Fighting Scots men are No. 1 in DIII track and field rankings

Release Date: February 11, 2005

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Move over, Fighting Illini – there’s a new No. 1 in town.

In the first power rankings of the indoor track and field season, the Monmouth College men’s team earned 145.56 points, nearly four points higher than second-ranked Nebraska Wesleyan University.

“It’s impressive, and very flattering to (MC track coach) Roger Haynes and all the hard work he has put in,” said MC athletic director Dr. Terry Glasgow. “It’s a well-deserved honor and is great recognition for our school.”

Unlike other polls, which are based on sportswriters’ or coaches’ subjective opinions, the Division III track rankings ­– compiled at MF Athletics’ Web site at www.everythingtrackandfield.com use the actual performances of a school’s top two athletes in each of the individual events that are contested at the national meet.

“It’s a pretty legitimate ranking system,” said Haynes. “It’s based on the current season of performances, so a program’s reputation carries no weight. It’s an excellent way to compare every team to every other team in a dual meet setting.”

At the actual NCAA Championships, a school might ride the multi-event performance of, say, an outstanding sprinter to a wealth of points and a high finish. The power rankings, on the other hand, speak more about a program’s talent across the board.

“The points awarded are similar to a decathlon scoring table,” said Haynes, who noted that Monmouth’s 145.56 points can only increase in the future rankings, which will be released four more times, including the final one on March 15.

Points are awarded on a sliding scale, with the highest possible being eight points for breaking a national record. Equaling an automatic-qualifying mark is worth seven, and the points stair-step down from there.

A year ago, UW-Whitewater finished in the top spot with 158.65 points, and other recent winning totals have ranged from 154 to 162.

Haynes believes Monmouth can build on its point total at this weekend’s Fighting Scots Invitational in the Huff Athletic Center. Zach Barr figures to substantially improve Monmouth’s 5000-meter run time, and other improvements should come from Blake Boma in the 400-meter dash and Alex Stuart in the long jump, to name a few.

Monmouth will host more than 10 teams at the meet, including Midwest Conference schools Beloit, Carroll and Grinnell.

“We had a very good performances at the last meet we hosted (Jan. 29),” said Haynes. “It’s going to be a great meet tomorrow.”

When asked about his team’s reaction to being No. 1, Haynes said the news has definitely created a level of excitement, and he plans to use the rankings as an incentive.

“When I explain to the team at this afternoon’s practice that improved performances will lead to an improved point total, I think they’ll get the message,” he said.

According to at least two Fighting Scots, Haynes will be preaching to the choir.

“I talked to a lot of people last night about (the ranking), and they were all pretty excited,” said sophomore Jeff Rebholz, who is currently ranked 15th in the nation in the weight throw (55’7-1/2). “This is a big accomplishment for our team. Now we need to work to keep on top of the rankings and be there at the end of the year. We all need to do the best we can as a team.”

Rebholz has certainly helped Monmouth’s score in the rankings, and he hopes to score at the NCAA indoor meet as well.

“My goal is to qualify for the national meet, and once you get there, you only need to beat four people to get All-American,” he said. “Throwing 58’0 is probably my goal, and I also hope to keep improving in the shot put and try to qualify in that, too.”

“I’m obviously very excited – this really puts our program on the map,” said junior distance runner Anthony Welty. “This is a testament to our coach and the work we have put in so far. Having said that, it’s just a ranking and now we need to back it up week after week with strong performances. It will put a target on us as a team and as individuals. Now we need to live up to the expectations of being No. 1.”

When ranking team accomplishments, Haynes said, “Certainly, we’d rather get the hardware. We wouldn’t trade a national championship like UW-LaCrosse won last year for anything. But right now, we’re 15 points higher than them.

“This is also good way for us to compare where we are year-to-year,” he added. In 2003, for example, Monmouth scored 143.02 points and finished seventh in the nation. “At worst, we should stay in the top five this year and have a higher point total than we’ve ever had.”

Haynes said that Monmouth has already increased its total from last year’s 10th-place final ranking of 140.74 points. The jump has primarily come from improvement in the distance events and being able to post two strong pole vault results each week.

While the men are currently sitting on top of the nation, the Fighting Scots’ women’s team has moved up, too. They were ranked 29th at the end of the 2004 indoor season, and they opened this season as the 14th-ranked team.

Men's Indoor Track