Washington men crack top five in latest USTFCCCA D1 national rating index...

NEW ORLEANS--The Washington men's track team moved up one spot into the top five in this week's USTFCCCA National Track and Field Rating Index released Monday for meets ending last weekend.

The Huskies, ranked number six in last week's index, received a major boost from multi events specialist Bruno Comin Pescador (Paul Merca photo), who scored 6000 points to finish second in the heptathlon at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Friday and Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Comin Pescador's mark is tied for fourth on the NCAA Division I descending order list.

They also got ranking index points from pole vaulter Mathis Bresko, who is ranked 14th on the national list in the pole vault, when he cleared 17-11 (5.46m) in Nebraska.

The nation's top five teams are in order: Texas Tech, Northern Arizona, Arkansas, Texas and Washington.

Other Pac-12 teams in the national top 25 include number 9 USC, and number 16 Arizona State.

On the women's side, Washington dropped from number 8 last week to number 11, despite a 2:02.91 performance from Wilma Nielsen in the 800 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Sunday, which would be the number 8 performance in the NCAA.

Unfortunately, her mark will not count towards the NCAA descending order list as there were not enough collegiate athletes entered in the primarily pro meet.

The nation's top five teams are in order: Arkansas, Florida, Oregon, Texas and Texas A&M.

USC at number 6 and Stanford at number 18 are the only two Pac-12 schools in the women's national top 25.

The USTFCCCA release is available here.

WEEKEND NOTES...

Woodinville native Olivia Markezich of Notre Dame took the collegiate lead Friday night in the mile at the Meyo Invitational meet at the Notre Dame-Loftus Center.

With Spokane native and Notre Dame grad Katie Thronson in the field to pace, Markezich, the reigning NCAA steeplechase champion, ran a personal best 4:27.76.

The Bear Creek grad now holds the collegiate lead in both the mile and the 3000.

Results of the Meyo Invitational are available here.

NOTE: The USTFCCCA and the sports information office of Notre Dame contributed to this report.

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