LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY TRACK AND FIELD PAGE
It's been nearly two months since the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its 2017-18 indoor preseason rankings for NCAA Division II.
The USTFCCCA's first regular-season rankings were released on Tuesday (Jan. 23) afternoon, and while Ashland University's men's team maintained its No. 3 position, the Eagle women vaulted 11 spots to No. 14 in the country.
Through the Youngstown State College Invite on Friday (Jan. 19), Ashland's men have 11 marks that would qualify for D-II indoor nationals, March 9-10 at Pittsburg State. Junior Myles Pringle is the top-ranked D-II men's athlete in the 200-meter dash (21.46 seconds), 400 dash (47.00 seconds) and high jump (2.15 meters/7-feet-0½), while sophomore Alex Hill is ranked No. 2 in the men's weight throw (21.00 meters/68-feet-10¾).
The Eagle women have seven marks which would qualify for indoor nationals, led by junior Natalie Helenthal, the No. 3-ranked weight thrower (19.59 meters/64-feet-3¼) in the nation.
Indoors since 2010, Ashland's men have been ranked in the top three on 40 occasions. This is the AU women's best indoor ranking since also being 14th in Week 3 of the 2016-17 campaign.
Ashland's men and women will split up for the Findlay Indoor Track & Field Classic & Elite Throws and Penn Nationals on Friday (Jan. 26) and Saturday (Jan. 27).
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