University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Track & Field Surges Up National Rankings
January 25, 2016 | Track & Field
NEW ORLEANS -- The Tennessee track and field men's and women's teams surged up the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Week 1 national team rankings, which were released by the USTFCCCA on Monday.
The Tennessee men made the leap to No. 8, moving up seven spots from No. 15 in the preseason rankings. The UT women are ranked at No. 12, making a 20-spot jump from No. 32 in the preseason rankings. The SEC leads all conferences with seven top 25 men's teams and eight top 25 women's teams.
The Tennessee men have six marks in the nation's top 10, including No. 2 marks in the 60 meters (Christian Coleman, 6.56), 200 meters (Coleman, 20.70), pole vault (Jake Blankenship, 5.45m/17-10.50) and weight throw (Cameron Brown, 22.36m/73-4.50). The UT women have nine marks in the nation's top 10, including the top two 200-meter times by Felicia Brown (22.88) and Kali Davis-White (23.23).
The Vols shined as the co-hosts of the Conference Clash Power Five Invitational on Jan. 22-23 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The Tennessee men posted nine top-five finishes and a win by Austin Whitelaw in the 3000 meters with a career-best time of 8:05.59. The Tennessee women tallied eight top-fives, including a school-record setting performance by Felicia Brown with a first-place and nation-leading 200-meter time of 22.88 and a win by Chelsea Blaase in the 3000 meters (9:24.83).
The Vols' men's team had seven personal bests. Coleman clocked an incredible 20.70 in the 200 meters, posting UT's fourth-fastest time and the fastest since Rubin Williams set the program mark of 20.36 in 2008. Nathan Strother posted a career-best 46.85 in the 400 meters, good for Tennessee's fourth-best in program history and its best since 2007. Whitelaw's 8:05.59 in the 3000 meters ranks seventh in school history and it was the Vols' fastest since 2006. Cameron Brown threw a season-best 22.36 meters (73-4.50) in the weight throw to post the nation's second-best distance.
The Tennessee women had six personal bests. Brown led the way with PRs in the 60 meters (7.30) and the 200 meters (22.88). Davis-White ran a 23.23 in the 200 meters, tying for the fifth-fastest mark in UT history. Felecia Majors posted a season-best time in the 400 meters at 53.70, which ranks ninth in the country.
Tennessee next competes in the Vanderbilt Invitational on Jan. 29-30 in Nashville at the Vanderbilt Multi-Purpose Facility.
Below is a list of Tennessee student-athletes or relay teams with marks that rank in the top 10 in the nation.
Tennessee In The Nation's Top 10
Men
60m: 2. Christian Coleman, 6.56
200m: 2. Christian Coleman, 20.70
400m: 9. Nathan Strother, 46.85
Distance Medley Relay: 6. Tennessee A - Zach Long, Darryl Harris, Antonio Carter, Austin Whitelaw, 9:49.44
Pole Vault: 2. Jake Blankenship, 5.45m (17-10.50)
Weight Throw: 2. Cameron Brown, 22.36m (73-4.50)
Women
60m: 6. Kali Davis-White, 7.28; 8. Felicia Brown, 7.30
200m: 1. Felicia Brown, 22.88; 2. Kali Davis-White, 23.23
400m: 9. Felecia Majors, 53.70
3000m: 6. Chelsea Blaase, 9:24.83
4x400m relay: 4. Tennessee E - Layla White, Felecia Majors, Kali Davis-White, Felicia Brown, 3:34.43; 8. Tennessee C - Layla White, Felecia Majors, Lenysse Dyer, Felicia Brown, 3:36.23
Shot Put: 7. Cassie Wertman, 16.89m (55-5.00)
