ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia women have taken over the top spot in this week’s U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national poll for the first time since 2015.

The Lady Bulldogs surged into the No. 1 position after being fourth in last week’s poll.  The Georgia women finished second at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships over the weekend in a meet that featured three individual UGA champions.  The Lady Bulldogs were last ranked No. 1 during Week Three of the 2015 season and ended up third at Nationals that season.

The Georgia men stayed at No. 5 in this week’s poll after taking fifth at the SEC meet with two champions.  The Bulldogs were second in the 2018 preseason poll and during the first two weeks of the season, which represents their top ranking in history.

The Lady Bulldogs have qualified seven individuals who represent a total of 11 qualifiers.  Senior Keturah Orji (triple jump), junior Kate Hall (long jump) and freshman Lynna Irby (200-meter dash) lead the NCAA in their respective events headed into the NCAA Indoor Championships.  Orji (long jump), Hall (60m) and Irby (400m), along with freshman Tara Davis (long jump, 60m hurdles), will all be competing in a pair of events.

The Bulldog men qualified eight individuals for Nationals and have nine qualifiers.  Junior Denzel Comenentia (shot put, weight throw), who is the only member of the Georgia men’s team to qualify in a pair of events, is currently ranked second in the weight throw and fourth in the shot put nationally to lead the Bulldogs’ charge.

The NCAA Championships will be in College Station, Texas, on March 9-10.