Sooner Women Fourth in Dual Rankings

NORMAN – Riding a 3-0 record built during the 2017 indoor season and continuing its strong showings in the early portions of the outdoor season, the Oklahoma women maintained their grasp on the fourth spot in week 3 of the Track and Field News national dual meet rankings. The strong showings included winning the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational last Saturday.

Louisiana State continued to be ranked as the top women's team in the dual rankings. Texas A&M remained second ranked and Penn State jumped from eighth to third. That was the only significant upward move. Minnesota, the top-ranked team at the end of the indoor season and through the first week of the outdoor season, dropped to sixth from third in week 3. That downward move for the Gophers set up the Sooners to move to the top spot in the Midwest Regional ranks.

The Sooners opened the 2017 season ranked 11^th, then jumped to third after beating long-time power Nebraksa on the Huskers' home track. The Sooners went to fourth in week 3 and stayed there for the final indoor ranking on Feb. 6. The first poll of the outdoor season, released March 28, saw OU move back up to third. The Sooners dropped to fourth in the April 4 poll.

The OU men, with a 1-2 dual record, are 25th in the national poll, 10th in the Midwest regional rankings.

To be ranked, a team must compete in one or more dual meets (defined as a scored meet between four or fewer teams). Rankings reflect a combined indoor/outdoor season. Teams are ranked on wins and losses, marks, and strength and depth of dual meet schedule. Teams are rewarded for taking dual meet competition seriously.

OU will send two distance runners, Brittany Tretbar and Eric Alldritt, to the Mt. SAC Relays, for a 10,000-meter race Thursday while the rest of the Sooners take a break from competition. OU hosts the John Jacobs Invitational April 21-22, the lone home meet of the outdoor season.