Indiana Tech Tops First 2015 NAIA Outdoor T&F Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – With most teams having competed outdoors once or twice this March, the data are in for the first NAIA outdoor computer rankings of 2015.  Indiana Tech was atop both rankings, which the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released on Wednesday.

The Warriors won the men’s and women’s outdoor national titles in 2014, with the women beating out Oklahoma Baptist by one point.  Then, all winter, the Warriors held down double No. 1 rankings for the entire indoor season, and only left Ohio with one national championship. 

The Bison women got their revenge in Geneva, beating Tech by eight points. The women’s indoor national champs started the outdoor season ranked fifth in the NAIA.   No. 2 Westmont (Calif.), No. 3 Wayland Baptist, and No. 4 Concordia (Neb.) occupied the rest of the women’s top five spots.

Indiana Tech did win the men’s national title three weeks ago, beating outdoor No. 7 Wayland by five points. Between those two teams in the rankings are No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist, No. 3 Concordia (Ore.), No. 4 Concordia (Neb.), No. 5 British Columbia, and No. 6 Westmont.

BC makes the biggest splash in the transition from indoors to outdoors.  The Thunderbirds, out of Vancouver, don’t compete at indoor nationals, but they do compete outdoors, where their men and women finished in the top five last year.

For complete breakdowns by team, and stats for every team past the top twenty-five, check out the links in the sidebar.

The NAIA rankings will be released every Wednesday between now and the May 21-23 national meet in Gulf Shores, Alabama.