The Kansas men’s track and field team moved up nine spots to No. 11 in the nation, the highest ranking for the squad since the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association began its computer ranking system in 2008. Last week’s No. 20 ranking was the first time KU’s men team had appeared.
Personal-best marks from throwers Gleb Dudarev and Nicolai Ceban in their 2017 debuts accounted for KU’s upward move in the rankings.
Dudarev, a freshman from Vitebsk, Belarus, made his KU debut a memorable one by throwing a winning toss of 23.00 meters (75 feet, 5 inches) to win the weight throw in the Jayhawk Classic on Friday in Lawrence. It was the second-best mark so far this season by a college athlete. A junior from Camenca, Moldova, Ceban won the shot put with a mark of 19.85 meters (65-1), the third-best throw in the NCAA this season.
Other Big 12 schools to appear in the rankings that were released Monday: 14 — Texas Tech, 16 — Texas, 18 — Oklahoma State, 22 — Oklahoma.
