OU Men Ranked 17th

Dec. 20, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma men's indoor track and field team debuted at 17th in the preseason edition of the Division I men's indoor poll released Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

OU will look to continue its impressive rise in the Big 12 conference after finishing third in last year's indoor conference championship and winning its first conference title in 19 years in the outdoor championship, signaling a rapid rise to the top under head coach Martin Smith.

The Oklahoma indoor team opens 2008 with the pole vaulters in Reno, Nev., for the National Pole Vault Summit, Jan. 4-5. The first major event of the year is one week later as the team travels to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Arkansas Invitational on Jan. 11.

Oklahoma's indoor team will be lead by two-time indoor All-American Chip Heuser (pole vault) and the defending Big 12 60-meter champion in Marcus Pugh as it enters its third season under Smith.

The Sooners are one of seven Big 12 teams in the poll's top-25, ranking fourth of the conference teams. Baylor, Kansas and Nebraska lead the way, ranking 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively. Texas is 18th while Texas A&M and Missouri round out the group in 21st and 23rd, respectively.

Two-time defending outdoor champion Florida State is ranked first.

The USTFCCCA Division I indoor track and field rankings are compiled solely from NCAA descending order lists. The preseason rankings are based on the final descending order list of the previous season.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors