NEW ORLEANS, La. – One week after debuting in the top-five, Colorado School of Mines men's track and field dipped to No. 9 in week five of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II National Team Computer Rankings on Tuesday.
Mines earned 15.61 fewer points than last week's season-high 118.80, moving behind by No. 4 Ashland (174.32 points), No. 6 Academy of Art (113.97), No. 7 Angelo State (113.69) and No. 8 Pittsburg State (105.03). Saint Augustine's, the 2013 outdoor national champion, remained No. 1 for the third consecutive week with 290.19 points.
The Orediggers have been positioned in the top-10 in three successive weeks for the first time since the USTFCCCA began team rankings in 2010.
The men recorded six provisional qualifications across four events at last weekend's two-day Colorado Invitational in Boulder.
Sophomore Marty Andrie and senior Frank Socha placed 10th and 11th out of 54 in the 1500 in 3:57.15 and 3:57.20, respectively.
Freshmen Matthew Drotar and Patrick Weaver and sophomores Ian Rozier and Garrett Hoch combined for the team's first qualifying time in the 4x400, taking second of 14 in 3:13.31.
Sophomore Jacob Hollister provisionally qualified in the hammer throw for the third straight meet on Friday, claiming fourth out of 19 with a personal-record 186-9 (56.92m). Senior Ryan Ewen was eighth behind his season's first provisional of 177-5 (54.09m).
Junior Ben Timmer achieved his initial provisional height in the pole vault, tying for first with an RMAC-leading 15-11.00 (4.85m) on his third attempt.
The National Team Computer Rankings are a reflection of performances recorded only during the 2014 outdoor track and field season.
Mines takes part in three meets across southern California this week, beginning April 16-18 at the storied Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. The Orediggers will also compete at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 18 in Azusa and the Beach Invitational April 19 in Norwalk.
FULL USTFCCCA DIVISION II NATIONAL RANKINGS
FULL USTFCCCA DIVISION II REGIONAL RANKINGS
