BLUE DRAGON MEN NO. 7 IN INDOOR USTFCCCA POLL

The Blue Dragon Men's Track and Field Team is No. 7 in the first indoor USTFCCCA rankings of the season. (Allie Schweizer/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
The Blue Dragon Men's Track and Field Team is No. 7 in the first indoor USTFCCCA rankings of the season. (Allie Schweizer/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College men's track and field team got an early boost of confidence on Wednesday when the first U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll was released.

After two meets of the 2018 indoor season, the Blue Dragons are ranked No. 7 in the nation.

How tough is the Jayhawk Conference? There are three conference teams ranked above the Blue Dragons, including No. 1-ranked Barton. Overall, there are eight KJCCC teams ranked in the Top 25.

Through two meets, the Blue Dragons have seven national qualifiers for the NJCAA Indoor Championships in March in Lubbock, Texas.

Entering action this weekend at the Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, the Blue Dragons have five athletes and one relay ranked in the Top 10 of individual events. The highest-ranked Blue Dragon is high jumper Richard Newman, who led the nation last week, but is now No. 2 at 6-feet, 10 3/4 inches.

The next poll will be released next Wednesday, January 31.

USTFCCCA RANKINGS – WEEK 1

1. Barton
2. Iowa Central
3. Coffeyville
4. Meridian
5. Cloud County
6. Trinidad State
7. Hutchinson
8. Monroe
9. Iowa Western
10. Mesa
11. Western Texas
12. Central Arizona
13. Indian Hills
14. Hinds
15. Pina
16. Hawkeye
17. Paradise Valley
18. Arkansas Baptist
19. Cowley
20. Garden City
21. North Iowa Area
22. Vincennes
23. Butler
24. Kingsborough
25. Dodge City