NEW ORLEANS, La. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team jumped two spots in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings, from 10th to eighth, following its 13th Mid-American Conference Championship title, Feb. 27.

The Eagles, who are ranked in the Great Lakes Region, are the second-highest ranked MAC team, trailing only the University of Akron which is ranked sixth. Only Big Ten Conference teams are ranked higher than UA and EMU. The University of Wisconsin is ranked first in the region, and Notre Dame and Kent State rank just under Eastern at the nine and 10 spots, respectively.

Seven Eagles rank individually, also. Clint Allen (Muskegon, Mich.-Orchard View) ranks second regionally in the 60-meter dash (6.70 seconds), Ackeem Forde (Haynesville, Barbados-Colleridge & Parry School) is second in the 200-meter dash (21.16 seconds) and third in the 400 (47.79 seconds), David Brent (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary's) is seventh in the 800 (1:50.04) and fourth in the mile (4:00.90), Vanier Joseph (Redford, Mich.-Thurston) is fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (7.97), Xavier Clais (Hanvillers, France) is sixth in the high jump (7-00.25), Oliver Walther (Erfurt, Germany/Pierre-de-Coubertin Gymnasium) is sixth in the triple jump (49-00.25), Gerald Gersham (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield) is first in the shot put (62-01.25) and eight in the weight throw (63-10.25).

Eastern, which is also ranked 56th nationally, will be back in action March 5, in South Bend, Ind. for the Alex Wilson Invitational.