Reigning Women’s Champions Making a Run at No. 1 UW-La Crosse Women in DIII Outdoor Team Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – The defending outdoor champion No. 1 UW-La Crosse men extended their advantage atop the Division III National Team Computer Rankings released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The No. 1 UW-La Crosse women, on the other hand, have company with the two-time defending indoor and cross country national team champions No. 3 UW-Oshkosh and No. 4 Johns Hopkins, respectively, making their way toward the top. Meanwhile, two-time defending outdoor team champion Wartburg is still hot on their heels at No. 2.

The UW-La Crosse (167.29) and Wartburg (163.80) women remained steady at the top, but both No. 3 UW-Oshkosh (139.38) and No. 4 Johns Hopkins (124.98) made big upward moves.

UWO increased its team score by nearly 23 points with top-10 shot put performances (preseason marks included) by No. 2 Breanna Strupp and No. 9 Jecel Klotz. Johs Hopkins improved by just over 23 points behind third-ranked 800 meters runner Maggie Shelton and top-10 marks at 5000 meters by No. 6 Frances Loeb and No. 8 Sophia Meehan.

Women’s Top Five 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) UW-La Crosse 167.29 pts Wartburg 163.80 pts UW-Oshkosh 139.38 pts Johns Hopkins 124.98 pts Rowan 124.22 pts View Complete Women’s Rankings

Rowan (124.22) was displaced two positions to No. 5 to complete the top five.

This past weekend served as the 2014 outdoor debut for the UWL men and women at their home Ashton May Invitational – the Division III National Meet of the Week – and the Eagles men took full advantage.

Behind top-five performances (including preseason marks) from No. 4 Gary Trkula in the pole vault and No. 5 David Stilin at 1500 meters, the UWL men (253.39 team rankings score) were the biggest gainer in the men’s rankings with a nearly 26-point improvement from a week ago.

Men’s Top Five 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) UW-La Crosse 253.39 pts UW-Oshkosh 143.12 pts UW-Eau Claire 142.60 pts UW-Whitewater 117.65 pts North Central (Ill.) 91.82 pts View Complete Men’s Rankings

No. 2 UW-Oshkosh (143.12) and No. 3 UW-Eau Claire (142.60) traded places from the previous edition of the rankings, while No. 4 UW-Whitewater (117.65) held firm.

National Athlete of the Week John Crain led his North Central (Ill.) men (91.82) to a nine-position jump from last week to round out the top five at No. 5.

The No. 16 Baldwin Wallace women were the biggest movers of the week with a 14-position jump, while the No. 15 Wabash men claimed that distinction for the men with an 11-spot improvement.

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.