Week 6 Sees Big Movement In NCAA DI Women’s ITF Rankings

NOTE: Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for rankings. Please check your membership status HERE.

NEW ORLEANS — Conference Championship Weekend has a way of changing the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings.

It happened again this year as only three teams remained in place from Week 5 to Week 6 — No. 1 Oregon, No. 4 LSU and No. 8 Texas — when the most recent rankings were released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

There shouldn’t be a question as to why the Ducks still are the consensus favorite to win yet another indoor title. Oregon has five athletes who are ranked in the top-3 of their respective events and hold two top-5 relay teams as well.

Behind the Ducks sit No. 2 Georgia and No. 3 Arkansas. The Bulldogs swapped spots with the Razorbacks after their usual suspects — Keturah Orji and Kendell Williams — did their usual amazing things at the SEC Indoor Championships. Orji shattered the collegiate record in the triple jump and moved up to 3rd on the NCAA DI Descending Order List (DOL) in the long jump. Williams came up just short in her pursuit of her collegiate record in the pentathlon (4703 points), but is now No. 2 all-time (4686) and owns six of the top-10 marks.

As we mentioned before, LSU is No. 4 and Kentucky shifted up from No. 6 to No. 5 this week to round out the top-5.

Two teams vaulted into the top-10 this week: Ole Miss and Miami (Fla.).

The Rebels jumped from No. 13 to No. 9, which is their 2nd highest ranking in program history. Ole Miss hasn’t been ranked in the top-10 since Week 1 of 2008. The Rebels were buoyed by Janeah Stewart taking over the national lead in the weight throw.

The Hurricanes are in the top-10 for the first time in program history and topped their previous high-water mark of 13th set earlier this season. Miami (Fla.) is paced by senior sprinter Shakima Wimbley (No. 1 400, No. 5 200) and sophomore combined event specialist Michelle Atherley (No. 4 pentathlon).

Four other teams had impressive leaps from Week 5 to Week 6.

Purdue went from No. 21 to No. 15. The Boilermakers, led by hurdler Devynne Charlton, haven’t been ranked this high in Week 6 in program history.

Iowa State moved up nine spots from No. 29 to No. 20.

Louisville had the Move of the Week as it vaulted from No. 42 to No. 25. The Cardinals saw Dolly Nyemah jumped to No. 4 on the NCAA DI DOL in the weight throw.

There will be one more set of rankings this season and they’ll be a preview of what to expect come March 10-11 in College Station, Texas at NCAAs.