Feb. 5, 2003

The nationally-ranked TCU Flyin' Frogs return to the track on Saturday when they travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado to take part in the Air Force Classic. Colorado, Colorado State and Air Force will also be competing in the four-team event. The Frogs enjoyed an off week last week after competing in meets in successive weekends.

"I'm not sure there is a lot of sprint depth on those teams," said TCU head coach Monte Stratton. "They are traditionally strong in the distance events. We used to hold the Western Athletic Conference indoor championships at the Air Force Academy, so I'm not unfamiliar with that track, although my team is," continued Stratton. "It's a good facility with an oversized, flat track - one conducive to running fast. We are relatively healthy, so I'm expecting some strong performances."

Following this weekend's meet, the Frogs will compete just one more time (February 14 at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.) prior to the Conference USA Indoor Championships, which will be held in Houston, February 28 and March 1.

The TCU Flyin' Frogs men's track team is ranked eighth in the latest Trackwire 25 poll. The Frogs are slated to score 22 points at the NCAA Indoor Championships, down two points from a week ago. LSU, the defending outdoor champions, continue to hold the top spot with 62 points, just five points ahead of fellow Southeastern Conference school Arkansas. Stanford, the only non-SEC school among the top seven, figures to score 32 points, good for third overall. Florida (27) and defending indoor champion Tennessee (26) hold the fourth and fifth place positions, just ahead of South Carolina and Mississippi State, which are tied for sixth with 24 points.

The TCU men's team opened the season ranked in a tie for seventh with 22 points. They picked up two points in the January 20 poll, holding seventh place to themselves with 24 points. They were ranked in a tie with Mississippi State for seventh in the January 27 poll, again with 24 points.

The Trackwire 25 projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualifying competitions across the country.

The Frogs finished in a tie for 42nd place in the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships with five points. Their top finish at the national indoor meet is a second place finish in 2001.

Trackwire Top 25 Men's Poll

1. LSU 62

2. Arkansas 57

3. Stanford 32

4. Florida 27

5. Tennessee 26

6. South Carolina 24

Mississippi State 24

8. TCU 22

9. Villanova 18

Auburn 18

11. Alabama 16

Michigan 16

13. Purdue 15

USC 15

15. UCLA 14

16. Kentucky 12

17. SMU 10

Indiana 10

Washington 10

Nebraska 10

Manhattan 10

Georgia 10

23. Wisconsin 9

Ohio State 9

Mississippi 9