Menβs Track Ascends To No. 1 National Ranking
January 30, 2023 | Track & Field
SEATTLE β One week after the women's track team earned an all-time high No. 2 national ranking, the Husky men's track team climbed all the way to the top. For the first time in program history, Washington was ranked No. 1 today by the USTFCCCA in its National Ratings Index. Men's Indoor Track joins Men's Soccer as Husky programs ranked No. 1 in the 2022-23 year thus far.
Β
The National Ratings Index assigns points to individual athletes and relays based on their 2023 season-bests, with more points for athletes ranked higher up the lists. Washington's big weekend in the Dempsey, hosting the UW Invitational, positioned the Huskies for a jump to the top.
Β
After the No. 1-ranked Huskies, Texas Tech follows at No. 2, then No. 3 Arkansas, No. 4 Tennessee, and No. 5 Georgia complete the top-five.
Β
Head Coach Andy Powell said the team will enjoy the successes from last weekend and not concern itself with rankings.
Β
"It's still early and there are still a lot of teams that have yet to put all their cards on the table, and there is going to be more fluctuation," said Powell. "We also have some more events that will be keys for us in the coming weeks. But holding the No. 1 ranking is a stepping stone to being a factor at the national championships and that is the end goal."
Β
The Husky women's team fell to No. 15 this week despite getting the second-fastest mile in the NCAA this season from Anna Gibson (4:37.03 at altitude converting to 4:31.00) and getting the No. 6 800-meter time from Carley Thomas (2:03.64) and the seventh-best pole vault clearances from not one but two vaulters in Nastassja Campbell and Sara Borton (14-2 ΒΎ). Sophie O'Sullivan also clocked the No. 10 3k time (9:03.91) and Marlena Preigh went to 14th in the 800m (2:04.95).
Β
Washington was previously ranked a high of No. 2 during the 2008 season.
Β
Propelling UW up the rankings was the history-making mile from Friday night, where eight Huskies broke the four-minute mile barrier. The top four Huskies in that epic mile: Joe Waskom (3:51.90), Brian Fay (3:52.03), Nathan Green (3:52.76), and Kieran Lumb (3:53.83) now rank 1-4 nationally in the mile, with Luke Houser (3:55.98) ranking ninth.
Β
Another big addition to the Husky ranking points came from Cass Elliott, who broke the 800-meter school record in 1:47.22, going to fourth nationally. Jacob Englar also moved to 10th nationally in the pole vault on Saturday, making a PR of 18-1 ΒΌ.
Β
The National Ratings Index assigns points to individual athletes and relays based on their 2023 season-bests, with more points for athletes ranked higher up the lists. Washington's big weekend in the Dempsey, hosting the UW Invitational, positioned the Huskies for a jump to the top.
Β
After the No. 1-ranked Huskies, Texas Tech follows at No. 2, then No. 3 Arkansas, No. 4 Tennessee, and No. 5 Georgia complete the top-five.
Huskies on top! Washington sits atop the first edition of the @USTFCCCA DI Men's Indoor Track & Field rankings. ?????
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) January 30, 2023
1? @UWTrack
2? @TexasTechTF
3? @RazorbackTF
4? @Vol_Track
5? @UGATrack
6?-2?5? https://t.co/mAKlyDsDy7#NCAATF pic.twitter.com/QVEVL5l4ix
Β
Head Coach Andy Powell said the team will enjoy the successes from last weekend and not concern itself with rankings.
Β
"It's still early and there are still a lot of teams that have yet to put all their cards on the table, and there is going to be more fluctuation," said Powell. "We also have some more events that will be keys for us in the coming weeks. But holding the No. 1 ranking is a stepping stone to being a factor at the national championships and that is the end goal."
Β
The Husky women's team fell to No. 15 this week despite getting the second-fastest mile in the NCAA this season from Anna Gibson (4:37.03 at altitude converting to 4:31.00) and getting the No. 6 800-meter time from Carley Thomas (2:03.64) and the seventh-best pole vault clearances from not one but two vaulters in Nastassja Campbell and Sara Borton (14-2 ΒΎ). Sophie O'Sullivan also clocked the No. 10 3k time (9:03.91) and Marlena Preigh went to 14th in the 800m (2:04.95).
Β
Washington was previously ranked a high of No. 2 during the 2008 season.
Β
Propelling UW up the rankings was the history-making mile from Friday night, where eight Huskies broke the four-minute mile barrier. The top four Huskies in that epic mile: Joe Waskom (3:51.90), Brian Fay (3:52.03), Nathan Green (3:52.76), and Kieran Lumb (3:53.83) now rank 1-4 nationally in the mile, with Luke Houser (3:55.98) ranking ninth.
Β
Another big addition to the Husky ranking points came from Cass Elliott, who broke the 800-meter school record in 1:47.22, going to fourth nationally. Jacob Englar also moved to 10th nationally in the pole vault on Saturday, making a PR of 18-1 ΒΌ.
Players Mentioned
PV
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
Spr/Hur
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & FieldRaising the Bar | Hana & Amanda Moll
Monday, August 04
Women's 1500m final - 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field championship
Sunday, June 15
Nathan Green | 2025 NCAA 1500m Champion
Saturday, June 14
Track & Field NCAA Championships | Huskies Highlights
Friday, June 13
