April 24, 2012

TUCSON - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) released the latest national poll on Tuesday. The men's squad moved up one spot to No. 13 and the women climbed five spots to No. 8 in the country.

In the men's national poll, Arizona is accompanied by four other Pac-12 schools. Arizona State jumped five spots to No. 3. USC also climbed five spots; they now sit at No. 6. Stanford fell one spot to No. 18 and Oregon dropped nine spots to No. 22.

On the women's side, four Pac-12 schools join Arizona in the national poll. Oregon fell four spots to No. 5 and Arizona State climbed six spots to No. 10. Stanford stayed at the 20th spot and USC dropped 20 spots to No. 24.

The Arizona men have six marks that currently sit in the top 10 in the country. Sophomore Lawi Lalang's time of 3:41.65 in the 1,500-meter run is the eighth-best time in the country. Lalang also has the No. 2 time in the 5,000 meters, clocking a personal-best time of 13:18.88 last weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays. Senior Stephen Sambu has the fourth-best time in the 5,000 meters; he ran 13:31.51 at the Stanford Invitational.Sambu holds the No. 1 time in the country for the 10K, his time of 28:06.16 is currently the second-best time in the world. Juniors Nick Ross and Edgar Rivera-Morales are tied for the second-best mark in the country. They both have cleared 7-4.50 (2.25m) in the high jump.

On the women's side, Arizona holds six marks that sit in the top 10. Junior Jen Bergman holds the No. 10 time in the country in the 10,000 meters; she ran the race at 33:10.87. Junior Georganne Moline holds the top spot in 400-meter hurdles, her school-record time of 55.25 is also the No. 2 time in the world. Arizona's 4x400-meter relay team of sophomore Tamara Pridgett, senior Echos Blevins, senior Ariel Coleman and Moline hold the No. 10 time in the country, 3:34.37. Junior Brigetta Barrett holds the top high jump mark in the country, her clearance of 6-4.75 (1.95m) is also tied for the best mark in the world. Junior Alyssa Hasslen hold the top mark in the shot put, her personal-best toss of 60-2.5 (18.35m) is also the second-best mark in UA history. Senior Taylor Bush's school-record toss of 209-3 (63.78m) at the Mt. SAC Relays is the No. 8 mark in the country.

Arizona will return to the track on Saturday, April 28 at Roy P. Drachman Stadium to host the Arizona/Arizona State/Northern Arizona Double Dual.