Seven Cougars make up a point total of 85.93 points for the Cougars in the computer-generated poll that is based on last year’s final rankings in the indoor season. Houston debuts behind Texas Tech (167.45), Florida (127.20), Florida State (122.32), Texas (96.46) and Georgia (91.27).
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Senior sprinter Kahmari Montgomery returns as Houston’s top finisher from a season ago. Montgomery, who was recently named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List, returns as the top sprinter in the NCAA in the 400-meter dash.
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Senior transfer Obi Igbokwe adds huge points for the Cougars. Joining the Cougars before his final collegiate season, Igbokwe enters as the No. 3 ranked returner in the 400-meter dash and No. 7 in the 200-meter dash.
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Senior sprinter Mario Burke enters the 2019 campaign as the No. 3 returning runner in the 60-meter dash. Burke posted a top mark of 6.59 in the 60 a season ago.
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Senior hurdler Amere Lattin is Houston’s final track student-athlete to make the ranked list. Lattin is the ninth-fastest returner from the 2018 season in the 60-meter hurdles after running 7.74 a season ago.
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The Cougars had a pair of field athletes contribute the point totals in seniors Felipe Valencia and Trumaine Jefferson. Jefferson posted the 23rd best long jump of the returning crop at 25-2.0 (7.67m) a season ago, while Valencia threw 60-11.5 (18.58m) in the shot put to return at 27th.
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Multi-athlete Nathaniel Mechler returns for his junior season after earning NCAA All-American honors a season ago. Mechler posted a heptathlon score of 5,758 at the NCAA Championships and is the seventh-best returner heading into the new year.