Less than a month removed from an eighteenth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, the USF women's track and field team now shifts to the outdoor season. The Cougars found out on Tuesday they will enter the season ranked No. 18 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's preseason power rankings.
Lincoln University (Mo.) is ranked No. 1 and is followed by Adams State, Grand Canyon, Grand Valley State and Johnson C. Smith University.
Ahead of USF in the rankings is No. 6 University of Mary, who won their third straight NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championship and finished ninth at the NCAA D-II Indoor Championships. Other NSIC schools that earned preseason rankings are Augustana College (14th), Wayne State (17th) and NSIC runner-up Winona State (24th).
This preseason recognition comes well deserved after strong performances for USF at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. The women finished 18th courtesy of scoring results from Brigitte Gross (4th in pole vault), Kayla Coffee (6th in pole vault) and Jazzelena Black (5th in long jump).
In all, six USF women competed at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championships and five will be returning for the 2013 outdoor season. Junior pole vaulter Chelsey Schenavar suffered a dual ACL injury on a vaulting attempt at the championships.
The USTFCCCA compiles its annual preseason power rankings using the seasonal-best performances of each returning athlete on each Division II team.
USF kicks off the outdoor season this weekend at the Wayne State Multi-Events.
