2017 NCAA DIII Outdoor Women’s Team Rankings – Week 7

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

NEW ORLEANS – There was no movement in the top-6 of the NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings, but from No. 7 to No. 25, only one team remained in place from Week 6 to Week 7.

The most recent rankings released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) saw Washington (Mo.) not only maintain its No. 1 ranking like it had since the preseason but improve upon it. The Bears added 19.5 points to their total, giving them 199.40 – which is a high for both genders.

Every team that was in the top-9 last week not named UMass Boston actually lost ground on WashU. The Beacons added 1.09 points to their total after Wadeline Jonathas took over the top spot in the nation on the NCAA DIII Descending Order List for the 400.

Perhaps the biggest jump of the week belonged to Wartburg as it went from No. 23 last week to a season-high No. 10 this week. This is the highest the Knights have been ranked in the past two years. Wartburg used a team effort to surge in the rankings, but its most notable effort was in the guise of its 4×100 relay team which is now ranked 4th nationally with a time of 47.04.

Just three spots down, Emory moved closer to rejoining the top-10. The Eagles come in at No. 13 this week, which is still a far cry from when they were 8th in Week 4. Emory moved up four spots this week after Gabrielle Stravach turned in the 6th best 1500 of the season (4:30.65) and the 4×100 relay team also ran a 6th best time (47.14).

Whitworth is ranked No. 14 and can thank Keyla Leland’s range for that. Leland is ranked 3rd in the 1500 (4:27.35), 7th in the 5000 (16:54.40) and 8th in the 800 (2:11.38). She notched two of those marks – 1500 and 5000 – this past weekend.

Just like Whitworth, UW-Platteville, Concordia Moorhead and Dubuque all vaulted six or more spots from Week 6 to Week 7. The Pioneers jumped from No. 24 to No. 18. The Cobbers surged from No. 28 to No. 20, while the Spartans soared 13 spots from No. 35 to No. 22.

The 2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships are set to be held May 25-27 in Geneva, Ohio. Be sure to check back in throughout the upcoming week as we preview NCAAs and bring you even more NCAA DIII content.