Texas Tech University Athletics
Mid-Year Pickups Solidify Another No. 1 Rank for Men
January 11, 2019 | Track and Field
The men pick up their second top ranking in as many days while the women crack the top-25.
AUSTIN, Texas – FloTrack released Friday their full preseason top-25, which featured the Texas Tech men's track and field team as the top in the nation. The honor comes a day after the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named Tech as their top choice to win the NCAA Indoor Championship as well. The women's squad, which was ranked No. 26 by the USTFCCCA, cracked the top-25 in FloTrack's ranking as they came in at No. 24.
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During both team meetings and interviews, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Wes Kittley stressed to his student-athletes the importance of acting like you have been there before.
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"We're unbelievably honored to be ranked that high, but you don't win any championships in January," Kittley said in an interview with FloTrack. "We're going to keep a blue-collar attitude about it and just take it week by week."
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The Texas Tech men's team returns seven All-Americans, but what put them over the top – according to FloTrack – was the powerful contingent of mid-year enrollees the Tech coaching staff reeled in during the offseason.
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The men's side will see a huge boost from All-American transfers Jonah Koech (UTEP), who is the country's second-ranked miler, and Jah-Nhai Perinchief (Arkansas), who can contend for a title in the high jump.
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To Kittley, it is track programs' high tendency to bring in mid-year transfers that can be the biggest variable in deciding where teams begin the season ranked and how they finish at nationals.
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"The wild card is what people are bringing in mid-year," he said. "I've never done that much [bringing in mid-years], so this is very unusual for us. When you have these transfers, it changes the game."
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Another factor that led to Tech's top FloTrack ranking was the addition of incoming decathlete Axel Hubert from France. The USTFCCCA rankings did not consider Hubert because their rankings only include those who have recorded an NCAA mark, but the French freshman's personal record 7,650 in the decathlon would have netted him All-American status at last year's outdoor nationals, making Kittley very excited for what he can contribute to the Red Raiders. Hubert has just recently arrived in Lubbock, so he will not compete Saturday. However, fans can expect to see him in action soon. Â
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The women's side also saw a huge boost from the newly-instituted NCAA transfer portal. Most notable among the newcomers will be Alaysha Johnson, an Oregon transfer ranked seventh in the 60m hurdles. Also aiding on the sprints side will be Damajahnee Birch from Arkansas, who is top-25 in the 400m and 800m, as well as D'Jenne Egharevba from Illinois State, who is a top-30 60m and 200m sprinter. On the field side, Tech will see a run at points in the pole vault thanks to Wisconsin transfer Chinne Okoronwko, who is ranked 16th.
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Texas Tech will begin their indoor slate Saturday with the Corky Classic, which will be one of seven indoor meets – including the Big 12 Championships – the Red Raiders will host at the Sports Performance Center in 2019. Field events will begin at 11 a.m. with the shot put, and the first running event will be the mile, which starts at 1 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here.
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During both team meetings and interviews, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Wes Kittley stressed to his student-athletes the importance of acting like you have been there before.
Â
"We're unbelievably honored to be ranked that high, but you don't win any championships in January," Kittley said in an interview with FloTrack. "We're going to keep a blue-collar attitude about it and just take it week by week."
Â
The Texas Tech men's team returns seven All-Americans, but what put them over the top – according to FloTrack – was the powerful contingent of mid-year enrollees the Tech coaching staff reeled in during the offseason.
Â
The men's side will see a huge boost from All-American transfers Jonah Koech (UTEP), who is the country's second-ranked miler, and Jah-Nhai Perinchief (Arkansas), who can contend for a title in the high jump.
Â
To Kittley, it is track programs' high tendency to bring in mid-year transfers that can be the biggest variable in deciding where teams begin the season ranked and how they finish at nationals.
Â
"The wild card is what people are bringing in mid-year," he said. "I've never done that much [bringing in mid-years], so this is very unusual for us. When you have these transfers, it changes the game."
Â
Another factor that led to Tech's top FloTrack ranking was the addition of incoming decathlete Axel Hubert from France. The USTFCCCA rankings did not consider Hubert because their rankings only include those who have recorded an NCAA mark, but the French freshman's personal record 7,650 in the decathlon would have netted him All-American status at last year's outdoor nationals, making Kittley very excited for what he can contribute to the Red Raiders. Hubert has just recently arrived in Lubbock, so he will not compete Saturday. However, fans can expect to see him in action soon. Â
Â
The women's side also saw a huge boost from the newly-instituted NCAA transfer portal. Most notable among the newcomers will be Alaysha Johnson, an Oregon transfer ranked seventh in the 60m hurdles. Also aiding on the sprints side will be Damajahnee Birch from Arkansas, who is top-25 in the 400m and 800m, as well as D'Jenne Egharevba from Illinois State, who is a top-30 60m and 200m sprinter. On the field side, Tech will see a run at points in the pole vault thanks to Wisconsin transfer Chinne Okoronwko, who is ranked 16th.
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Texas Tech will begin their indoor slate Saturday with the Corky Classic, which will be one of seven indoor meets – including the Big 12 Championships – the Red Raiders will host at the Sports Performance Center in 2019. Field events will begin at 11 a.m. with the shot put, and the first running event will be the mile, which starts at 1 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here.
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Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and FieldWes Kittley Media Session
Thursday, March 06
Postmeet Press Conference: Big 12 Indoor Championships
Saturday, March 01
Wes Kittley Media Session - Big 12s Indoor Preview
Wednesday, February 26
Sean Gribble Media Session
Wednesday, January 22