Women's Track and Field 1/23/2024 4:33:00 PM

Firebirds Ranked in USTFCCCA National Ratings Index

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Carthage men's and women's track & field programs have both been ranked in the opening week of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Track & Field National Ratings Index presented by AthleticNET, the USTFCCCA announced Tuesday. The ratings are determined using a point system that values the national rankings of individual student-athletes in each program.

The men's program is ranked 11th in the country with 61.62 points following a pair of team wins at the Forever Red Alumni Classic and the Firebird First Invitational, and a third place finish at the NCC Heenan Invitational. Carthage is currently one of six teams from the North region ranked nationally, with UW-Oshkosh ranked no. 1, UW-La Crosse at no. 2, UW-Eau Claire ranked no. 7, Bethel (Minn.) at no. 10, and UW-Whitewater at no. 17.

The Firebirds are led by Joseph White, who currently leads D-III in both shot put (18.94m) and weight throw (21.70m). Chase Upmann currently ranks 11th in the 800 (1:54.11), while Lucas Leal is 13th in weight throw (17.88m). The distance medley relay, which was composed of Nicholas Kania, Aidan Lodwig, Michael Barber, and Ben Ewald, currently has the 20th fastest time in the country (11:09.27). Kedrick Johnson III sits in 32nd nationally in the triple jump (13.72m).

The women's program also sits in 11th place in the Ratings Index with 64.31 points. The Firebirds are the second highest rated team in the North region, only behind UW-Oshkosh at no. 7. Other ranked programs from the region include UW-Eau Claire at no. 17, UW-Stout at no. 18, and UW-Whitewater at no. 24.

Carthage's points come exclusively from throwing events, with Aubrey Schoeneman and Alexis Mattox leading the way. Schoeneman currently leads the country in shot put (14.41m) and is 16th in weight throw (16.44m). Mattox is third in weight throw (18.02m) and sits in ninth in shot put (13.55m). Alyssa Gulsvig sits in sixth in shot put (13.60m) and Madison Payne is 19th (13.12m). In weight throw, Nicole Tarpley is currently 19th in the country (16.31m), while Hannah Lizano is 29th (15.95m).

The Firebirds return to action this weekend at the Squig Converse at UW-Whitewater, with the men scheduled to compete on Friday, Jan. 26, and the women competing on Saturday, Jan. 27. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.

Print Friendly Version