Two men’s track and field teams represent the American Athletic Conference in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) 2016 Preseason Indoor Track & Field National Rankings, as announced on Wednesday. Tulsa came in at No. 23 with 36.78 points, while Houston rounded out the rankings at No. 25 with 32.34 points.
Tulsa returns a pair of first-team All-Americans in senior Bryce Robinson and junior Marc Scott this season. Robinson took third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.75 at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships. Additionally, he was a second-team All-American in the 60-meter dash. In the 2016 USTFCCCA Preseason National Rankings, the senior sprinter is in the top-10 for two events; No. 4 in the 200-meter dash, and No. 8 in the 60-meter dash. The Edmond, Okla. native is also ranked No. 26 in the 400-meter dash. Scott placed fifth at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships in the 5,000-meter run (13:47.42). The junior claimed the 5,000-meter at the 2015 American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships. Scott ranks No. 8 in the event in USTFCCCA’s 2016 Preseason National Rankings, as well as No. 14 in the 3,000-meter run. Accompanying Scott in the 3,000-meter rankings is teammate Tim Rackers, at No. 25.
Tulsa finished at No. 18 in the final 2015 USTFCCCA rankings under the coaching of Steve Gulley, who is in his 16th season at the helm of the Golden Hurricane’s program.
Houston, the defending American Athletic Conference Indoor champions, return senior hurdler Issac Williams, who is ranked No. 2 nationally in the 60-meter hurdles. Williams earned All-America honors in 2015 and won the event in five out of seven meets last season, including the conference championship. The product of Willingboro, N.J. qualified for the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships with the third fastest time in the nation in the 60m hurdles (7.72). Junior Cameron Burrell, who missed the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships and The American’s conference championship due to injury, is ranked No. 9 in the 60-meter dash - one spot behind Tulsa’s Robinson. Joining Burrell as a top-15 60-meter dash selection is senior LeShon Collins, at No. 13. Collins has claimed the conference title in the event the past two seasons. The American’s two-time defending shot put champion, junior Cameron Cornelius, is ranked No. 20 in the event, followed by sophomore Felipe Valencia at No. 34. Sophomore Trumaine Jefferson, who also missed the 2015 conference championship due to injury, comes in at No. 21 in the long jump. Houston’s distance medley relay closes out the rankings, coming in at No. 23 nationally.
The Cougars claimed the 2015 American Indoor Track & Field title after winning the final heat of the final event, the 4x400 relay. Houston took first place at the championship with 135 points, narrowly beating Tulsa (134 points) and UConn (131 points). Head coach Leroy Burrell is in his 18th season with the Cougars.
Complete USTFCCCA Release