Men Jump 11 Spots in National Rankings

PROVO -- A record-breaking performance in the mile by junior Miles Batty on Saturday helped propel the BYU men’s track and field team into the top 10 in the most recent USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings.

This is the fourth week of the USTFCCCA National Poll in 2011 and the first week that the rankings use data only from the current season. The BYU men’s track and field team jumped from No. 17 in week three to No. 6 in week four.

Batty broke the BYU record in the mile, previously held by two-time Olympian and current BYU women’s assistant track coach Doug Padilla, by crossing the line in 3:55.79, the fastest unadjusted time in the NCAA. Batty also ranks 16th in the NCAA in the 800m with a time of 1:48.88.

The pole vault is also a strength for the men’s team. Senior Chris Little and sophomore Victor Weirich are currently tied for the second best mark in the country at 5.50m (18-0.50).

Leif Arrhenius currently holds the seventh best mark in the NCAA in the weight throw at 21.06m (69-1.25) and the 13th best distance in the shot put at 18.71m (61-4.75).

On the women’s side, BYU dropped from No. 7 in week three to No. 10 in week four. This is the third consecutive week the women have remained in the top 10 of the USTFCCCA rankings.

Junior Ada Robinson broke the Mountain West Conference record in the high jump at the Air Force Invitational on Saturday. Robinson cleared a personal best 1.86m (6-1.25) and currently ranks third in the country with that automatic-qualifying mark.

Both Lacey Bleazard and Katie Palmer rank in the top 10 nationally in the 800m, with Bleazard sitting in fourth (2:05.55) and Palmer in ninth (2:05.91). Bleazard and Palmer are also part of the BYU distance medley relay team that ran the third-fastest time in the nation this season (11:03.70).

The BYU men’s and women’s track and field teams face their next competition at the MWC Indoor Track and Field Championships beginning on February 24 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.