Gamecock Men’s and Women’s Track Ranked in Preseason Poll

Jan. 9, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina track and field programs will enter the 2009 indoor season with identical top 20 rankings in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason poll as the men’s and women’s teams are both ranked 16th by the organization.

The Gamecocks return 10 All-Americans in 2009, five each on the men’s and women’s squads. Of the returning All-Americans, Jason Richardson, Lakya Brookins, Porche’ Byrd and Brandi Cross each earned certificates during the indoor season. Richardson earned silver in the 60m hurdles at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships before winning gold during the outdoor season. The women’s mile relay took sixth at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Oregon is ranked first in the men’s preseason poll followed by Arizona State, Arkansas, Florida and Florida State. The Gamecocks are one of six SEC teams ranked in the men’s preseason top-25 as Arkansas (No. 3), Florida (No. 4) LSU (No. 8), Kentucky (No. 11) and Georgia (No. 20) all are nationally ranked.

Texas A&M is the top-ranked women’s squad, followed by LSU, Michigan, Tennessee and Florida State. South Carolina is one of seven SEC teams ranked in the women’s preseason top-25 as LSU (No. 2), Tennessee (No. 4), Arkansas (No. 11), Florida (No. 13), Kentucky (No. 22) and Alabama (No. 23) all are nationally ranked.

In 2009, the USTFCCCA rankings will be compiled using the NCAA Descending Order lists. The preseason rankings were scored using the final descending order list from the 2008 season, with improvements based on NCAA postseason competition and taking into account additions and deletions to each team’s roster.

South Carolina opens its indoor season Jan. 16-17 when it competes at the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington, Ky. The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held March 13-14 at College Station, Texas.