Coming off an Indoor National Championship the University of Arkansas men’s track and field team will begin its 2013 outdoor season as the No. 2 team in the country according to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason poll.
The Razorbacks are one of eight teams from the SEC in the preseason top 25, and one of five in the top 10. The SEC leads the country with its eight entries in this week’s poll. Arkansas is joined in the preseason rankings by top-ranked Texas A&M, No. 3 Florida, No. 5 Auburn, No. 10 LSU, No. 11 Ole Miss, No. 14 Mississippi State and No. 24 Georgia. Preseason projections are based on marks for the 2012 outdoor season and the early portions of the 2013 season.
Individually, Arkansas has 12 top-10 event rankings including No. 1 spots for Andrew Irwin in the pole vault and Raymond Higgs in the long jump. Irwin is the two-time defending NCAA indoor champion in the event while Higgs was the SEC champion in the long jump last season.
The Arkansas women came in at No. 4 in the preseason poll after winning the indoor SEC title and placing fourth at the National Championship.
Both Razorback teams open the outdoor season March 23 at the Texas State Elite meet in San Marcos, Texas. The home opener is set for March 30 with the Spring Invitational at John McDonnell Field.
