MSU Men's Track Team 12th In Preseason Poll; Cherry Tops 100m Dash
STARKVILLE, Miss. - As the Mississippi State Bulldogs compete on the national stage this week at the Texas Relays in Austin, they will do so as one of the top programs in the nation.
State's men's track and field team is ranked 12th in the USTFCCCA outdoor preseason poll, which was released on Wednesday.
"I'm happy with the ranking, but I know we have a lot more in us," head coach Al Schmidt said. "It gives a reason to show everybody where we should be."
SEC foe Florida has the No. 1 ranking, while Texas A&M and Oregon are No. 2 and No. 3. The SEC has eight teams ranked in the Top 25.
The Bulldogs did not reach the Top 25 in 2009 until their No. 23 ranking before the MidEast Regional Championships last May.
In addition to the team rankings, MSU had a number of athletes ranked in the Top 50 in their individual events. The Bulldogs had seven individuals and two relays in the preseason rankings, while the Lady Bulldogs had four individuals and two relays.
Sophomore D'Angelo Cherry is beginning the season with the No. 1 ranking in the 100-meter dash, while Tavaris Tate and Dwight Mulling are No. 3 and No. 6 in the 400-meter dash. Junior Emanuel Mayers sits at No. 7 in the 400-meter hurdles, and the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relays are No. 5 and No. 7. Triple jumper Kendrick Poullard is No. 44, and decathletes Martin Lee and Trevarus Christian are No. 36 and No. 48.
All-American Wendy Copeland is the highest preseason ranked Lady Bulldog, entering the preseason polls at No. 10 in the long jump. Senior LaQuinta Aaron is No. 15 in the heptathlon and No. 20 in the 100-meter hurdles. State's two 400-meter dash runners, Jody-Ann Muir and Crystal Wilson, are No. 35 and No. 42 respectively. The 4x100-meter relay team has a No. 48 preseason ranking and the 4x400-meter relay is No. 47.