UK No. 8 in Latest Directors’ Cup Standings

LEXINGTON, Ky. – UK Athletics is ranked No. 8 in the country in the updated standings of the Learfield Directors’ Cup released on Thursday, putting UK in contention for the best finish in the all-sport standings in school history.

UK is first among Southeastern Conference schools in the latest standings ahead of No. 14 South Carolina on the strength of an outstanding winter for the Wildcats. UK is third nationally with 420 points from winter sports behind strong finishes in rifle, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s indoor track and field, women’s swimming and diving, women’s basketball, men’s indoor track and field, and men’s swimming and diving. Only Ohio State and Stanford have scored more points than UK in winter sports.

To this point in the 2016-17 season, 12 of 13 teams that have completed their seasons have registered finishes that have contributed to UK’s Directors’ Cup total. Gymnastics will be added to that group when final winter standings are released later this month.

UK is also well positioned to sustain its pace in the spring. Five of UK’s eight spring teams are currently ranked, led by the No. 2 Wildcat women’s outdoor track and field team.

UK Athletics’ current Directors’ Cup record finishes of No. 11 nationally and third in the SEC came in 2013-14. UK is in the midst of a streak of five consecutive top-30 Directors’ Cup finishes.

UK’s current standing in the Directors’ Cup shows progress toward the goals set by Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart as part of 1-3-5 Elite. Barnhart is calling on the department to reach the top five of Directors’ Cup standings by the year 2022, as well as challenging each of UK’s teams to win a conference or national championship by the year 2022. Along with that, 1-3-5 Elite sets a goal of a department-wide GPA of 3.0 in every semester. UK has reached that threshold in nine consecutive semesters.