NCAA D1 Women’s Rankings Settle Down With Conference Championships Approaching

NEW ORLEANS — After a tumultuous past two weeks in the National Team Computer Rankings, as they pertain the NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track & Field, it was time for them to settle down a bit.

NCAA Division I National Team Rankings Top 5 – Women 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Kentucky Arkansas Oregon Southern California Texas 343.88 pts 327.78 pts 268.60 pts 247.77 pts 235.23 pts View Complete Women’s National Team Computer Rankings

That moment came Monday when the most recent rankings were released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

With many teams resting in anticipation of the upcoming conference championships, fifteen squads in the top-25 remained in place — including eight in the top-10. Plus, one team joined the top-25.

Just like last week, Kentucky, Arkansas and Oregon are 1-2-3. The Razorbacks and Ducks gained ground on the Wildcats, but the team with the feline mascot still owns a comfortable 16.10-point lead.

The only movement in the top-10 came at 4-5, where Southern California and Texas swapped spots. The Women of Troy went to No. 4, while the Longhorns fell to No. 5.

Further down in the rankings, New Mexico and Harvard pulled the old switcheroo as well. The Lobos — previously No. 14 — moved up to No. 12, while the Crimson dropped from No. 12 to No. 14.

Coming in at No. 19 this week — new to the top-25 — is Texas Tech. The Red Raiders saw two huge marks turned in this past weekend by Hannah Carson and Viershanie Latham. Carson, already ranked No. 1 in the javelin throw, hurled the discus 61.97 meters (203-3) to move up to second nationally. Latham soared 13.60 wind-assisted meters (44-7½) for the second best mark nationally as well.

This upcoming weekend, 20 Division I conferences will hold their championships. From the ACC to the WAC and everywhere in between, teams will be vying not only to win bragging rights and hardware, but set qualifying marks for the upcoming preliminaries. Perhaps one of the most exciting conference championships will be that of the SEC’s, as there are 10 ranked teams in the mix.

The 2016 outdoor track & field season will come to a head June 8-11 in Eugene, Oregon where the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held.