Feb. 10, 2003
The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field teams are still buzzing about an outstanding Meyo Invitational run on campus last weekend and the talented depth on both teams have the Irish ranked among the best in the country.
The women’s team, whose effort was highlighted during the Meyo Invitational by a spectacular 3,000-meter effort from freshman Molly Huddle, is ranked sixth in the latest Team Power Rankings (2-10-03). The men are 16th.
The Team Power Ranking is a unique system of ranking teams based on the quality of athletic performance, team depth and dual-meet scoring potential. The system rates teams in the same fashion as a decathlete of heptathlete. Points are assigned for two athletes in each event and on the basis of quality of performance. The top person in each event has his/her points doubled to adjust for the value of the number of the ranking score. The points for all events are then totaled for the rankings score.
The Team Power Rankings are sponsored by the United States Track and Field Coaches Association (USTCA).
The rankings can be viewed at www.team-power.org.
In other Irish track and field news, the most decorated runner in Notre Dame history continues to add to his impressive resume. Ryan Shay, who graduated in 2002, won the USA Men’s Marathon Championship in Birmingham, Ala., on Feb. 8. Shay’s time of 2:14.29 was just about a minute ahead of Kevin Collins (2:15.32) in second place.
Shay ended up as a nine-time All-American at Notre Dame from 1997-2002. He won the NCAA Championship in the 10,000 meters in 2001 and owns three school records.