BATON ROUGE – After receiving a combined 20 entries into the 2012 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships by the NCAA Selection Committee on Monday night, the Lady Tigers are ranked No. 3 and the Tigers are ranked No. 4 in the final national Top 25 power ranking of the indoor season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
The Lady Tigers moved up one spot to No. 3 in the final women’s power ranking published Tuesday after tying No. 1-ranked Oregon for a national-leading 12 entries into the NCAA Indoor Championships slated to run Friday and Saturday at the Jacksons Indoor Track in Nampa, Idaho.
The Lady Tigers will compete in nine different events this weekend as they are among the title contenders after earning a third-place finish in the final team standings in each of the last two seasons.
Among the Lady Tigers to qualify for the NCAA Indoor meet include senior Rebecca Alexander (400 meters), senior Rachel Laurent (pole vault), senior Cassandra Tate (400 meters), junior Kimberlyn Duncan (60 meters, 200 meters), junior Shanekia Hall (60 hurdles), junior Charlene Lipsey (800 meters), junior Takeia Pinckney (60 meters), sophomore Denise Hinton (weight throw), sophomore Lynnika Pitts (triple jump), sophomore Jasmin Stowers (60 hurdles) and LSU’s 4×400-meter relay team.
The Tigers held their position at No. 4 in the final men’s NCAA power ranking of the 2012 indoor season after receiving eight total entries into the national meet this weekend.
The Tigers will compete in six different events during the meet as they are a trophy contender signifying a top-four finish after earning a fourth-place finish in the team standings in each of the last four seasons.
LSU’s NCAA Championships qualifiers for the men’s side include senior Kyron Blaise (long jump, triple jump), senior Michael Lauro (weight throw), senior Barrett Nugent (60 hurdles), junior Caleb Williams (400 meters), junior Damar Forbes (long jump, triple jump) and the 4×400-meter relay team.
USTFCCCA Top 25
Women
Team (Points) Last Week
1. Oregon (160.70) 1
2. Arkansas (153.75) 2
3. LSU (135.34) 4
4. Clemson (129.85) 3
5. Texas A&M (107.59) 5
6. Kansas (96.96) 6
7. Florida (88.05) 7
8. California (74.34) 8
9. Texas (59.84) 18
10. Washington (58.64) 10
11. Southern Illinois (56.13) 12
12. Arizona (54.06) 13
13. BYU (53.64) 9
14. Iowa State (52.25) 15
15. Central Florida (51.36) 14
16. Stanford (49.26) 11
17. TCU (47.02) 19
18. Tennessee (46.02) 16
19. Ohio State (42.25) 17
20. Auburn (40.16) 25
21. Georgetown (38.79) 21
22. Georgia (38.16) 22
23. Baylor (37.16) 34
24. Wisconsin (36.15) 24
25. Connecticut (35.60) 35
Men
Team (Points) Last Week
1. Florida (183.52) 1
2. Arkansas (139.68) 2
3. Texas A&M (103.43) 3
4. LSU (102.62) 4
5. Arizona (99.00) 5
6. Mississippi State (94.86) 12
7. Texas (89.34) 6
8. Minnesota (82.62) 9
9. BYU (81.11) 8
10. Arizona State (78.43) 7
11. Virginia Tech (73.98) 11
12. Florida State (71.46) 16
13. Stanford (67.71) 10
14. Indiana (60.95) 13
15. Ohio State (55.57) 17
16. Kansas State (52.78) 15
17. Georgia (47.25) 14
18. Auburn (43.13) 19
19. Nebraska (34.71) 18
20. Ole Miss (33.39) 21
21. NC State (33.10) 22
22. Wisconsin (32.09) 31
23. Illinois (30.08) 27
24. Penn State (29.89) 32
25. Oregon (29.83) 20