Dudley?s Men Remain In Top 15 In Latest Track Rankings
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After staying at No. 13 for the past two weeks, the Mississippi State men’s track and field team dropped one spot to 14th in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Poll released Tuesday.
“We are giving consistent performances,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “Our athletes have been working hard, and this weekend’s meet at Ole Miss will be a great opportunity to show off their dedication. This team has the ability to finish Top 10 in the nation.”
The Bulldogs claim a handful of the country’s best athletes, as junior Marcus Jackson is the second-ranked high jumper in the NCAA, and senior sprinters Nathan Arnett and Daundre Barnaby are ranked among the Top 15 in their respective events. Barnaby’s 400-meter dash time of 46.32 seconds at the Crimson Tide Invitational gives him the 13th-fatest time in the country, while Arnett boasts the No. 25 spot in the 100-meter hurdles (13.94) and No. 14 spot in the 400-meter hurdles (51.19).
Just a freshman, Scottie Hearns follows directly behind Arnett’s ranking in the 400-meter hurdles, grabbing the 15th-best time in the NCAA (51.27). Meanwhile, Tavaris Tate, Brandon McBride, Barnaby and Randy Patterson hold time of 3:05.35 in the 4x400-meter relay, a time that ranks sixth collegiately.
MSU hits the road this weekend, traveling to its rival’s territory. Action Saturday in Oxford will begin at 9 a.m. as Ole Miss hosts the Mississippi Open.
USTFCCCA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Rankings (April 16, 2013)
1. Texas A&M
2. Arkansas
3. Florida
4. Oregon
5. Florida State
6. Texas
7. Auburn
8. Southern California
9. Wisconsin
10. LSU
11. Mississippi
12. Georgia
13. UCLA
14. Mississippi State
15. Penn State
16. Texas Tech
17. Oklahoma
18. Arizona State
19. Indiana
20. Nebraska
21. Kansas State
22. Arizona
23. Oklahoma State
24. Minnesota
25. Baylor