USTFCCCA Rankings

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College men's track and field team has made significant strides in recent years, and others are beginning to take notice.

For the second week in a row, the Bears are ranked 7^th in the Mideast Region according to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and its National Rating Index. Ursinus earned 111.91 rating points, behind only top-ranked Johns Hopkins among Centennial Conference schools.

The regional rankings are the first for the men's track and field program since Carl Blickle took over six years ago, and are believed to be the first since well before that time.

The Bears boast a bevy of student-athletes either atop or near the apex of the CC performance list.

Among sprinters, Daniel Maloney is first in the 60-meter hurdles. Octavious Carter (2^nd), Austin Bittenbender (8^th), and Jose Morales (9^th) are among the top-10 in the 60-meter dash; Bittenbender is tied for 2^nd in the 200, where Carter is 5^th. Payton Stanziani is 5^th in the 400, while Andre Kelly is 6^th in the 800 and 7^th in the 400. Kelly and Stanziani joined Dylan Simms and Brandon Slaboda for the No. 2 time in the 4x400-meter relay.

Zach Crebbin is 2^nd in the high jump and 6^th in the long jump, where Bittenbender ranks 3^rd; Bittenbender is also 6^th in the triple jump and 8^th in the high jump.

In the field, Griffin McMann is the best shot-putter in the conference, with Nick Galbraith in 3^rd, Matthew Byrnes in 6^th, Harrison Bonanny in 8^th, and Isaiah Battle in 10^th.

Galbraith leads the way in the weight throw, where Bonanny is 5^th, McMann 8^th, and George Psaradakis 9^th.

Bittenbender ranks 3^rd in the heptathlon, with Brody Johnson 5^th.