Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Track & Field Takes Top-25 Preseason Rankings
January 06, 2015 | Track and Field
Kole Weldon and the No. 9 Red Raiders are enjoying their highest preseason indoor ranking since 2011.
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Texas Tech men's and women's track & field teams will begin the 2015 indoor season ranked No. 9, and No. 17, respectively, according to the U.S Track & Field And Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason computer rankings.
On the men's side, this is Tech's first preseason indoor ranking since starting the 2011 slate at No. 7. It also marks the first top-10 ranking for the Red Raiders since week six, in 2013. The ranking is powered by returning indoor All-American high jumpers Bradley Adkins and JaCorian Duffield, who enter the season tied for the nation's top returning mark, along with Kole Weldon, who was an NCAA qualifier in both the shot put and discus in 2014.
The Red Raiders are the second-highest ranked team from the Big 12.
As for the women, this is their first preseason indoor ranking since 2012, when they began at No. 8. The Lady Raiders are led by a pair of returning second team indoor All-Americans, Cierra White (200 meter dash), and Le'Tristan Pledger (60 meter hurdles, long jump).
This is the first time since 2011 that both teams will be ranked to start the indoor season. That year, the men were ranked seventh, and the women were slotted at No. 15.
"We're very excited to see both of our teams ranked," Texas Tech head coach Wes Kittley said. "We have a good mix of veterans returning along with some great newcomers. It will be fun to see how we progress through the indoor season. We're just excited to get started."
The Red Raiders begin the 2015 indoor campaign next weekend, Jan. 16-17, with the annual Texas Tech Open, at the Athletic Training Center.
Players Mentioned
