NEW ORLEANS, La. — The UTSA men's track & field program debuted at No. 22 in the opening week of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Top 25 Poll, the organization announced on Tuesday. It is the highest national ranking in Roadrunners Athletics history, surpassing the previous best of 25th established by the program during the 2008 campaign.
The Roadrunners, who were ranked 43rd in the preseason poll, made the nation's biggest move this week and they stand 22nd with 86.93 points. Florida (345.51), Oregon (311.77), Arkansas (289.47), Texas A&M (288.18) and Florida State (201.32) comprise the top five.
"I am extremely honored and proud of the guys for achieving this national ranking," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox, who is in his 12th season leading the men. "We still have a long way to go this season and there are a number of goals we want to accomplish as a new member of Conference USA, but, with that being said, this is a huge achievement for our program."
UTSA currently is led by All-American Keyunta Hayes, who owns the country's top 400-meter hurdles time of 49.59, which he clocked last Friday at the Pepsi Florida Relays. Hayes also stands 15th nationally in the 110m hurdles with his season-opening mark of 13.87.
Meanwhile, fellow All-American Richard Garrett Jr. ranks fourth in the NCAA in the shot put with his program-record measurement of 64-3 ¼ (19.59m) established at UTSA Texas Challenge Invitational.
Jurmarcus Shelvin also ranks among the nation's top 20 in the 400m hurdles with a time of 51.79 (19th), which he ran at last weekend's Florida Relays.
The Roadrunners will return to action on Saturday at the Texas Invitational in Austin.