Kentucky State’s Men’s Track Team ranked in Top 15
NEW ORLEANS – After over a month of competition, the first 2008 Men’s & Women’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Power Rankings were released this morning by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Kentucky State University of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was ranked 15 and is the only team from the South Region.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville opens up as the top-ranked team in Division II with 222.63 power points. The Cougars are led by junior thrower, Scott Block, who broke two school records at last week’s Eastern Illinois Mega Meet. The Hanover Park native is currently ranked fourth in the shot put with a throw of 57’3 ½” and second in the weight throw with a toss of 62’ ½”.
The Cougars, last year’s Great Lakes Valley Conference indoor champions, hope to improve upon last year’s performance at the NCAAs in which they finished 29th as a team. Coming in at number two this week in the first rankings of 2008 is Adams State College. Last year’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference indoor champs open up with 192.47 power points. The Grizzlies are led by junior thrower John Ybarra (ranked 2nd in the shot) and sprinter Corey Lenaris (10th in 60m dash).
Adams State finished fourth at last year’s Division II indoor championships.
Round out the top five are Lock Haven University, Grand Valley State (eighth at NCAAs in 2007) and East Stroudsburg University. UMASS-Lowell, Findlay, Lewis University, University of Mary and Concordia University-St. Paul complete the top ten.
The 2008 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships will be held March 14-15 at Myers Field House on the campus of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn.
East Stroudsburg University is the top-ranked women’s team but no SIAC teams nor any teams from the South Region were named to the list.
The 2008 Men’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Power Rankings
| Rank | School | Region | Points |
| 1. | Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville | Great Lakes | 222.63 |
| 2. | Adams State College | North Central | 192.47 |
| 3. | Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | East | 189.93 |
| 4. | Grand Valley State University | Great Lakes | 188.42 |
| 5. | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East | 188.04 |
| 6. | University of Massachusetts at Lowell | New England | 179.45 |
| 7. | University of Findlay | Great Lakes | 170.43 |
| 8. | Lewis University | Great Lakes | 162.66 |
| 9. | University of Mary | North Central | 159.79 |
| 10. | Concordia University, St. Paul | North Central | 155.73 |
| 11. | Saint Joseph’s College (Indiana) | Great Lakes | 152.88 |
| 12. | Hillsdale College | Great Lakes | 149.85 |
| 13. | Adelphi University | New England | 131.05 |
| 14. | Colorado School of Mines | North Central | 126.71 |
| 15. | Kentucky State University | South | 115.11 |
The 2008 Women’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Power Rankings
| Rank | School | Region | Points |
| 1. | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East |
184.53 |
| 2. | Lewis University | Great Lakes |
182.95 |
| 3. | Hillsdale College | Great Lakes |
181.55 |
| 4. | Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | East |
180.45 |
| 5. | Winona State University | North Central |
174.83 |
| 6. | Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville | Great Lakes |
174.14 |
| 7. | University of Mary | North Central |
172.61 |
| 8. | Adams State College | North Central |
172.36 |
| 9. | University of Findlay | Great Lakes |
171.77 |
| 10. | University of Massachusetts at Lowell | New England |
170.15 |
| 11. | Grand Valley State University | Great Lakes |
160.23 |
| 12. | Saint Joseph’s College (Indiana) | Great Lakes |
134.74 |
| 13. | Seton Hill University | East |
127.48 |
| 14. | Concordia University, St. Paul | North Central |
97.60 |
| 15. | Adelphi University | New England |
82.65 |