Men's Track and Field No. 3 in the indoor preseason rankings
Jan. 9, 2013 The Men's Track and Field team was No. 3 in the preseason indoor national team rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Longhorns finished seventh at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships and were ranked third in last year's USTFCCCA's John McDonnell Men's Program of the Year award standings. Texas, led by 18th-year head coach coach Bubba Thornton, returns a number of key performers. The throws unit will be led by three-time first team All-American Hayden Baillio and three time All-American Ryan Crouser. The Horns also have a strong pole vaulting unit. Senior Maston Wallace is a three-time All-American, Hayden Clark qualified for the NCAAs in 2010 and Mark Thomas is a four-time All-Big 12 honoree. Senior hurdler Keiron Stewart is a four-time All-American who will be looked upon to lead a young, but talented sprint/hurdles group. Many of the distance runners competed for the cross country team in the fall which ended the year with a ninth-place finish at nationals. Junior Ryan Dohner was an All-American in cross country as well as during the 2012 outdoor season. He has also earned all-league honors six times. Senior Patrick McGregor has earned five All-Big 12 honors, including four during the last two indoor seasons in the 1,000 meters and mile.
Some transfers should help improve the distance depth. Austin Bussing was an All-Big 12 performer at Kansas and Kyle Merber earned All-Ivy League honors at Columbia. Texas opens the season Friday when it travels to Fayetteville, Ark., to face Arkansas which is No. 1 in the preseason rankings. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m CST. |
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