April 10, 2012

TUCSON - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) released the latest national and regional polls on Tuesday. In the national poll, the UA men dropped two spots to 14th while the women climbed one spot to No. 13. In the NCAA West Region, the men jumped two spots to No. 3 while the women stayed at No. 2.

In the men's national poll, Arizona is still joined by four other Pac-12 schools. Southern California fell three spots to No. 11, Arizona State climbed three spots to No. 7, Oregon jumped three spots to 13th and Stanford also climbed three spots to 16th. In the west region, the Pac-12 has nine teams in the top 10. Arizona State (No.1), Oregon (No.2), Arizona (No. 3), Southern California (No. 4), UCLA (No. 5), Washington State (No. 6), Stanford (No. 7), Washington (No. 9) and California (No. 10). In the mountain region, Colorado moved up two spots to seventh.

Arizona is accompanied by four other Pac-12 schools in the women's national poll. Oregon remains at No. 1, Southern California stayed at the No. 4 spot, Arizona State moved up to No. 15 and Stanford fell two spots to 22nd. In the west region, the Pac-12 has nine teams in the top 15. Oregon (No. 1), Arizona (No. 2), Arizona State (No. 3), Southern California (No. 4), Stanford (No. 5), Washington (No. 6), UCLA (No. 7), California (No. 8) and Washington State (No. 12). In the mountain region, Colorado is fourth and Utah is fifth.

The UA men have five marks that currently sit in the top-10 in the country. Sophomore Lawi Lalang 1,500 meters time of 3:41.65 at the Stanford Invitational sits at No. 5 in the country. Senior Stephen Sambu holds the best time in the country in the 5,000-meter run, clocking a time of 13:31.51 last weekend at the Stanford Invitational. Junior Edgar Rivera-Morales is tied for the second-best high jump mark in the country, clearing 7-4.5 (2.25m) at the Jim Click Shootout. Junior Nick Ross is tied for the fifth spot with a clearance of 7-3.25 (2.22m) at the Stanford Invitational. Freshman Jovon Cunningham's mark of 51-11.25 (15.83m) at the Jim Click Shootout sits at No. 10.

On the women's side, five Wildcats hold marks in the top 10. Junior Georganne Moline's mark of 56.02 at the Jim Click Shootout, a school record, is still the best time in the country for the 400-meter hurdles. Junior Jen Bergman's time of 33:10.87 in the 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational is No. 10 in the country. The quartet of sophomore Tamara Pridgett, senior Echos Blevins, senior Ariel Coleman and Moline have the eighth-best 4x400-meter relay time in the country, 3:34.37 set at the Jim Click Shootout. Reigning NCAA Outdoor Champion junior Brigetta Barrett holds the best mark in the country, 6-4.75 (1.95m), set at the Stanford Invitational. Junior Alyssa Hasslen's mark of 58-1 in the shot put (17.70m) at the Jim Click Shootout remains the second-best mark in the country.

Arizona will return to the track on April 19 in Walnut, Calif., for the Mt. SAC Relays.