Lincoln (Mo.) Women Back on Top in Tight DII Rankings Battle

NEW ORLEANS – The Lincoln (Mo.) women regained the top spot in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II National Team Computer Rankings, which were released Tuesday, but they have a lot of company near the top — as do the No. 1 Saint Augustine men.

National Ranking PDFs: Top 25 | Full by team | By Event | TFRRS Top 10 NCAA Qual. Bests
Week-by-Week PDFs: By Rank | By Team | All-Time
Regional Ranking PDFs: Top 10 Teams | By Team | By Event  
Rankings Central
All-Division Collegiate Bests: Full PDF | Best Marks by Football Players

Lincoln swapped places with Grand Canyon after a one-week absence from the No. 1 position, while indoor champ No. 3 Academy of Art, defending champion No. 4 Grand Valley State and No. 5 Adams State all made significant moves upward in the rankings.

On the men’s side indoor champion No. 1 Saint Augustine’s built upon its team score, but not nearly as much as defending champion Adams State, which is now back within striking distance of the top spot after falling to No. 4 last week.

The National Team Computer Rankings are a projection of how teams could fare at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. This is the first week that does not feature marks from 2012, except for combined events. An explanation of the rankings system can be found here.

Lincoln (Mo.) Women Reclaim Top Spot

The Blue Tigers made a modest net gain of 3.36 for a team score of 229.96, but it was more than enough to move past Grand Canyon, which lost 19.83 net points to fall to 215.69. Lincoln benefited from several student-athletes moving up within the top 10 of their respective events, including junior Donna Lee Hylton moving to No. 2 at 400 meters (52.96), senior Michelle Cumberbatch improving to No. 3 in the 400 hurdles (59.17) and sophomore Daniele Newman to No. 7 in the triple jump (40-6¼/12.35m).

Several Grand Canyon student-athletes improved their qualifying times and marks, but nonetheless slipped in the event rankings — resulting in the slide to No. 2, though still well within the race for No. 1.

Academy of Art remained at No. 3, but with an 11.93 net gain for a 210.26 team score the Urban Knights are back in the thick of the National Championship fight. Senior Jesseka Raymond’s No.7-ranked heptathlon performance of 4,972 was a big boost in the rankings, in addition to each of the program’s five top-8 100 hurdlers all recording season’s bests — including No. 1 ranked standout Vashti Thomas.

Defending champion Grand Valley State stormed back into the conversation, remaining put at No. 4 but gaining 41.34 net points for a team score of 208.57. The Lakers recorded 11 top-10 caliber individual or relay performances on the weekend, highlighted by back-to-back National Athlete of the Week senior Sam Lockhart’s DII discus record of 192-9 (58.75m). Nearly half of the top-10 performances came in the distance events, not surprising considering the Lakers were the 2012 DII cross country champions.

Adams State likewise made a significant leap to move a spot to No. 5, gaining 47.08 net points for a 163.59 team score. The Grizzlies recorded seven top-10 individual or relay performances, including senior Alicia Nelson at No. 1 in the steeplechase (10:03.70) and junior Kayon Robinson at 400 meters (52.79).

Defending Champ Adams State Back in the Hunt for No. 1

Indoor champion No. 1 Saint Augustine’s made a 15.76 net point gain for a team score of 275.20 with a CIAA Team Championship this past weekend. Without that gain, the Falcons likely would have started this week the No. 2 team in the country, despite holding a 40 point lead after last week, considering the defending champion Adams State Grizzlies roared back into the race with a staggering 95.06 net gain for a team score of 260.28 to jump two spots behind strong performances at Mt. SAC.

The Grizzlies’ distance crew — which won a DII cross country title in the fall — came through big, recording seven top-10 performances including the No. 1 5000 meter time from sophomore Kevin Batt (13:44.44). Freshman triple jumper Carlton Lavong also had a big weekend with the No. 1 mark in the division at 52-5½ (15.99m).

Grand Canyon and Ashland each slipped a spot, displaced by Adams State’s jump to No. 2. Grand Canyon dropped 20.05 net points to 198.85, while Ashland fell 34.75 net points to a 175.73 team score.

Findlay rounded out the top five at 137.21 after a 5.68 point net loss.

Biggest Jump (Men): 16 – No. 8 Grand Valley State, No. 13 Minnesota State
Biggest Jump (Women): 70 – No. 15 Simon Fraser