January 12, 2012
Indoor Track & Field Ranked in Division III Preseason Rankings
The USTFCCCA has compiled and released for the first time ever a preseason poll for Div. III indoor track & field and SUNYAC has two women’s teams and one men’s team ranked in the top 25.
The preseason rankings are based on a mathematical formula that uses current national descending order lists from early season performances. This data is coupled with performance data from the previous year, which gives a numerical value. This data will continue to make up the equation for in-season national rankings through the third ranking on Feb. 8. Regional rankings will be compiled based solely on in-season performances and results as reported to TFFRS, the official reporting site for the NCAA. The first regional ranking will be released on Jan. 25.
The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national-title race.
The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national-title race.
On the women’s side Buffalo State and Oneonta are ranked 21 and 22, respectively. The Bengals finished 19th at the Indoor Track & Field Championships last season, buoyed by a national championship in the 55-meter dash by then junior Erica Johnson. It was the first time a member of Buffalo State's women's team had ever captured a national title.
Johnson picked up right where she left off from last season in the Bengals' first meet of this year, running the fastest 60-meter dash time in the nation thus far, clocking 7.55 seconds. Senior Jessica Walker will also look to make a return trip to the national championships in the triple jump. She placed 10th in the event last season. Sophomore Jazmin Dunham, who was an outdoor All-American in the in the 4x100-meter relay and a national qualified in the 100-meter hurdles, will be joined by a host of talented freshmen to bolster the Bengals' lineup.
Oneonta has a trio of performers, two of which are currently in the top-8 in Div. III in their respective events. Senior Sarah Timmons and junior Kacy Boburka along with senior Lauren Brunetto were figured into Oneonta's point total of 32.79.
Timmons is currently 8th in the 20-lbs. weight throw with a personal best and school record distance of 16.68 meters (54'-8.75”). Timmons is the defending SUNYAC champion in the event. Boburka is currently 3rd in Div. III in the high jump at a height of 1.70 meters (5'-7”). Boburka is a returning All-American after finishing fourth at the 2011 NCAA championships in the event. Brunetto's points came from last year's 6th place finish in the 800 at the 2011 NCAA championships. She is a two-time All-American in the event and two-time defending SUNYAC champion in the event.
Johnson picked up right where she left off from last season in the Bengals' first meet of this year, running the fastest 60-meter dash time in the nation thus far, clocking 7.55 seconds. Senior Jessica Walker will also look to make a return trip to the national championships in the triple jump. She placed 10th in the event last season. Sophomore Jazmin Dunham, who was an outdoor All-American in the in the 4x100-meter relay and a national qualified in the 100-meter hurdles, will be joined by a host of talented freshmen to bolster the Bengals' lineup.
Oneonta has a trio of performers, two of which are currently in the top-8 in Div. III in their respective events. Senior Sarah Timmons and junior Kacy Boburka along with senior Lauren Brunetto were figured into Oneonta's point total of 32.79.
Timmons is currently 8th in the 20-lbs. weight throw with a personal best and school record distance of 16.68 meters (54'-8.75”). Timmons is the defending SUNYAC champion in the event. Boburka is currently 3rd in Div. III in the high jump at a height of 1.70 meters (5'-7”). Boburka is a returning All-American after finishing fourth at the 2011 NCAA championships in the event. Brunetto's points came from last year's 6th place finish in the 800 at the 2011 NCAA championships. She is a two-time All-American in the event and two-time defending SUNYAC champion in the event.
Geneseo is the one men’s team to be ranked and starts the poll at number six with 63.40 points. The Knights are led by middle-distance runners Eddie Novara and Chris Carter. Novara currently ranks second in Division III in the mile event while Carter is second in the 800 meters. Wenley Louis and Nwana Okafor should also keep Geneseo in the ranks with their performances in the long jump. Louis is tied for second in Division III with a distance of 7.18 meters and Okafor stands eighth.
