University of Houston Athletics
Houston Debuts at No. 18 in USTFCCCA Preseason Top-25
1/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
HOUSTON - The Houston Cougar men's track and field team debuts as the No. 18 team in the USTFCCCA Preseason Indoor Top-25 poll, the publication announced Tuesday, marking the highest ranking for Houston since the poll began in 2008.
The Cougars climbed 32 spots from their final ranking in 2014 (52nd) and entered the preseason top-25 poll for the first time in program history.
"It's a first for us to start the season ranked in the top-25," head coach Leroy Burrell said. "But from my perspective, it's just the start. We have some guys on our squad who we feel can contribute and put themselves in position to improve our ranking, and we're going to go about starting that process this weekend."
Houston earned the Top-25 mark by returning four athletes who are ranked among the top-25 in each of their respective individual events. Sophomore Cameron Burrell returns as the No. 1 ranked sprinter (6.54 mark in 2014) in the nation in the 60m dash. Burrell already owns the top mark in the 60 this season with his 6.66 at the Reveille Invitational in December.
Junior LeShon Collins completes the Cougars 1-2 punch in the 60m dash, returning as the nation's second fastest in the event (6.60 mark in 2014). The Newark, Del. native also scored points for the Cougars for ranking No. 17 among returners in the 200m dash after his 21.04 in 2014.
Houston also returns junior Issac Williams as the No. 21 60m hurdler (7.85 mark in 2014) and senior John Horton as the nation's No. 24 long jumper (7.51m, 24'7.5" mark in 2014).
The Cougars debuted as the only American Athletic Conference team in the preseason poll, and they are one of five teams from the Lone Star State (Texas A&M No. 4, Texas No. 8, Texas Tech No. 9, and TCU No. 25) to make an appearance.
USTFCCCA POLL
1. Florida
2. Oregon
3. Arkansas
4. Texas A&M
5. Penn State
6. Nebraska
7. Stanford
8. Texas
9. Texas Tech
10. LSU
11. Georgia
12. Villanova
13. Alabama
14. Purdue
15. Wisconsin
16. Kennesaw State
17. Akron
18. Houston
19. Iowa State
20. Florida State
21. Kent State
22. Michigan State
23. UCLA
24. Ohio State
25. TCU
UP NEXT
Houston begins the home slate of its 2014-15 indoor season with the 2015 Houston Indoor Opener on Friday, Dec. 9. Action will begin with the women's weight throw at 9 a.m., and will follow a rolling schedule of events throughout the day. The running events are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. with the prelims of the women's 60m hurdles.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans unable to attend Friday's action are encouraged to follow along by visiting FlashResultsTexas.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
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Players Mentioned
