Hillsdale Women Charge to No. 1 in NCAA DII National Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – For the third time this season a new women’s team has moved atop the National Team Computer Rankings in NCAA Division II Track & Field, while recent champions are gearing up for another battle on the men’s side.

NCAA Division II National Team Rankings Top 5 – Men 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Adams State Saint Augustine’s GVSU Tiffin Academy of Art View Complete Men’s National Coaches’ Poll   NCAA Division II National Team Rankings Top 5 – Women 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Hillsdale Lincoln (Mo.) GVSU Pittsburg State Alaska Anchorage View Complete Women’s National Coaches’ Poll

With less than a month to go before the Marh 11-12 NCAA DII Championships in Pittsburg, Kansas, the Hillsdale women charged past former favorites Lincoln (Mo.) and Grand Valley State to the top of the rankings for the first time in program history.

The three remain close, with Hillsdale’s 151.90 point total very reachable by Lincoln (146.14) and GVSU (146.14). No. 4 Pittsburg State remains very much in the conversation with 134.83 points.

Meanwhile, the defending national men’s champions, Adams State, held steady atop its gender’s leaderboard as Saint Augustine’s – the national indoor champions in 2013 and 2014 – edged out Grand Valley State for the No. 2 spot.

The Grizzlies checked in with 229.05 points for a healthy 60-point edge over SAU (167.48) and GVSU (167.25), as well as No. 4 Tiffin (163.81).

The rankings were announced Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Hillsdale, last year’s national runners-up indoors, once again piled up rankings points in the distance events to jump 22.45 points from a week ago. The Chargers’ distance medley relay squad came through at No. 2 in the country, while Emily Oren added a top-four effort in a fourth individual distance event at 5000 meters. Oren only ran the 3000 and DMR at NCAAs a year ago, but again has options with top-five times in the 800, mile, 3000, 5000 and DMR.

Hannah McIntyre added the No. 6 time at 5000 meters, while Dana Newell checked in at No. 8 in the weight throw.

Lincoln and GVSU both fell about 20 points from a week ago to open the door for Hillsdale’s ascent to No. 1.

Rounding out the top five was Alaska Anchorage, which improved two spots from last time behind National Athlete of the Week Joyce Chelimo.

Defending indoor national champion Central Missouri held steady at No. 11.

Led by historic distance performances from National Athlete of the Week Oliver Aitchison and Sydney Gidabuday, Adams State’s men added 35.32 points to their total from a week ago. The Grizzlies now have 12 performances ranked top-10 nationally in the mile, 3000, 5000 and DMR, including national leaders in all three individual events.

While ASU’s strength comes from endurance, Saint Augustine’s’ comes from speed. The Falcons posted No. 2 performances at 200 meters (Daniel Jamieson), 400 meters (Khari Herbert, and No. 3 Omar Johnson) and 800 meters (Immanuel Hutchinson) to rise more than 35 points from a week ago. Jumonne Exeter also leapt to No. 2 in the triple jump.

GVSU fell one spot to No. 3, while Tiffin also fell a spot to No. 4 despite a 26.88-point improvement from last time.

The Academy of Art men (106.89) climbed three spots to round out the top five.

Making a significant move into the men’s top-10 was Alaska Anchorage, which improved 14 spots to No. 10.

No team for either gender made a bigger move than the No. 16 Shorter men, who improved 24 spots from last time. Next up was Alaska Anchorage’s men, then the No. 25 MSU Moorhead men’s 12-spot improvement.

The No. 17 Southern Connecticut women made the biggest top-25 jump in the female rankings, climbing nine spots from a week ago.