Tech Track Class of '06 Nationally Ranked
February 10, 2003 | Track and Field
Feb. 10, 2003
Lubbock, Texas - For the second consecutive year Texas Tech landed the No. 4 men's recruiting class as judged by Track & Field News. The top five classes, as listed in the February issue, include three schools from the state of Texas.
Tech's top five ranking was issued, in part, because of the additions of decathlete Aki Heikkinen (Aanekosi, Finland) who competed in the 2000 Olympics and pole vaulters; Buster McLain (Gruver, Texas), Bobby Most (Laredo, Texas) and Sage Thames (Wolfforth, Texas).
"I am very excited," noted Tech's head track and field coach Wes Kittley. "This is our second year in the top five and it means that we are heading in the right direction of were I want this program to be. Tech is getting noticed on the national level now, and that is great to see."
Both Most and McLain have season best vaults of 17-1.25, just shy of the NCAA provisional mark, while Thames is redshirting the indoor season and Heikkinen will compete during the outdoor season.
The top recruiting class went to Texas while SMU, Auburn, and Southern Cal round out the top 5.
The Red Raiders will head to Lincoln, Neb., as a final tune-up for the Big 12 Championships Feb. 28 - March 1. The conference championships will also be held in Lincoln.