GVSU Women Are the Latest No. 1 in Division II National Team Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – Another week, another top-ranked Division II women’s team as Grand Valley State took over in the week five edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) DII National Team Computer Rankings released Tuesday.

Women’s Top Five
1)	2)	3)	4)	5)
GVSU 184.06 pts	Adams State 179.07 pts	Lincoln (Mo.) 162.15 pts	Ashland 136.15 pts	Johnson C. Smith 106.12 pts
View Complete Women’s Rankings

Despite remaining virtually stationary in terms of team rankings score, the 2011 and 2012 indoor national champion Lakers (184.06 team rankings score) took over the top spot from Adams State (179.07) after the Grizzlies – who fell one spot to No. 2 — themselves grabbed the No. 1 position last week from No. 3 Lincoln (Mo.).

Completing the triangle is the fact that Lincoln (Mo.) (162.15) defeated GVSU in a dual at GVSU earlier this month.

In their first turn at No. 1 since last season’s week five rankings, the Lakers will have to contend at a deep GLIAC Championship meet against four top-25 teams including No. 4 Ashland and No. 9 Tiffin.

Adams State will have no easy task, either, with two other top-10 teams in No. 6 New Mexico Highlands and No. 10 Western State awaiting them at the RMAC Championships.

No. 4 Ashland (181.84,) No. 5 Johnson C. Smith (106.12), No. 6 New Mexico Highlands (82.01) and newly crowned GNAC Champion No. 7 Alaska Anchorage (67.06) held firm from a week ago.

The biggest mover of the women’s rankings was No. 8 Saint Augustine’s (53.72), up 18 positions. The CIAA Champions from a week ago were unable to benefit last week in the rankings from their league title since the meet concluded after the rankings were compiled.

Rejoining the top-10 were No. 9 Tiffin (50.75) and No. 10 Western State (48.68), which improved their positions by five spots and one spot, respectively.

Looking to potentially make a splash at the NCAA Indoor Championships held in their hometown at the JDL Fast Track next month, the Winston-Salem State women improved 14 positions to No. 14 – their highest rank since the USTFCCCA rankings began in 2010.

Adams State’s men maintained their position atop the men’s rankings they seized from defending indoor champion Saint Augustine’s two weeks ago. Rivalries are on the line this weekend for Adams State at the RMAC Championships against No. 14 Colorado Mines and No. 18 Western State.

Men’s Top Five
1)	2)	3)	4)	5)
Adams State 262.74 pts	Saint Augustine’s 235.18 pts	Ashland 181.84 pts	Minnesota State 129.11 pts	GVSU 126.77 pts
View Complete Men’s Rankings

The Grizzlies (262.74) made modest gains on their team rankings score, but ultimately saw their lead shrink over Saint Augustine’s (235.18) as the Falcons reaped the rankings rewards of their CIAA Championships performances from early last week.

Defending indoor and outdoor 200 meters champion Jermaine Jones moved to No. 1 on the DII qualifying list in his signature event and to No. 9 at 60 meters, while teammate and 2012 outdoor 200 meter champion Josh Edmonds jumped to No. 2 at 200 meters.

No. 3 Ashland (181.84), No. 4 Minnesota State (129.11), No. 5 Grand Valley State (129.77) and No. 6 Missouri Southern (86.09) stood pat from a week ago.

No. 7 Findlay (70.05) and No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney (67.76) swapped spots from a week ago, while No. 9 Pittsburg State (67.09) climbed two spots to rejoin the top 10 and eke ahead of Southern Indiana (67.06) at No. 10.

A majority of those teams will be competing at either the GLIAC (Ashland, GVSU, Findlay) or the MIAA (Missouri Southern, Nebraksa-Kearney, Pittsburg State) championships this upcoming weekend.

No. 22 Virginia State was the highest riser of the week with a 17-spot improvement, just ahead of No. 14 Colorado Mines’ 16-position climb.

The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national team race. Rankings points do not equate with NCAA Championships team points. A full description of the rankings can be found here.

USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings should not be referred to as a “poll” as no voting occurs during the process.