Both Husky squads head to TrackTown ranked in the top 25...

NEW ORLEANS--With eight days to go before the start of the NCAA Division I track & field championships in Eugene, both Washington Husky track and field teams remain in the top 25 of the USTFCCCA's NCAA Division I Track & Field Rating Index.

The index after this weekend's NCAA regional meets reflects the qualifiers who advanced to next week's national championships, with marks from non-qualifying athletes removed.

The final Pac-12 men's champions head into Eugene ranked number 25 in the index, dropping seven spots from last week.

The Huskies recorded four top-20 marks from last week's regionals in Fayetteville from long jumper Prestin Artis (UW Athletics photo), who jumped 25-8/7.82m--14th); pole vaulter Max Manson (17-9.25/5.42m--15th); 400 hurdler Jonathan Birchman (49.98--16th); and 1500 meter runner Joe Waskom (3:39.83--18th).

Washington has eight entries into the national championship finals next week: Artis, Manson, Birchman, Waskom, along with 1500 runners Nathan Green & Luke Houser; javelin thrower Chandler Ault; and decathlete Jami Schlueter.

Going into the nationals, the nation's top five teams are in order: Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, USC, and Texas A&M.

California at number 22 is the only other Pac-12 team ranked in the men's top 25.

For those keeping score for next season, the Big 10 is represented by number 10 Nebraska.

The Washington women head into TrackTown USA ranked number 17, down one spot from last week.

1500 meter runner Sophie O'Sullivan was the only one of its six NCAA qualifiers to post a top 20 mark at regionals, as she ran a season best 4:09.61.

The UW entries into the national finals include O'Sullivan and fellow 1500 meter runner Chloe Foerster; 800 runner Wilma Nielsen; and pole vaulters Hana & Amanda Moll, & Nastassja Campbell.

The top five women's teams teams are in order: Arkansas, LSU, Texas, Oregon, and Florida.

Number 9 USC is the only other Pac-12 team in the top 25. Big Ten teams in the top 25 include number 11 Illinois, and number 13 Nebraska.

The USTFCCCA release is available here.

NOTE: The USTFCCCA and the sports information office of the University of Washington contributed to this report.

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