St. Aug Second in Preseason Division II Men's Indoor Track Poll

Saint Augustine’s College is ranked second in the preseason NCAA Division II men’s poll for the 2012 indoor track and field season. The rankings were released Tuesday (Jan. 17) by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Falcons, who placed sixth among the men's teams last season at the NCAA Indoor Championships, received 129.28 points from the USTFCCCA national computer rankings. Lincoln (Mo.) is the preseason top men’s squad with 176.75 points and Adams State is third with 124.29 points.

The Falcons are led by senior Christopher Copeland (Suffolk, Va.), who automatically qualified for indoor nationals in the high jump. Copeland leaped 7-1 ¾ at the CNU Holiday Classic in December 2011.

Four other Falcons have provisionally qualified for indoor nationals. They are junior Ramaan Ansley (60 Dash /6.84), junior Gerkenz Senesca (60 Hurdles/8.02), senior Jason Boyd (Waycross, Ga./60 Hurdles/8.03) and sophomore Eddie Shelton (Deltona, Fla./high jump/6-11 ¾).

In the USTFCCCA women’s Division II poll, Saint Augustine’s College is ranked 14th with 49.42 points. Sophomore Nicketa Bernard (Westmoreland, Jamaica) has provisionally qualified in the 400 dash in 57.74.

Defending national champion Grand Valley State heads the women’s rankings with 301.79 points. Lincoln (Mo.) is second with 196.90 points and Adams State is third with 157.23 points.
The computer rankings will be released again on January 24. The 2012 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Mankato, Minn., on March 9-10.

The Saint Augustine’s College track and field program under veteran Head Coach George Williams has won 31 NCAA Division II indoor and outdoor titles combined.