Women Ranked Record-High No. 2, Men 14th

SEATTLE – The Husky women’s track and field team got a sign of just how impressive its start to the season has been, as Washington comes in at a program-high No. 2 nationally in the first national rankings of the indoor season. The UW men’s team also opened up at an impressive No. 14 overall.
 

The indoor rankings are compiled by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and are comprised of a Ratings Index that is based only on current season qualifying marks, that then gives weighted points to athletes or relays ranked near the top of their events.
 
The Washington women currently have eight marks ranked in the top-10 nationally of specific events, and six more in the top-25. The team’s mid-distance athletes are accounting for a large share of the point total.
 
Anna Gibson ranks third nationally in the mile, fifth in the 800-meters, and also is 11th in the 3,000-meters. Sophie O’Sullivan is sixth in the mile and seventh in the 800-meters. Carley Thomas ranks fifth in the mile, Madison Heisterman is eighth in the mile and 19th in the 800-meters, and freshman Chloe Foerster is 17th in the mile, giving the Huskies five women in the top-17 of the mile lists.
 
Also in the top-10 nationally are new pole vaulters Sara Borton and Nastassja Campbell. They are tied for eighth with their 14-0 ½ clearances from the UW Indoor Preview. UW also has two women in the top-25 nationally right now in the shot put. MaKayla Kelby is 17th and redshirt freshman Kaia Tupu-South is 24th.
 
The men’s team, at No. 14, is led by the NCAA-leading mark of Kieran Lumb in the 3,000-meters, the school record of 7:43.27 he set at the Preview. Brian Fay ranks fifth in the 5,000-meters with yet another UW school record of 13:16.77 that he ran back in December. Nathan Green is sixth in the mile with his 3:58.27 PR
 
Newcomer Jacob Englar sits 11th in the pole vault after his Husky debut, with another new transfer, Aidan Ryan, also ranked 8th in the 3,000-meters. A third new Dawg, Prestin Artis, is 20th in the long jump with his 25-foot leap from the home opener.
 
Washington will look to put a whole lot more marks high up the national lists this weekend when it returns…