Top 10 Ranking for Bulldogs in Latest USTFCCCA Poll

April 18, 2012

STARKVILLE, Miss. - In the third week of rankings by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Mississippi State finds itself ranked No. 10 behind current leader and SEC foe Florida.

The current poll, which is based on a combination of scores from previous and current seasons, finds the Bulldogs ranked inside the Top 25 in 11 events, while the Lady Bulldogs possess five Top 25 rankings.

"I have always said we have some of the best athletes in the nation competing here at MSU," coach Steve Dudley said. "Seeing them ranked in a multitude of individual categories and together as a team only reinforces that claim."

James Harris leads the way for the Bulldogs as he picked up four Top 25 rankings. Harris' highest ranking is his No. 8 spot in the high jump, where he is joined by teammate Marcus Jackson who is 17th. Harris (12th) then joins teammates Tavaris Tate (7th) and Daundre Barnaby (21st) for a trio of 400-meter dash rankings. Harris, Tate and Barnaby joined forces for a second time, this time adding a fourth in O'Neal Wilder for a third place spot in the 4x400-meter relay.

MSU's 4x100-meter relay team, which includes Harris, Tate, D'Angelo Cherry and Jarrett Samuels, picked up a 10th place ranking in their category, while members Cherry and Samuels each find themselves ranked in the Top 10 in their respective events. Cherry (9th) claims his ranking in the 100-meter dash, while Samuels is currently sixth in the long jump. A pair of hurdlers round out the Maroon and White Top 25 rankings, as Emanuel Mayers and Nathan Arnett are fourth and eighth respectively in the 400-meter hurdles.

Though not ranked as a team, the Lady Bulldogs found themselves with five individual Top 25 rankings. Keisha Wallace leads the way with her eighth place spot in the 100-meter hurdles, followed by Jody-Ann Muir who is No. 11 in the 400-meter dash. Rochelle Farquharson then picks up a 12th place ranking in the long jump, while Erica Bougard and Favian Cowards come in at 20th in the heptathlon and hammer throw respectively.

MSU returns to action at the Auburn Invitational April 20-21.

MSU Men's Rankings
100m Dash
9th D'Angelo Cherry

400m Dash
7th Tavaris Tate
12th James Harris
21st Daundre Barnaby

110m Hurdles
47th Nathan Arnett

400m Hurdles
4th Emanuel Mayers
8th Nathan Arnett

4x100m Relay
10th Tate, Cherry, Samuels, Harris

4x400m Relay
3rd Harris, Wilder, Barnaby, Tate

High Jump
8th James Harris
17th Marcus Jackson

Long Jump
6th Jarrett Samuels

Triple Jump
31st Jason Harper

Shot Put
37th Ed Wesela

MSU Women's Rankings
400m Dash
11th Jody-Ann Muir