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Lady Tigers Track & Field Ranked No. 1

by Will Stafford (@WillStaffordLSU)
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Lady Tigers Track & Field Ranked No. 1

BATON ROUGE – With the 2010 regular season in the books and the championship season just over two weeks away, the LSU women’s track and field team is poised to add to its trophy case as it has taken over the No. 1 ranking in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Top 25.

The Lady Tigers have taken the No. 1 ranking from Texas A&M in this week’s power ranking announced Tuesday afternoon after being ranked No. 2 a week ago.

The Tigers have also catapulted themselves near the top of the national rankings as they have moved up a total of seven spots to No. 2 in the country after being ranked No. 9 nationally a week ago. LSU is closing in on the No. 1 ranking on the men’s side currently held by Texas A&M.

LSU wrapped up its regular season in Philadelphia this past weekend where it competed in the 116th Penn Relays. The teams are now preparing for the start of the championship season on May 13-16 with a trip to Knoxville, Tenn., to compete in the 2010 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships that will be held at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium on the campus of the University of Tennessee.

LSU has been led in the 2010 outdoor season by the performance of its middle distance crew as the Tigers and Lady Tigers feature the nation’s No. 1-ranked performer in the 800-meter run.

Senior Richard Jones is the NCAA’s top-ranked half miler on the men’s side this spring with a top time of 1 minute 46.90 seconds, while fellow senior LaTavia Thomas ranks No. 1 on the women’s side with a top time of 2:01.40. The Lady Tigers also boast the nation’s No. 2 and No. 3 performers in the event as senior Kayann Thompson (2:03.54) and junior Brittany Hall (2:03.76) are ranked among the nation’s elite.

Senior Samantha Henry has also proven to be an NCAA title contender with her performance this outdoor campaign as she currently ranks No. 2 nationally in the 200-meter dash with a top time of 22.94w and No. 4 nationally in the 100-meter dash with a top time this spring of 11.18.

Other Lady Tigers who rank among the NCAA’s top-five in their events are junior Brittani Carter (6-0 ½) at No. 5 in the high jump and freshman Kimberlyn Duncan (22.96w) at No. 3 in the 200 meters.

In addition, the Lady Tigers have been outstanding in the relay events this season as they are ranked No. 2 in the country in both the 4×100 (43.25) and 4×400 (3:31.46) relays heading into the postseason.

Junior Walter Henning, who was named the College Men’s Individual Athlete of the Meet with his win in the hammer throw at the Penn Relays, is looking to add to his trophy case this postseason. The NCAA Indoor champion in the 35-pound weight throw is currently the No. 2-ranked hammer thrower outdoors as he enters the postseason with a personal best mark of 239-5.

Two Tigers also enter the postseason ranked No. 3 in the NCAA as sophomore Barrett Nugent has posted a time of 13.58 in the 110 hurdles and freshman Damar Forbes has jumped 25-10 ¾ in the long jump.

USTFCCCA Top 25 (as of April 27, 2010)

WOMEN
Team (Points) Last Week
1. LSU (371.04) 2
2. Texas A&M (299.05) 1
3. Oregon (271.37) 3
4. Oklahoma (224.57) 7
5. Virginia Tech (170.48) 9
6. Clemson (160.52) 20
7. Florida (153.44) 5
8. Auburn (145.68) 13
9. Miami, Fla. (145.32) 14
10. Florida State (137.73) 4
11. UTEP (136.79) 10
12. Texas Tech (127.97) 35
13. Arkansas (123.08) 18
14. Nebraska (116.51) 16
15. Penn State (115.15) 6
16. Texas (113.06)
17. Southern California (112.37) 11
18. North Carolina (104.73)
19. South Carolina (100.00) 23
20. Stanford (98.58) 22
21. UCLA (98.44) 26
22. BYU (97.75) 12
23. Southern Illinois (95.09) 34
24. New Mexico (95.04) 30
25. Illinois (93.16) 24

MEN
Team (Points) Last Week
1. Texas A&M (285.02) 2
2. LSU (270.55) 9
3. Florida (268.23) 1
4. Arizona State (201.08) 7
5. Auburn (192.19) 8
6. Texas Tech (188.22) 5
7. Southern California (186.55) 6
8. Florida State (178.36) 4
9. Oregon (173.75) 3
10. Ole Miss (168.94) 14
11. Oklahoma (164.29) 12
12. Mississippi State (145.64) 10
13. BYU (137.46) 21
14. South Carolina (136.94) 11
15. Georgia (116.20) 42
16. Arkansas (109.07) 17
17. Virginia Tech (102.60) 18
18. North Carolina (100.22) 30
19. Kansas State (100.10) 22
20. Nebraska (96.84) 13
21. Baylor (94.51) 16
22. Stanford (94.50) 29
23. Kansas (90.27) 26
24. Penn State (89.25) 41
25. Washington (88.69) 31