Arkansas Extends Lead In DI Women’s National Team Rankings

NEW ORLEANS — Last week the Arkansas women took over the lead in the National Team Computer Rankings.

NCAA Division I National Team Rankings Top 5 – Women 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Arkansas LSU Southern Cal Oregon Texas A&M 315.93 pts 247.31 pts 245.30 pts 243.41 pts 239.41 pts View Complete Women’s National Team Computer Rankings

Now the Razorbacks are putting some distance between themselves and the rest of the pack.

Despite not having a meet, top-ranked Arkansas increased its edge by 16.5 points in the most recent rankings released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Razorbacks last competed at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and Stanford Invitational and will be in action this upcoming weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays and the Texas Invitational.

Points in the National Team Computer Rankings are based off national descending order lists. The higher an athlete is ranked, the more points she provides her team. Marks from previous seasons are used until enough data is collected from the current campaign.

Arkansas received help from other teams’ athletes displacing higher-ranked athletes from top-5 teams on the list. That’s how the Razorbacks extended their lead without competing.

Speaking of those top-5 teams, LSU leapfrogged Southern Cal for the No. 2 spot after a strong showing at the Battle on the Bayou. The Women of Troy fell to third, while Oregon jumped two spots to No. 4 following a good effort at the Pepsi Team Invitational. And for the third consecutive week, Texas A&M held steady at No. 5.

Two marks helped the Ducks out the most: Their 4×100 relay time of 42.88 and Alaysha Johnson‘s 13.06 in the 100 hurdles. The team of Jasmine Todd, Deajah Stevens, Hannah Cunliffe and Ariana Washington is now fifth based off historical data and Johnson, a freshman, moved up to 11th on the list.

It’s fitting that the biggest mover of the week was also out west — the Arizona Wildcats, who went from No. 37 to No. 21.

This past weekend Arizona held the Jim Click Shootout and shined. The Wildcats turned in three top-6 marks in the hurdles. Junior Sage Watson is now second (55.45) in the 400 hurdles, while teammate Nnenya Hailey is sixth (55.97). Hailey also turned in a tremendous effort in the 100 hurdles, where is now ranked fourth (12.96).

When it comes to conferences, there is no doubt about the superiority of the SEC. The league has nine teams ranked in the top-25 ranging from No. 1 Arkansas to No. 24 Auburn. The Big 12 is second with five ranked teams, followed by the ACC and Pac-12 with four.

The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled to get underway June 8-11 in Eugene, Oregon at legendary Hayward Field.