UK Women’s Track and Field No. 2 in Initial Outdoor Rankings

EXINGTON, Ky. – Fresh off a strong start to the outdoor track and field season, the Kentucky women’s track and field team checked in at No. 2 in the initial outdoor season U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association computer rankings.

The UK men’s team checked in in the first outdoor rankings of 2017 right where they finished the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships: 22nd (more on the men later).

The women’s team’s No. 2 ranking is the best starting position the program has had in the rankings’ 10-year history. Kentucky started the 2016 outdoor season No. 9 and went on to finish 11th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The Wildcats have been ranked in the top-10 of the outdoor rankings in every week dating back to the 2014 preseason.

The Wildcats reached No. 1 during three weeks in 2016, and many of the marks from last season that contributed to that ranking were included in this week’s equation.

The USTFCCCA computer rankings are based on an algorithm, which was developed to serve as a close-to-comprehensive predictor of NCAA Championship finishes. The two biggest deviations from typical form charts, which only account for the top eight performers in a particular season, are a bonus for separation from the field and points for athletes ranked outside of the top eight on performance lists.

The preseason rankings take into account mostly outdoor performances from previous seasons.

The UK women’s team was ranked preseason No. 8 indoors and finished sixth at the NCAA Indoor Championships earlier this month.

The Wildcats start 2017 in the top-25 for the first time since opening up at No. 22 in 2015.

UK is led this season by Nick Anderson who claimed NCAA Silver in the 110m hurdles at NCAAs last year. Jacob Thomson placed sixth in the 10k.

Decathlete Tim Duckworth also appears to be in the form of his life coming off a record-setting indoor heptathlon season.

The Wildcats will continue the outdoor season this week at the Raleigh Relays.

The most up-to-date coverage of the UK track and field program is available via @KentuckyTrack handles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.