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The Warm-Up Lap: Weekend News and Notes (Jan. 31)

January 31, 2013

NEW ORLEANS – Some of the strongest fields to be seen prior to conference championship and NCAA Championship are in store this weekend, setting up a weekend that could significantly alter the national leaderboards and rankings in all three divisions.

More than 20 percent of all 150 teams ranked in this weekÂ’s National Computer Team Rankings between both genders and all divisions will be in action at New York CityÂ’s Armory for the Armory Collegiate Invitational, included six top-10 womenÂ’s teams and five top-ten menÂ’s teams.

Division II will be on display at the Division II Team Challenge hosted by SPIRE, and the top of the DIII rankings could see a bit of a shake-up as the top four menÂ’s teams are all in action at the UW-Whitewater "Squig" Converse Invitational.

Keep reading for previews of each of these meets and their top match-ups, in addition to some general collegiate track & field news and notes to prepare you for the upcoming weekend.

Full Weekend Schedule | Broadcast Schedule

DI MEET OF THE WEEK

Armory Collegiate Invitational
Friday, Feb. 1 – Saturday, Feb. 2 | 9:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. ET | New York, N.Y. | Live on FloTrack Pro
Meet Home Page

MenÂ’s Ranked Teams: No. 1 Arkansas; No. 2 Florida (partial); No. 3 Texas A&M; No. 4 Oregon (partial); No. 6 LSU; No. 11 Texas; No. 15 Mississippi State (partial); No. 19 BYU; No. 20 Stanford; No. 22 Oklahoma (partial); No. 8 American International (DII); No. 21 Shippensburg (DII)

WomenÂ’s Ranked Teams: No. 1 Clemson; No. 2 Kansas; No. 4 Arkansas; No. 5 LSU; No. 6 Texas A&M; No. 7 Florida (partial); No. 10 Iowa State; No. 14 Texas; No. 15 Dartmouth (partial); No. 16 Stanford; No. 21 South Carolina; No. 25 Connecticut (partial); No. 19 Tiffin (DII); No. 25 Shippensburg (DII); no. 6 Ramapo (DIII); No. 15 Lehman (DIII); No. 22 Wheaton (Mass.) (DIII); No. 23 Johns Hopkins (DIII)

Though the unseasonably warm January weather in New York City will cool down this weekend, the college track & field action at The Armory for the Armory Collegiate Invitational will be hotter than anywhere in the country. With 22 of the 50 ranked teams in Division I, between both men and women, and 31 total ranked teams in all divisions set to descend upon the Armory, this weekend will provide some of the best indoor fields to be seen prior to conference championships weekend and perhaps even National Championship weekend.

Four national leaders in the menÂ’s championship events and two in the womenÂ’s will be in action in the Big Apple, headlined by a stacked womenÂ’s 60 hurdles field that will feature No. 1 ClemsonÂ’s Briana Rollins, running her first hurdles race since setting her collegiate-record 7.78 three weeks ago, against 10 of the top 25 performers in the nation. Of those 11 top-25 hurdlers, seven are within the top 10, making for a potential Indoor Championships preview. The menÂ’s race is just as competitive, with 10 of DIÂ’s top 25 taking the track.

The womenÂ’s championship pole vault field of 19 is made up of nine of the top 25 in the country, with another top-25 vaulter in the college division. Five of DIÂ’s top ten performers are in the event, with three having gone over 14 feet. Also challenging the field will be DIII RamapoÂ’s Michelle Favre, who could make a run at the DIII indoor record of 13-9¼ (4.20) just two inches shy of her performance this past weekend.

Six of the top 10 female sprinters at 60 meters will be in action, including ClemsonÂ’s second-ranked sprinter Dezerea Bryant and reigning winner of the Bowerman Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU. The menÂ’s field is likewise stacked with eight of the top 25 sprinters set to take the blocks. The 400 meters fields for both the men and women will be graced by the nation-leaders in Texas A&MÂ’s former USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week Deon Lendore and ArkansasÂ’ Regina George, respectively. Both headline a field with eight of the top 25 in the nation.

The list of intriguing events seemingly never ends, with 19 championship events featuring five or more top-25 competitors/teams. The collegiate leaderboard could end up with a revision following this weekend and this meet in particular, so be sure to keep an eye on the Armory this weekend.

Keep an Eye on DI: Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational (Feb. 1-Feb. 2); Meyo Invitational (Feb. 1-Feb. 2)

DI TOP 10 IN ACTION

Men

Rank School Meet Date
1 Arkansas at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
2 Florida at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational/
at Armory Collegiate Invitational		 Feb 1 – Feb 2
3 Texas A&M at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
4 Oregon Off/at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
5 Arizona State at Mountain T’s Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
6 LSU at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
7 Minnesota at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
8 Indiana at Meyo Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
9 Auburn at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
10 Arizona at New Mexico Classic Feb. 1


Women

Rank School Meet Date
1 Clemson at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
2 Kansas at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
3 Oregon Off  
4 Arkansas at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
5 LSU at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
6 Texas A&M at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
7 Florida at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational/
at Armory Collegiate Invitational		 Feb 1 – Feb 2
8 Washington Off  
9 UCF at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
10 Iowa State at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2

 

DII MEET OF THE WEEK

NCAA Division II Team Challenge hosted by SPIRE
Friday, Feb. 1 – Saturday, Feb. 2 | 3 p.m. ET/10 a.m. ET | Geneva, Ohio | Live Results

MenÂ’s Ranked Teams: No. 15 Findlay
WomenÂ’s Ranked Teams: No. 13 Findlay; No. 22 Hillsdale

The largest gathering of DII teams at one competition this weekend will occur at the Division II Team Challenge hosted by SPIRE in Geneva, Ohio. A total of 23 teams from around the Great Lakes/Midwest regions will compete in this meet, which is open only to Division II teams – no schools from other divisions or unattached participants.

Ranked teams Findlay (No. 13 women/No. 15 men) and Hillsdale (No. 22 women) will split time this weekend between the Findlay Classic and the DII Team Challenge, and as a result some of their biggest names will not participate in this meet. However, that does not detract from the many high-quality events throughout the weekend.

A number of races/events feature multiple top-25 DII performers, based on performances from this season. The womenÂ’s 60 hurdles will pit three of the top 15 hurdlers in TiffinÂ’s Kina Anderson and EdinboroÂ’s Tabitha Bemis (both No. 10 at 8.68) and No. 13 Sashawna Bennett (8.73) against one another, as will the womenÂ’s long jump, headlined by No. 4 Laurie Ajavon of Indiana (Pa.) (19-4¼/5.90m).

The menÂ’s 400 is an event to watch on the menÂ’s side, with Lake Erie freshman Keith Hemphill (No. 8 at 48.24) leading a field of five men seeded at 49.00 or faster.

Keep an Eye on DII: Abilene ChristianÂ’s Diarra Elea (No. 2 female in the 400 at 55:05) at the Armory Collegiate Invitational; Ted Nelson Open (Feb. 2); Findlay Open (Feb. 1)

DII TOP 10 IN ACTION

Men

Rank School Name Date
1 Adams State at New Mexico Classic Feb. 1
2 Grand Canyon at Mountain T’s Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
3 Saint AugustineÂ’s Off  
4 Ashland at Akron Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
5 UMass Lowell at Rhode Island Torpey Invitational Feb. 2
6 MSU Moorhead at Cobber Duals Feb. 2
7 Grand Valley State at SVSU (Dual) Feb. 1
8 American International at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
9 Minnesota State Ted Nelson Open Feb. 2
10 Lincoln (Mo.) at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2


Women

Rank School Name Date
1 Grand Valley State at SVSU (Dual) Feb. 1
2 Adams State at New Mexico Classic Feb. 1
3 Lincoln (Mo.) at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
4 Grand Canyon at Mountain T’s Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
5 Academy of Art Off  
6 Ashland at Akron Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
7 Augustana (S.D.) at Ted Nelson Open Feb. 2
8 U-Mary at NDSU Bison Invitational Feb. 2
9 Johnson C. Smith Off  
10 Central Missouri Mule Relays Feb. 1

 

DIII MEET OF THE WEEK

"Squig" Converse Invitational (Men)/Warhawk Classic (Women)
Friday, Feb. 1/Saturday, Feb. 2 | 6 p.m. ET/1 p.m. ET | Whitewater, Wis.

Flash back three weeks ago: the North Central (Ill.) men entered their home DIII Meet of the Week as the No. 1 team in the nation. After a narrow defeat at the hands of UW-Oshkosh and UW-La Crosse, the Cardinals slipped to No. 3.

Back to this weekend, the Cardinals have a chance to exact some revenge as it once again is set to compete at the DIII Meet of the Week with No. 1 Oshkosh and No. 2 La Crosse this weekend at the "Squig" Converse Invitational, hosted by No. 4 UW-Whitewater, which will also be looking to make a run into the top three. Meanwhile, the Oshkosh women will be looking to hold on to their newly-acquired No. 1 ranking the following day at the Warhawk Classic.

The divisionÂ’s aforementioned top four menÂ’s teams combine for a total of nine individual/relay event leaders of the 15 championship events. The most hotly contest events between all four teams could be the 400 and 800 meters, in which all four have at least one student-athlete ranked in the divisionÂ’s top 25.

The remainder of the scored meet -and the order of the DIII top four – could be decided in how well each team plays to their strengths and breaches into their opponents’. Oshkosh fields arguably the best throwing corps in the country, Whitewater excels in the hurdles and jumps, La Crosse boasts an impressive sprinting group, and North Central fields a well-balanced attack.

Keep an Eye on DIII: Pointer Invitational (Feb. 1-Feb. 2); Tufts Stampede (Feb. 2); Keck Invitational (Feb. 1-Feb. 2)

DIII TOP 10 IN ACTION

Men

Rank School Name Date
1 UW-Oshkosh at "Squig" Converse Invitational Feb. 1
2 UW-La Crosse at "Squig" Converse Invitational Feb. 1
3 North Central (Ill.) at "Squig" Converse Invitational Feb. 1
4 UW-Whitewater "Squig" Converse Invitational Feb. 1
5 St. Thomas (Minn.) at Wartburg Select Feb 1 – Feb 2
6 UW-Stevens Point Pointer Multi/Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
7 UW-Eau Claire Pointer Multi/Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
8 Mount Union Jim Wuske Invitational Feb. 2
9 Bates Maine State Championship Feb. 2
10 Baldwin-Wallace at Fighting Scots Invitational Feb. 2


Women

Rank School Name Date
1 UW-Oshkosh at Warhawk Classic Feb. 2
2 Wartburg Wartburg Select Feb 1 – Feb 2
3 Illinois Wesleyan Keck Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
4 Williams at Tufts Stampede Feb. 2
5 Methodist at Hilton-Garden Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
6 Ramapo at Armory Collegiate Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
7 Washington (Mo.) Keck Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
8 UW-Whitewater Warhawk Classic Feb. 2
9 Monmouth (Ill.) Keck Invitational Feb 1 – Feb 2
10 Illinois College Jim Green Invitational Feb. 2

 

WEEKEND NEWS AND NOTES

Clemson Informs NCAA of Track & Field Violations
The Clemson Athletics Department has submitted a letter to the NCAA containing self-reported violations by its track & field program, along with corresponding penal and corrective actions. Details on the nature of the violations have not been made publicly available in order to preserve the integrity of the NCAAÂ’s review. Read the full story courtesy of TigersNow.com here: http://grnol.co/YlGLih

NCAA Committee Adjusts Marijuana Testing Threshold
The NCAAÂ’s Committee of Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) voted to change the threshold for a positive marijuana test at NCAA championships from 15 nanograms per milliliter to five nanograms per millileter. Read the full story, courtesy of NCAA.org, here: http://bit.ly/VxQeWH

Qualifying Standards for the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships Released
USA Track & Field has released qualifying standards for the 2013 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships, to be held June 19-22 in Des Moines, Iowa. A full list of the qualification criteria can be found here: http://bit.ly/VqhCk7

FSUÂ’s Marvin Bracy Headlines Football Performances
Florida State freshman Marvin Bracy – a wide receiver on the Seminoles football team – sprinted to a nation-leading 6.61 in the 60 meters this past weekend, headlining premier performances around the country from football players around the country. See the full list here: http://bit.ly/WDLOZd

USA Cross Country Championships Set for Saturday
SaturdayÂ’s USA Cross Country Championships will feature an elite field featuring 2012 Olympians Shalane Flanagan, Matt Tegenkamp, Dathan Ritzenhein and Kim Conley, in addition to a slew of other nationally elite runners. The meet will take play at Forest Park in St. Louis. A full schedule and further details can be found here: http://bit.ly/XVD00O

 
 

U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
1100 Poydras Street, Suite 1750
New Orleans, LA 70163

Contact: Kyle Terwillegar
Communications Assistant
kyle@ustfccca.org
(504) 599-8905

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