Track & Field

For Immediate Release

January 18, 2012

Southern Connecticut's Men's and Women's Teams Both Ranked in Top-10

South Easton, Mass. – Five schools representing the Northeast-10 Conference appeared in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association's (USTFCCCA) Preseason Top 25 Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field National Polls. Four men's teams were ranked, while one women's program also appeared in the preseason rankings.

On the men's side, Southern Connecticut State University was the top-ranked team from the NE-10 as the Owls are ranked ninth. So. Connecticut claimed the 2011 NE-10 Men's Championship, and would certainly have to be counted among the favorites for this year's event, which will take place Saturday, February 18th at the Reggie Lewis Center on the campus of Northeastern University.

Just behind So. Connecticut is the University of Massachusetts Lowell, which is ranked tenth. The River Hawks stand two spots ahead of American International College, as the Yellow Jackets are ranked twelfth in the USTFCCCA Preseason Top 25. Rounding out the men's teams from the NE-10 that appear in the rankings is Stonehill College, which is ranked 22nd.

So. Connecticut is the only women's team garnering national attention, as the Owls are ranked tenth in the nation in the USTFCCCA Preseason Women's Poll. The reigning conference champions will try to defend their title at this year's NE-10 Championships in February.

So. Connecticut is one of seven schools in the country that have both their men's and women's indoor track and field teams ranked in the top ten in the country.

To see the full USTFCCCA Men's and Women's National Preseason Polls, see below.

The Northeast-10 is an association of 16 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 5,500 student-athletes. Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in Conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.

-NE-10-

2012 USTFCCA Men's Division II Preseason Rankings

2012 USTFCCA Women's Division II Preseason Rankings