🏃‍♀️ FHSU track and field continues to run in national ranks

NEW ORLEANS - Both Fort Hays State track and field teams are once again ranked in the top 20 in the latest USTFCCCA National Track and Field Rating Index, released Tuesday (Feb. 8). The Tiger men are 10th nationally this week, while the women are 19th in Division II.

The men picked up a total of 82.13 points in the ratings process thanks to 13 marks that rank in the top 40 this season in Division II. Ryan Stanley is now the national leader in the pole vault after breaking his own school record Saturday with a clearance of 17-1.75. Two other Tigers also rank in the top 11 in the pole vault, including Jacob Clark (sixth, 16-4.75) and Mark Faber (11th, 16-4). Philip Landrum is ranked in the top six in two sprints, including fourth in the 200m dash (21.29) and sixth in the 60m dash (6.73). Nolan Churchman's school-record heptathlon total of 5,304 is fifth-best in the country.

The women earned 48.41 marks from nine nationally-ranked marks, all of which are in the top 26. Lyric Holman is fifth in the 60m dash (7.50) and 13th in the 200m dash (24.64). Mattie Rossi is sixth in both the pentathlon (3,670) and the 60m hurdles (8.60). Taylor Savolt is ranked in the triple jump (10th, 40-0), pentathlon (3,508) and long jump (26th, 18-7.75). Alexandra Hart moved up to 13th in the high jump this week after clearing the 5-7 bar. Holman, Rossi and Savolt teamed up with Chloe Stanley to rank 11th in the 4x400m relay (3:51.23).

Additionally, the Tiger men are fifth in the latest regional rankings while the women are seventh. Both teams are fourth in the initial MIAA power rankings.

Six event squads are ranked in the top 10 nationally, including three from the men and three from the women. The men's pole vault has the top-ranked group in the country, while men's heptathlon is third and men's long jump is 10th. The women's pentathlon group is second, with the 60m hurdles squad coming in fifth and the high jump unit slotted eighth.

With just over two weeks to go before the MIAA Championships, the Tigers are scheduled to send athletes to a pair of meets this weekend (Feb. 11-12). Fort Hays State will compete at both the Indoor Gorilla Classic in Pittsburg, Kan. Friday and Saturday while also competing at the Ichabod Invite in Topeka, Kan. on Saturday.