NEW ORLEANS – The Kutztown University men's track & field team moved up to fourth in the latest Atlantic Region Rankings by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
The Golden Bears ranked fifth in last week's ratings.
 
KU also has a dozen different student-athletes ranked in a total of seven events.
 
The men's distance medley relay that set a school record time of 10:07.83 is currently ranked fifth in Division II and second in the region.  The squad of Zach Fleming (Emerald, PA/Northern Lehigh) (Emerald, Pa./Northern Lehigh), Geoffrey Mock (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek) (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek), Kori Meshaw (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and Eli Weeks (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts) (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) pulled the feat at the Penn State National Invitational over the weekend. 
 
Percell Berry (Collegeville, PA/Methacton) (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton), the current Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week, cleared 15-4.5 (4.69) and is now second in the region in pole vault.  His mark also rates as the 17th best in Division II this year.  Sean Burns (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) is tied for sixth in the pole vault after clearing 14-7.25 (4.45) two weeks ago.
 
Matt Cannell (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) long jumped 23-5.5 (7.15) earlier this year and is third in the Atlantic Region.  He is 13th in Division II and has reached an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.  Cannell has also won the event back-to-back weeks.
 
Also ranked third is Michael Stramara (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain) (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain) in the weight throw, one of two events in which he is ranked.  He has a best mark this season of 55-7 (16.94).  Tyler Rolshausen (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain) (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) rates eighth in the weight at 49-9.75 (15.18).
 
Stramara is also ranked in the shot put and is one of two Golden Bears among the regional leaders.  Justin Kraft (Greentown, PA/Wallenpaupack) (Greentown, Pa./Wallenpaupack) is tied for third with a mark of 50-3.5 (15.33), while Stramara is eighth at 17-11.25 (14.61).
 
Jacob Murray (Pine Grove, PA/Pine Grove) (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) scored a 4,320 in the heptathlon at Bucknell last weekend and moved into fifth place in the event in the Atlantic.
 
Frank Nick (Kintnersville, PA/Palisades) (Kintnersville, Pa./Palisades) also had a strong performance at Bucknell, turning in a 15:41.97 in the 5,000 meters.  He rates sixth.
 
The Golden Bears are back in action on February 3-4 at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational.