Grand Canyon Women Overtake No. 1 in DII, Saint Augustine Men Remain On Top

NEW ORLEANS – Only one of the top-ranked teams from a week ago is still No. 1 after a rankings shake-up caused by the removal of preseason data from the equation of the Division II U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Computer Rankings released Tuesday.

Though the Saint Augustine’s men were able to retain — strengthen, even — their position atop the DII rankings, the Lincoln (Mo.) women were not as fortunate. The Blue Tigers were jumped by Grand Canyon, which now assumes the top spot in what is shaping up to be a "Queen of the Hill" competition.

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Grand Canyon Women Leapfrog to No. 1

Grand Canyon was among the biggest beneficiaries of this year’s shake-up, as the Antelopes gained 47.95 net points for a team total of 235.51 to jump up two spots from No. 3 a week ago. Of the teams in the top 25, Grand Canyon recorded the second-largest team score net gain, trailing only indoor champion Academy of Art. The Urban Knights gained 52.51 points to jump two spots to No. 3 with a 198.33 team score.

The Antelopes will hope to keep the top spot longer than the only other time it has been No. 1. The Antelopes were No. 1 exactly one year ago in week three of the 2012 season following the post-preseason data removal rankings shake-up, but dropped back down the following week.

Lincoln (Mo.) slid to No. 2 after holding a 71-point lead a week ago. The Blue Tigers were among the teams most dependent on marks from a season ago to keep them atop the rankings, dropping 54.52 net points to a team score of 226.60 – still well within striking distance of new No. 1 Grand Canyon. The only team to suffer a bigger blow to its team score was last week’s second-ranked team No. 6 Adams State, which plummeted 93.08 team points to 116.51. The Grizzlies, more distance-oriented than most other teams in the top 10, figure to jump back into the rankings race once all of their distance runners fully open up into their featured events.

The only top-10 team to remain stationary was defending champion No. 4 Grand Valley State, which gained 15.22 net points for a 167.23 team score. Johnson C. Smith improved one spot to No. 5, standing relatively pat with a modest 1.5 net gain to 124.44.

Other teams to make big gains in and into the top 25 were No. 12 Harding (+15 spots), No. 17 Chico State (+23), No. 19 Slippery Rock (+15), No. 22 Texas A&M-Commerce (+72), No. 23 Nova Southeastern (+45) and No. 25 Livingstone (+16).

Saint Augustine’s Men Emerge from Shuffle Stronger at No. 1

The only two teams in the men’s rankings that didn’t switch positions were the two at the top, indoor champion No. 1 Saint Augustine’s and No. 2 Grand Canyon. Saint Augustine emerged from the rankings shuffle with a 24.4 net point gain, giving them a team score of 259.44. Grand Canyon moved very little, adding just 0.15 net points for its team total of 218.89, but it was more than enough to hold off a strong charge toward the top by No. 3 Ashland.

Ashland was by far the biggest beneficiary of the removal of preseason data from the rankings formula, soaring two spots to No. 3 with a 79.64 net gain for a 210.48 team score. The Eagles occupy almost the exact same spot as defending champion and now-No. 4 Adams State did just one week ago as the challenger to the top two teams. Adams State’s  men —  who, like the women’s squad, is more distance-oriented than other teams in the top 10 — fell 45.41 net points to 165.22, but have a big weekend ahead with many top distance runners competing in their featured events at the Mt. SAC Relays.

Findlay rounded out the top five after sliding one spot, despite a modest 8.41 net gain to 142.89.

Among the teams making the biggest gains on the men’s side: No. 12 West Texas A&M (+16 spots), No. 11 Cal State Stanislaus (+11).