (UofL Vice President of Athletics) Tom Jurich and (UofL Associate AD/SWA) Julie Hermann want to take the entire athletic department at UofL,* said head coach Ron Mann, who is in just his third season at UofL. *This is validation for the university*s commitment to every sport on this campus and the continued support for our track and field program. And even though this Top 10 ranking has happened earlier than even I anticipated, I believe it is a clear indication of where the University of Louisville track and field program is going.*