Complete Team Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s track and field team will enter the NCAA Outdoor Championships next weekend ranked No. 38 in the country, according to the most recent poll released by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

EKU is one of the highest-ranked non-power conference schools in the country, coming in just ahead of No. 39 North Carolina State and just behind No. 37 Iowa. The Colonels are also the highest-ranked team in the state of Kentucky, as Kentucky is ranked No. 50 and Western Kentucky No. 72. Defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Eastern Illinois is ranked No. 42.

EKU began the outdoor season ranked No. 118.

The EKU men’s team’s ascension of the rankings can be contributed to the three Colonels who qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships: junior Soufiane Bouchikhi, senior Ben Cheruiyot and sophomore Ben Toroitich. It is the most runners EKU has sent to the national meet since 2008.

Bouchikhi, who was a second-team All-American in the indoor 5,000 meters this winter, qualified in the 5,000 meters (12th / 14:05.69) and 10,000 meters (5th / 30:11.21) at the NCAA East Region Preliminary Championships last weekend, while Cheruiyot qualified in the 10,000 meters (10th / 30:17.44) and Toroitch in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (1st / 8:37.03). Toroitich’s time was the fastest of any qualifier in the country.

The trio leaves early next week for Des Moines, Iowa. The NCAA Championships are set to be held June 6-9.