Storm men ranked 20th to begin indoor season

NEW ORLEANS — The Simpson men's track and field team is ranked 20th in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason National Team Computer Rankings, as announced last week.

USTFCCCA Preseason National Team Rankings | Individual Rankings by Team

Simpson and 13th-year head coach Dave Cleveland return all four members of last season's All-American 4x400-meter relay team along with national qualifiers Dylan Kalinay (60-meter hurdles) and sprinter Emmitt Wheatley (200 meters).

Simpson's quartet of Jordan Coughenour, Travis Tupper, Chase Wetterling and Kirk Wicks finished seventh in the nation in the indoor 4x400-meter relay in 2017.

The USTFCCCA Computer Rankings are meant to provide an indication as to how a team will fare at the national meet. The team rankings are based on how individuals are projected to perform at nationals. The Storm currently have four events ranked in the top 20 nationally: Wetterling is No. 1 in the 400 meters, Kalinay is No. 9 in the 60 hurdles and Emmitt Wheatley is No. 16 in the 200 meters and No. 17 in the 60 meters.

The Storm travel to Lincoln, Neb. to compete in the Nebraska Wesleyan Invitational on Friday, Jan. 19.