March 23, 2011

ARLINGTON, Tex. - The UT Arlington men begin the 2011 season ranked No. 61 in the nation, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Wednesday afternoon.

The Mavericks start the year with six athletes ranked in the top 50 in different events. The 4x100m relay team is also ranked in the top 50 (No. 36).

Cordero Gray is the lone Maverick to earn preseason rankings in two events. He did so in the 100m, where he is ranked eighth in the nation, and the 200m, where he is ranked 21st.

UTA's next highest-ranked athlete is Romain Martin. Fresh off his third-place finish in the NCAA Championships heptathlon, Martin is ranked 15th in the heptathlon to open the year.

Based on the first meet of the season - the Horned Frog Invitational - Casey Keeter is ranked 24th in the shot put and Ivan Storic ranks 39th in the javelin. Storic was also honored Wednesday as the Southland Conference Athlete of the Week.

Isiah Clements, ranked 40th in the high jump, and Lionel Mungwari, ranked 47th in the 100m, round out the Mavericks in the USTFCCCA-honored athletes.

The Mavs compete Saturday in the Mean Green Invitational in Denton.