Colorado State University Athletics
Rams’ men enter indoor season with program-best No. 6 ranking from USTFCCCA
1/10/2018 1:16:00 PM | Track & Field
Rams earn program’s best ranking after finishing the 2016-17 indoor season at No. 12, the program’s highest national finish
NEW ORLEANS -- The Colorado State men's track & field team will enter the 2017-18 indoor season with its highest ranking in program history, as the Rams were tabbed No. 6 in the nation in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track & Field National Team Rankings. The organization's preseason rankings were released on Wednesday.
Colorado State's preseason No. 6 ranking is its highest in either indoor or outdoor track & field. Each of those previous highs were set last year, as the Rams rose to No. 8 during the 2016-17 indoor season and as high as No. 11 during the 2017 outdoor season. CSU looks to build upon last year's No. 12 national finish, its best all-time for any indoor season.
The USTFCCCA's computer rankings assign points totals to individual student-athletes based upon how that athlete's marks and times stack up this season as well as how they rank based upon historical data. Those points totals for those individual student-athletes are tallied to reach the respective team's points total for that week's rankings. For preseason rankings, current season bests as well as previous career bests are considered. The purpose of the computer rankings is to project how a team could finish at the NCAA Championships.
Colorado State's historic 2016-17 indoor season was led by now-senior Mostafa Hassan, who won CSU's first NCAA title in any sport since 2005 with his national crown in the indoor shot put. Hassan, a four-time First-Team All-American, had a best mark of 69-10.75 (21.30m) last season, which ranks as the best in Mountain West history, CSU history and 10th in NCAA history. The Cairo, Egypt native finished the 2016-17 indoor season with not only the best shot put mark in the NCAA, but also the No. 4 mark in the world.
Distance athletes Grant Fischer and Cole Rockhold also play major factors in the Rams' ranking. Fischer, a senior and two-time All-American, ranks second in program history in the indoor 5,000 meters and finished ninth nationally in the event last season. Rockhold, who was a cross country All-American this past season, earned First-Team All-America honors in the 3,000 meters last year with a sixth-place NCAA finish. Rockhold ranked 89th in the world in the 3,000 meters last season.
Combined events athletes Hunter Price and Nick Kravec are also major contributors to the Rams' points total. Price earned First-Team All-America honors in the heptathlon last year with a No. 4 NCAA finish, the highest by any heptathlete in Mountain West history. Price scored 5,996 points at the national meet, a Mountain West and CSU record. Kravec opened the 2017-18 indoor season with a score of 5,507 (5,548 when converted for track size) at the CSM Alumni Classic & Multi, placing him fifth in program history. Kravec was recently named Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Men's Field Athlete of the Week.
Jalen Hunter, the reigning Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Men's Track Athlete of the Week, rounds out Rams considered in the rankings, as his time of 7.91 in the 60-meter hurdles (converted from 7.31 in the 55-meter hurdles for distance and altitude) ranks 33rd of any active NCAA athlete. Price's 60-meter hurdles time of 7.88 was also included, and ranks 28th among active NCAA athletes.
After just over a month away from competition, the Colorado State track & field team will return to action at the Potts Invitational in Boulder, Colo. The meet is held from the CU Indoor Practice Facility, and will take place on Friday and Saturday.
Colorado State's preseason No. 6 ranking is its highest in either indoor or outdoor track & field. Each of those previous highs were set last year, as the Rams rose to No. 8 during the 2016-17 indoor season and as high as No. 11 during the 2017 outdoor season. CSU looks to build upon last year's No. 12 national finish, its best all-time for any indoor season.
The USTFCCCA's computer rankings assign points totals to individual student-athletes based upon how that athlete's marks and times stack up this season as well as how they rank based upon historical data. Those points totals for those individual student-athletes are tallied to reach the respective team's points total for that week's rankings. For preseason rankings, current season bests as well as previous career bests are considered. The purpose of the computer rankings is to project how a team could finish at the NCAA Championships.
Colorado State's historic 2016-17 indoor season was led by now-senior Mostafa Hassan, who won CSU's first NCAA title in any sport since 2005 with his national crown in the indoor shot put. Hassan, a four-time First-Team All-American, had a best mark of 69-10.75 (21.30m) last season, which ranks as the best in Mountain West history, CSU history and 10th in NCAA history. The Cairo, Egypt native finished the 2016-17 indoor season with not only the best shot put mark in the NCAA, but also the No. 4 mark in the world.
Distance athletes Grant Fischer and Cole Rockhold also play major factors in the Rams' ranking. Fischer, a senior and two-time All-American, ranks second in program history in the indoor 5,000 meters and finished ninth nationally in the event last season. Rockhold, who was a cross country All-American this past season, earned First-Team All-America honors in the 3,000 meters last year with a sixth-place NCAA finish. Rockhold ranked 89th in the world in the 3,000 meters last season.
Combined events athletes Hunter Price and Nick Kravec are also major contributors to the Rams' points total. Price earned First-Team All-America honors in the heptathlon last year with a No. 4 NCAA finish, the highest by any heptathlete in Mountain West history. Price scored 5,996 points at the national meet, a Mountain West and CSU record. Kravec opened the 2017-18 indoor season with a score of 5,507 (5,548 when converted for track size) at the CSM Alumni Classic & Multi, placing him fifth in program history. Kravec was recently named Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Men's Field Athlete of the Week.
Jalen Hunter, the reigning Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Men's Track Athlete of the Week, rounds out Rams considered in the rankings, as his time of 7.91 in the 60-meter hurdles (converted from 7.31 in the 55-meter hurdles for distance and altitude) ranks 33rd of any active NCAA athlete. Price's 60-meter hurdles time of 7.88 was also included, and ranks 28th among active NCAA athletes.
After just over a month away from competition, the Colorado State track & field team will return to action at the Potts Invitational in Boulder, Colo. The meet is held from the CU Indoor Practice Facility, and will take place on Friday and Saturday.
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Multis, Jumps
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Multis
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