AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas men's track and field squad sits atop two national track polls released this week on the strength of superior individual performances through the first half of the 2006 season.
Texas stands alone at the top in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) weekly ranking and is tied for the top spot with Florida State in the Trackwire (www.trackwire.com) poll.
The Longhorns earned their top spots based on projected individual finishes at next month's NCAA Championships at the University of Arkansas. Trackwire projects Texas to collect nine top-10 finishes, including six top-five placings.
UT senior Trey Hardee (Birmingham, Ala.) and junior Donovan Kilmartin (Eagle, Idaho), the nation's only NCAA automatic qualifiers in the heptathlon to this point, are projected to finish one and two in the event by Trackwire.
The web publication also calls for junior Andra Manson (Brenham, Texas) to take second in the high jump, senior Ronald Hill (Walnut, Calif.) to place fourth in the long jump and sophomore Leonel Manzano (Marble Falls, Texas) to take fourth in the mile. Texas' distance-medley relay team also has been tabbed to take fourth overall.
CBS to Televise Final Day of NCAA Outdoor Championships
The NCAA announced Monday that CBS Sports will air a live telecast of the final day of the NCAA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June. The network has televised portions of the championships annually since 1986, but this will mark the first time the network will televise the event live. The broadcast is scheduled for Saturday, June 10 from 12-2:30 p.m. CDT. The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships begin on Wednesday, June 7 at the A.G. Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento, Calif.
Longhorns Hold Nine Top-10 National Marks
Heading into this weekend's competitions at the Tyson Invitational and the Husky Invitational, Texas owns eight top-10 national marks. Leading the way for Texas are the aforementioned Hardee and Manson. After becoming the NCAA record holder last month at the New Mexico Multi-Events Meet, Hardee holds the top spot in the heptathlon with a score of 6,208 points. Manson, a two-time NCAA high jump champion, leads the nation with a top high jump of 7-5.75. The most recent NCAA heptathlon-record holder before Hardee took over, Kilmartin still owns the heptathlon record for an NCAA championship meet. He sits in second nationally, behind only his teammate, with a top score of 5,870 points. Hardee and Hill each own top-five long jump marks. Hardee's mark of 25-4.50 ranks him third nationally, while Hill's distance of 25-3.50 recorded at last weekend's New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York places him at the fifth spot. Hardee also ranks sixth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.81 seconds. Joining Hardee, Kilmartin, Manson and Hill in the top 10 are senior Quincy Boles (Harker Heights, Texas - 7th, 60 meters), freshman Jamaal Charles (Port Arthur, Texas - T7th, 60 meters) and senior Trey Griffin (Lockhart, Texas - T10, 60 meters).
Texas Counts Three NCAA Automatic Marks, 14 NCAA Provisional Qualifiers
UT figures to be represented prominently at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March at Fayetteville, Ark. The Longhorns have tallied three NCAA automatic-qualifying marks and 14 NCAA provisional-qualifying marks. Below is a list of all 18 qualifying marks.
NCAA Automatic Qualifiers
Trey Hardee, heptathlon (6,208)
Donovan Kilmartin, heptathlon (5,870)
Andra Manson, high jump (7-5.75)
NCAA Provisional Qualifiers
Quincy Boles, 60 meters (6.68)
Jamaal Charles, 60 meters (6.68)
Trey Griffin, 60 meters (6.71)
Trey Hardee, 60-meter hurdles (7.81); pole vault (17-4.75); long jump (25-4.50)
Raymond Harris, high jump (7-1.50)
Ronald Hill, 60 meters (6.72); long jump (25-3.50)
Jake Morse, 3,000 meters (8:01.57)
Matt Munoz, 3,000 meters (8:06.23)
Brian Robison, shot put (58-6.50)
Joe Thorne, 3,000 meters (7:59.25)
Dylan Wykes, mile (4:02.96 banked)
