Florida new No. 1 after claiming SEC title

NEW ORLEANS -- With the indoor regular season in the books, Florida is now the new top-ranked teams in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I National Team Computer Rankings released on Monday. The Gators moved past the four-time defending NCAA Indoor Champion Oregon Ducks.

Florida, the SEC champion (174.53), loaded up on season-best performances on its way to the conference title, with 14 new marks that crocked the individual event rankings. Chief among them was No. 3 Shayla Sanders at 60 meters and the No. 7 mile by Cory McGee.

The Gators haven’t won a women’s NCAA indoor title since 1992, with a runner-up showing in 2003.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Ducks (169.06) were conservative with their contingent to the MPSF meet, and recorded few season-best performances. No. 3 Texas A&M (155.21) also still looms well within striking distance.

Rounding out the women’s top five were No. 4 Georgia (121.67) – up three spots from last week – and No. 5 Arkansas (116.44).
Big 12 champion No. 6 Texas (108.76) and No. 7 Kentucky (99.23) both dropped a spot, while No. 8 Providence held firm.

New to the top 10 was No. 9 Maryland (71.35), which improved 17 positions from a week ago behind former National Athlete of the Week Thea LaFond’s top-10 marks in the pentathlon (No. 3) high jump (No. 6) and triple jump (No. 6).

Stanford (68.42) dropped one spot to complete the top 10.

Maryland wasn’t the only ACC team on the move: ACC champ No. 13 Florida State improved 14 slots, while No. 20 Miami (Fla.) was the biggest gainer with a 37-position jump.

Other notable improvements included No. 18 Alabama (up 13) and No. 23 Michigan State (up 14).