(NEW ORLEANS, La.) – The Central Missouri Mules track squad earned their highest ranking of the season after a successful performance at the UCM Mule Relays on Sunday, improving three spots up to No. 20 in the latest USTFCCCA Division II Computer Rankings. The Jennies had another solid week as well, holding steady at the No. 14 spot.
The Mules improved their point total to 54.46 this week, up 5.44 points from a week ago. Four athletes hit season-high marks to improve the Mules’ standing, led by freshman Kellin Loch‘s record-setting win in the 800-meters. Loch ranks sixth nationally in the 800, accounting for 11.29 points in the rankings. Kelvin Frank‘s and Zak Thompson‘s second-place finishes in the high jump and shot put, respectively, also earned points for the team. Senior Dalton Moberly, who competed at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays, earned a 25th place result in the Elite 10,000-meters, adding further to the point total with a provisional-qualifying time of 30:25.74. Moberly now stands 19th on the NCAA Division II performance list in the 10,000-meters, and 20th in the 5,000-meters.
The Jennies remained at No. 14 this week, after provisional-qualifying performances from a pair of freshmen. Brittany Kallenberger set a new personal record, winning the pole vault by clearing 11′ 11.75″ (3.65m). Kallenberger moves into second on UCM’s all-time pole vault list, and is just the second Jennie in either indoor or outdoor track to clear at least 11′ 8″ in the pole vault. Victoria Jackson won the women’s 100-meter hurdles on Sunday, with a provisional time of 14.30. Jackson’s time ranks eighth on the UCM all-time outdoor list, as the freshman ranks 25th in Division II this season.
In the men’s poll, St. Augustine’s (N.C.) holds on to the top spot, while the Lincoln women move up to No. 1 in the women’s poll, surpassing Grand Canyon (Ariz.). The Jennies are the second-highest ranked MIAA squad in the women’s rankings, just behind the Blue Tigers, while the Mules are the fourth conference school, behind Lincoln (No. 6), Pittsburg State (No. 7), and Missouri Southern (No. 12).
The Mules and Jennies will send a selected number of athletes to the Drake Relays this week, beginning this Thursday, April 25. The rest of the track & field teams will split up between the Simpson Twilight, in Indianola, Iowa on Friday, April 26, and the Baker Wildcat Open in Baldwin City, Kan., on Saturday, April 27.