New Orleans, LA --- The Worcester State men's track and field team has fallen three spots to #18 in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III computer rankings.
With 9.30 points seperating eight men's institutions in the poll, the Lancers sport an overall index rating of 44.65 points - just 2.09 off their sum from last week. They also fell just one spot in the New England regional rankings to fourth.
Among other schools in New England the Blue and Gold are behind Tufts (7th - 80.99), Southern Maine (9th - 67.77) and MIT (67.18) and ahead of Bowdoin (19th - 43.53), Bates (20th - 42.74) and Conn College (21st - 42.56).
The composite index is based on individual and relay results during the course of the season leading up to the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. Last week, the Lancers cracked the top 25 poll for the first time in program history since the rankings started during the 2010-11 season.
The men's track team maintained their top 20 ranking nationally due in large part to their solid performance this past weekend at the Open New England Championships. Six individuals are ranked among the top 50 in nationally and the 4x400 relay moved into the top 25 with a stellar time on Saturday.
Junior Terrence Gibson (Rockland, MA), who has been honored now five straight times as the ECAC Division III New England Track Athlete of the Week, sprinted to the fifth fastest time in Division III history in the 60 meter hurdles (7.99) for the top spot in the event at BU.
In the semifinals of the 200 meters on Saturday, Gibson moved up and tied for the 15th-best time in Division III (21.81) while his Division III New England record-breaking performance last weekend tied the second-best 60 meter split nationally (6.80) en route to USTFCCCA National Track Athlete of the Week accolades.
The 4x400 relay team of Gibson running third-leg, senior Ramses Rafael (Lawrence, MA) at leadoff, classmate Todd Paquin (Pelham, NH) second and junior Stephen Gannon (Foxboro, MA) moved into the 29th slot with a split of 3:22.37, which was the runner-up at the Division III New England Championships this past weekend.
The converted banked time (3:19.20) is actually 22nd nationally, factoring out other institutions who have qualified twice or more.
In the field, junior Jason Sliwoski (Leicester, MA) tallied a school-record 4,670 points for third overall at the Division III New England Championships. Heading into the last meet of the indoor campaign, Sliwoski ranked 28th nationally - just 715 points off of the national leader and 172 points off of the top 15.
The Lancers also have two student-athletes who are ranked in two of the three jumping events. Senior Andrew Johnson (Thompson, CT) and junior David Germain (Malden, MA) are 36th and 40th in the high jump, respectively.
Johnson set his mark at the BU Valentine Invitational (6-6.75/2.00 meters) as Germain, who started his indoor season late, captured the MASCAC Championship by clearing 6-6.25 (1.99m) in just his second meet of the year.
Junior Duy Truong (Worcester, MA/Doherty), who's ranked in two events, set a new standard by tying the 33rd longest long jump in Division III (22-9.25/6.94m) while Paquin is right behind in 45th (22-6.5/6.87m). Both put up their season-best performances at the Springfield Invitational on February 1.
Truong also put up the 47th fastest 60 meter hurdle split for a semifinals appearance in the event at the Open New Englands (8.41).
The top 15 individual times, heights, distances and point totals along with the top 12 4x400 and distance medley relay splits will make the field for the NCAA Indoor Championships starting on March 13.
With one weeks left in the indoor season, the Lancers will continue to make their push to try to qualify for the National indoor meet at the University of Nebraska. Select Lancers along with the 4x400 meter relay team will attempt to do just that at the ECAC Division III Championships hosted by Northeastern on Friday and Saturday at the famed Reggie Lewis Center.
USTFCCCA National Composite Index - Week 6 Poll
USTFCCCA Regional Rankings
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