ISU Men Earn All-Time Best USTFCCCA Ranking

AMES, Iowa – Another successful weekend for the Iowa State men's track and field program has seen the Cyclones move up to a program-record ranking of No. 7 in this week's USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track & Field Ratings, announced on Monday.

This is ISU's highest ever ranking in track and field across indoors and outdoors during the USTFCCCA's TFRI Era (2008-Present). The Cyclones have previously been ranked No. 8 three times, three weeks ago in the outdoor rankings and twice during the 2020 indoor season.

The Cyclones posted five new entries into the ranking this week, with the headliners being Wesley Kiptoo and Edwin Kurgat in the men's 5,000-meter run. ISU's national champions were part of the fastest collegiate-only men's 5,000-meter run ever on Friday night at the Oregon Relays, as they ran to two of the top-20 fastest men's 5K times in collegiate history. Kurgat checks in at No. 3 this week with his 13:20.48, while Kiptoo is at No. 4 with his 13:21.02. These performances are on top of their continued strangle-hold of the No. 1 and 2 spots in the 10K, which they ran three weeks ago at the Hayward Premiere.

Ezekiel Rop's personal-best of 13:45.85 in the 5K also helped contribute some ranking points, as he is ranked No. 43 nationally this week in the event.

In the men's steeplechase, David Too shot himself back up this week's rankings to No. 3 after winning the Oregon Relays competition in a personal best 8:40.31. He is joined in the steeplechase top-25 by teammate Gable Sieperda, whose 8:51.41 at the Virginia Challenge on Apr. 16 is good for No. 23.

Iowa State's other addition to the ranking this week came in the field, as Kevin Sakson's 181-3 (55.23m) in the discus at the Drake Relays is good for No. 47 nationally on the season.

Other Cyclones contributing to the rankings this week are Mitchell Day (No. 35 at 10,000m – 28:55.03), Eric Fogltanz (No. 31 in the 400m hurdles – 51.24), Festus Lagat (No. 4 at 800m – 1:47.15, No. 24 at 1,500m – 3:39.93), Vlad Pavlenko (No. 14 in the hammer throw – 222-9), Thomas Pollard (No. 39 at 10,000m – 28:59.91) and Roshon Roomes (No. 13 at 800m – 1:47.87).

Iowa State will be back in action at Kansas' Rock Chalk Classic and Mississippi State's Maroon & White Invite this weekend.

Players Mentioned

Mitchell Day

Eric Fogltanz

Wesley Kiptoo

Edwin Kurgat

Festus Lagat

Vlad Pavlenko

Thomas Pollard

Roshon Roomes

Ezekiel Rop

Kevin Sakson

Gable Sieperda

David Too

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