BATON ROUGE — Both LSU men’s and women’s track teams begin the season among the nation’s elite, as the Lady Tigers were tabbed No. 2 and the Tigers are tied for seventh in the preseason Trackwire 25 rankings, released Wednesday.
The SEC dominates the top of the women’s standing as Tennessee claimed the No. 1 spot with 59 points. LSU follows with 50 points. Florida (47), South Carolina (38) and UCLA (37) round out the top five.
In the men’s standings, Arkansas is the preseason No. 1 with 67 points. Florida and Michigan are tied at No. 2 with 34 points each. Indiana (33) and Texas (29) follow in fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the individual event rankings, the Tigers and Lady Tigers have a combined nine athletes and two relay team listed among the nation’s top 12.
Freshman sprint sensation Ashley Owens has yet to step on the track in the purple and gold, but holds down the nation’s No. 1 position in the 60-meter dash as well as the No. 2 spot in the 200 meters.
Seniors Hazelann Regis and Neisha Bernard-Thomas are ranked second in the 400 meters and 800 meters, respectively, while sophomore Tina Harris is fourth in the long jump, senior RaNysha LeBlanc is eighth in the 60-meter hurdles and freshman Deonna Lawrence is 12th in the 400 meters.
Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers hold down No. 1 rankings in the 4×400-meter relay. Junior Kelly Willie, who is again expected to anchor the Tiger relay, also returns as the country’s top-ranked quartermiler.
Freshman Xavier Carter joins Willie in the 400-meter rankings as No. 9, while senior Willie Bradley is listed at No. 3 in the triple jump.
LSU, the men’s and women’s defending indoor national champions, begin the 2005 campaign Saturday when they host the Purple Tiger Invitational at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse. Field events begin at 9:30 a.m. and are followed by the running events at 11 a.m.
Women’s Trackwire 25
1. Tennessee 59
2. LSU 50
3. Florida 47
4. South Carolina 38
5. UCLA 37
6. Texas 32
7. Stanford 31
8. Nebraska 30
9. Michigan 24
10. Notre Dame 20
11. Arizona State 19
12. BYU 17
12. Kansas State 17
14. Villanova 16
15. North Carolina 15
16. Cal Poly 14
17. Arizona 12
18. Georgia Tech 10
18. NC State 10
20. Duke 9
20. Colorado 9
20. Miami 9
20. Florida State 9
24. California 8
24. Northern Arizona 8
24. Mississippi 8
24. Clemson 8
Men’s Trackwire 25
1. Arkansas 67
2. Florida 34
2. Michigan 34
4. Indiana 33
5. Texas 29
6. Oregon 28
7. LSU 26
7. Tennessee 26
7. Wisconsin 26
10. BYU 23
11. Arizona State 20
12. Stanford 17
13. Auburn 16
14. Nebraska 15
15. Arizona 14
15. East Carolina 14
15. Wyoming 14
18. UCLA 13
18. USC 13
20. Texas Tech 12
20. TCU 12
22. Mississippi 11
23. Missouri 10
23. Virginia Tech 10
23. Purdue 10
23. Georgia 10