Jayhawk men crack top-10 of USTFCCCA rankings

Week 8 Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – For the first time in program history, the Kansas men’s track & field squad ranks among the top-10 teams in the nation as the weekly NCAA DI rankings were announced Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Jayhawks, who checked in at No. 10 this week, have been ranked no lower than 17th during the 2017 outdoor season and, prior to Monday, peaked at No. 11 on two occasions.
 
Kansas currently features seven athletes who sit among the top-25 in their respective events, which includes four Jayhawks who boast top-five marks. Freshman Gleb Dudarev holds the nation’s top hammer throw mark at 74.20 meters (243-5), which he posted en route to a Big 12 title in the event on May 12 at the league championship meet. Senior Mitch Cooper’s conference title-winning throw of 63.98 meters (209-11) in the discus has him ranked second in the NCAA. Kansas features two pole vaulters, senior Jake Albright and sophomore Hussain Al Hizam, who are tied for fifth in the NCAA DI rankings. Both have cleared a season-best bar of 5.60 meters (18-4½).
 
Those Jayhawks and many more will look to extend their seasons as they compete at the NCAA West Preliminary this week in Austin, Texas. The KU men feature 24 entries in the meet that will run May 25-27 inside Mike A. Myers Stadium. Those who advance past the preliminary rounds will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Outdoor Championships to be contested in Eugene, Oregon June 7-10.
 
 
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