Colorado State University Athletics
Rams' men climb to No. 12 in USTFCCCA national rankings
4/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
USTFCCCA Release
NEW ORLEANS -- The Colorado State men's track & field team has climbed four spots to No. 12 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Team Rankings. The organization released its week four rankings on Monday.
The Colorado State men are ranked by the USTFCCCA for the fourth week in a row after debuting in this season's rankings at No. 21 in week one. According to the USTFCCCA, the Rams' No. 12 ranking this week is their best outdoor ranking from the organization in program history. The Rams also reached No. 8 during the 2016-17 indoor season, their best indoor ranking in program history.
The CSU men's team is receiving 137.36 points from the USTFCCCA's computer rankings, well up from the team's 110.68 points last week and its 83.78 points in week two. CSU is the only Mountain West team to be ranked in the top 25 on either of the men's or women's sides, and is by far the highest ranked team outside of the "Power Five" conferences on either of the men's or women's sides (No. 18 BYU women). Among the teams that CSU passed this week were Oregon, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Stanford.
Prior to this week, the USTFCCCA had calculated its computer rankings based upon a formula that accounts for the top marks recorded this season and in prior seasons in some cases. Starting with this week, the USTFCCCA uses only current season data to calculate its rankings for the remainder of the season. Student-athletes garner greater amounts of points toward a team's total on the basis of higher rankings in their respective events and by how their marks and times stack up this season and historically.
The biggest contributor to CSU's points total continues to be Mostafa Hassan, whose shot put mark of 69-11 (21.31m) leads the nation by two and a half feet. In addition to holding the NCAA lead, the 2017 indoor national champion ranks fifth in the world in the shot put this outdoor season.
CSU's Jefferson Abbey continues to lead the nation in the 5,000 meters, as the Fort Collins, Colo., native clocked an NCAA-best time of 13:37.23 to finish as the top collegian at the Stanford Invitational in March. Jerrell Mock, who ranks third in the nation in the 10,000 meters, also contributes major points to CSU's team total with his time of 28:11.80 at the Stanford Invitational.
Grant Fischer also contributes to CSU's team total in the 10,000 meters, as his time of 28:45.83 ranks 10th in the nation. Each of Cole Rockhold (1,500 meters) and Hunter Price (decathlon) also rank eighth in the nation in their respective events to round out the men's team's top performers this season.
The Colorado State track & field team returns to action at a pair of meets this weekend. The Rams will compete at the Adidas/Steve Scott Invitational on Friday and Saturday, as well as at the Cowboy Open on Saturday.
