TUCSON, Ariz. -- The University of Arizona's men's track and field team begins the 2005 outdoor season as the nation's No. 3 team according the first edition of the Trackwire 25 Rankings. Available online since the 1997 season, the Trackwire 25 has established itself as the most widely respected and reported ranking of Division I collegiate track & field teams. The Trackwire 25 is compiled by respected track & field statistician Gary Verigin, which includes team rankings and their projected national meet scores.
Arkansas topped the men's team rankings with 85 points, followed by Florida with 62 points. The Wildcats rounded out the top three with 42 points. Arizona State sits at No. 4 with 32 points, followed by No. 5 Indiana with 31 points. Other Pac-10 notables include: No. 7(tie) Oregon and No. 12 Stanford.
Five members of the men's squad were ranked in Trackwire's Dandy Dozen, which ranks the top twelve individuals in each event. Those five athletes found themselves ranked in seven different events to start the season.
Leading the way for Arizona is the junior distance runner Robert Cheseret. Cheseret is expected to defend his national title in the 5,000 meters, where he holds the top ranking to kick off the outdoor season. Cheseret also ranks No. 3 in the 10,000 meters.
Junior Obed Mutanya, a transfer from Central Arizona College, is ranked third in the 5,000 meters behind Cheseret. Junior Jonah Maiyo was tabbed No. 4 in the 1,500 meters to round out the distance runners.
Two of the men's throwers were also recognized. Junior Sean Shields is ranked in both the shot put and the discus. He holds the No. 4 spot in the discus and is ranked No. 5 in the shot put.
Along with Shields, sophomore Adam Kuehl has put himself on the national radar as he debuts at No. 3 in the discus.
The women's team was not ranked among the top 25 teams, but three individuals are ranked in the top-12 of their respective events.
Senior Ilona Rutjes is the highest ranked among the women at No. 4 in the discus. Sophomore Rachel Varner was tabbed No. 10 in the discus. Along with the two throwers, senior Sharifa Jones is ranked No. 10 in the 100-meter high hurdles.
The men's and women's squads just completed a slate of five home meets that took place throughout march. The Wildcats continue the outdoor season with a myriad of competitions this next weekend. A number of athletes will travel to Austin, Texas for the Texas Relays. Other individuals will compete at the Mesa Invitational in Mesa, Ariz. and the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational at UCLA in Westwood, Calif.
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