Tarleton State Men’s Track and Field cracks top 25 in the nation in USTFCCCA rankings for first time in program history

STEPHENVILLE, Texas - For the first time in program history, the Tarleton State Track and Field men's team is nationally-ranked in the top 25, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced on Tuesday.

The Texan men made the largest jump by any program into the Top 25 this week, jumping 61 schools to claim the 25^th slot in the rankings. The Purple and White join New Mexico (Mountain West) and South Florida (American) as the only three schools in the top 25 not a member of a "Power Four" conference. Tarleton is the highest ranked men's program in the WAC currently, with California Baptist the next highest-ranked team at 49^th.

Tarleton State becomes the first WAC program to enter the top 25 in either the men's or women's side since 2022. In the final ranking of 2022, UT Arlington was slated in a tie for the 25^th best men's program in the nation. The only other program to receive a top 25 selection during the regular season was Stephen F. Austin in 2021. The former WAC member was ranked 13^th after the second week and didn't reach the top 25 again until the final rankings of the season where they were slated 23^rd. There has not been a WAC women's program to earn a top 25 honor since the Texans joined the league in 2020.

Head coach Bobby Carter is in his first year as a collegiate head coach and his first season with the Texan program. Carter was hired on June 20, 2024 when he started building the foundation for this elite program. Carter is the only head coach in the top 25 that is in his first year as a collegiate head coach or in his first year with the program, a remarkable achievement.

"This is a very important honor for our team and it is showing that our hard work is paying off," said Carter. "But, as I always say, we are not done yet and we will keep working hard with our ultimate goal getting closer at the conference and NCAA championships. Greater is coming and this is a sign that we are heading in the right direction!"

Tarleton State had never been ranked higher than 87^th by the USTFCCCA prior to the season in outdoor track and field. After being the only WAC program to score points at the NCAA Indoor Championships, the Texans were ranked the highest in program history in the first week of the outdoor season, earning 78^th. In each of the first three polls, the Texans have had their three highest rankings in men's outdoor track and field in program history.

The Texans are fueled to their top 25 ranking by one of the best jump squads in the nation. Tarleton State has three men ranked within the top six in the NCAA in either the long or triple jump. As an event group, the Texan long jump squad is the third best in the nation. The duo of and lead the squad. Sathyanathan notched an 8.14-meter leap over the weekend to become the nation's leader in the event. Sims ranks sixth in the country with a best jump of 7.94 meters also coming last weekend at the Michael Johnson Invitational. ranks sixth in the NCAA in the triple jump with a season-best leap of 16.13 meters at the Texas Relays a few weeks ago.

Don't miss your chance to see the No. 25 Tarleton State Texans back in action this weekend for their first and only home event of the season. The Texans will host the Joe Gillespie Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Tarleton State Track Complex. Admission will be free to all fans to come out and support the Purple and White during their historic season.