UW-Oshkosh Men Claim Top Spot in Newest DIII Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – UW-Oshkosh and UW-La Crosse are locked in a tight duel for the men’s No. 1 ranking in the most recent Division III U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Computer Rankings released Wednesday.

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After both teams supplanted North Central (Ill.) atop the rankings, No. 1 UW-Oshkosh and indoor champion No. 2 UW-La Crosse are separated by fewer than two points for the top spot. The Wartburg women, meanwhile, command a nearly 80-point lead over No. 2 UW-Oshkosh.

This being the final edition of the rankings in which preseason data from 2012 factors into the calculation, next week’s top 25 could look drastically different.

Wisconsin Controls the Men’s Top Five

UW-Oshkosh boosted its team score to 175.18, an improvement of 8.84 net points, to claim the top spot in the rankings for the first time since week one of last season — barely holding off No. 2 UW-La Crosse, which jumped up 18.95 net points and two spots with a team score of 173.33.

The increase for UW-Oshkosh was driven by junior John McCann moving into the No. 9 spot on the high jump event rankings — which for the final week include the top 2012 times and marks of returning student-athletes — with a clearance of 6-9¾ (2.08m) and senior Lukey Klitz improving to No. 14 (6-8¾/2.05m). Senior pole vaulter Jake Dickmann also registered at No. 11 with a clearance of 16-0 (4.88m).

UW-La Crosse’s move toward the top was due mostly to senior David Stilin’s No. 3 run at 5000 meters in 14:20.01.

North Central (Ill.) fell from No. 1 to No. 3 after a 13.33 net drop to a 157.62 team score. The Cardinals did not record any marks improving upon their current standing in the event rankings.

A pair of Wisconsin teams moving, at least this week, in opposite directions rounded out the top five, as UW-Whitewater (152.68 team points) dropped a spot to No. 4 and UW-Eau Claire (109.77) edged out Whitworth (108.32) for the No. 5 position.

Wartburg Remains Atop the Women’s Rankings

Like clockwork, the Wartburg women again appear atop the women’s rankings, marking the 13th consecutive edition of the rankings they have done so dating back to the beginning of the 2012 season. Sophomore shot putter Kayla Hemann moved from 12th to eighth in the shot put event rankings with a throw of 45-6¼ (13.87m), but the Knights still dropped 3.37 net points to a 221.71 team score.

Indoor champion UW-Oshkosh remained No. 2, dropping 4.43 net points to a team score of 142.10.

Illinois College was the biggest mover in the top five this week, jumping two spots to No. 3 despite gaining a modest 1.91 net points for a 98.98 team total.

Williams slid one spot to No. 4 after a 6.9 net loss put it at a 95.74 team score. George Fox moved up one spot to No. 5 at 88.01, less than a point ahead of No. 6 Ramapo at 87.18 after an 8.86 net gain.