MSU Track & Field Men Ranked No. 13; Women No. 22
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Capturing eight wins at the Southern Miss Invitational this past weekend, both Mississippi State track and field teams moved up in the USTFCCCA rankings.
Moving up five spots from No. 18, the men’s team lands at 13th in the country, while the women move back into the Top 25 at No. 22.
“I’m glad going into the last meet of the season that both teams are receiving national attention,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “I’m hoping after this weekend we can continue to improve our program. There’s still a lot to do this season.”
In Hattiesburg, Miss., this weekend the men’s team was highlighted by a win from senior Tautvydas Kieras in the discus. With an MSU record-breaking throw of 196-11, Kieras’ throw ranks ninth nationally.
Boasting the third-best clearance in the nation currently is senior Marcus Jackson in the high jump. Jackson cleared a school record of 7-05.75 at the Florida Relays.
Junior Brandon McBride holds the third best time in the nation in the 800m run with a time of 1:46.28, which came earlier this season at the Mt. SAC Relays.
The MSU women’s team captured three wins at the Southern Miss Invitational, with junior Marta Freitas earning her first win of the season in the 1500m run with a time of 4:26.67. With the second-best time nationally in the event is Rhianwedd Price with a time of 4:11.67. Price also holds the 12th-best time in the 800m run with 2:05.00.
With a time of 10:04.03, distance runner Cornelia Griesche holds the nation’s ninth-best time in the steeplechase.
Erica Bougard currently holds the fifth best points in the heptathlon this season with 5,962. She is also 16th in the high jump with a clearance of 5-11.50 and 22nd in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.29.
Nine men’s teams and nine women’s teams are ranked in the SEC. Conference rival Texas A&M holds the No. 1 spot on the men’s team, while No. 1 on the women’s side is Southern California.
The Bulldogs are set to host the Jace LaCoste this Friday and Saturday at the Mike Sanders Track Complex. This will be the last regular season meet of the season.
For more information on the USTFCCCA rankings visit USTFCCCA.org and for additional information on the MSU track and field teams visit HailState.com and follow on Twitter (@HailStateTF).
Men’s Rankings:
1. Texas A&M
2. LSU
3. Florida
4. Southern California
5. Oregon
6. Texas Tech
7. Texas
8. Virginia
9. Alabama
10. Georgia
11. Baylor
12. Arkansas
13. Mississippi State
14. South Carolina
15. Penn State
16. BYU
17. Illinois
18. Tennessee
19. Clemson
20. Florida State
21. Syracuse
22. Villanova
23. TCU
24. Arizona
25. Akron
Women’s Rankings:
1. Southern California
2. Arkansas
3. Florida
4. Kentucky
5. Georgia
6. Oregon
7. Texas
8. LSU
9. Texas A&M
10. Kansas State
11. Baylor
12. Texas Tech
13. Michigan State
14. North Carolina
15. Clemson
16. Notre Dame
17. Kansas
18. Florida State
19. Virginia Tech
20. Alabama
21. Oklahoma State
22. Mississippi State
23. Oklahoma
24. Missouri
25. Michigan