Both Husky squads start outdoor season outside top 25 in first USTFCCCA D1 ranking index...

Washington's Cass Elliott is the early season
collegiate leader in the 400 hurdles (Paul Merca photo)

NEW ORLEANS--Both Washington track and field programs sit just outside the national top 25 in the first edition of the USTFCCCA's Division I Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index, released by the coaches' association Monday.

Without its middle and long distance squads competing last weekend at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego,  both Husky squads start the year ranked number 30 in the association's initial ranking index, despite top 10 marks set by Cass Elliott (1) in the 400 hurdles at 50.26 and Princeton grad transfer Chandler Ault (7) in the javelin at 232-9 (70.93m) on the men's side; and pole vaulters Nastassja Campbell (2) at 14-4 (4.37m), and Sara Borton (7) at 13-8.25 (4.17m); and, shot putter MaKayla Kelby (8) at 55-2.75 (16.83m).

The top five men's teams in the country after week 1 are in order: Minnesota, LSU, Cal, Harvard, and Texas A&M.

Other Pac-12 schools in the men's top 25 include number 11 UCLA, number 12 Arizona, and number 18 Arizona State, 

The top five women's teams are in order: LSU, USC, Central Florida, Duke and Texas A&M.

Other Pac-12 schools in the women's top 25 include number 16 Arizona, number 17 Cal, and number 22 Oregon.

Washington splits its squad with the distance runners off to the Stanford Invitational Friday and Saturday, while another group heads to Austin for the Texas Relays at the site of this year's NCAA championships.

The USTFCCCA track and field rating index is comprised of marks reported to the TFRRS site. This objective list is compiled solely of current qualifying marks from the 2023 outdoor track & field season.

The complete USTFCCCA ranking for men is available here, while the women's complete rankings are available here.

NOTE: The USTFCCCA contributed to this report.

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links.