The Field Closes in on Saint Augustine’s in Latest NCAA DII Rankings

NEW ORLEANS –The Saint Augustine’s men and women remained atop the latest NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings, but several teams are in hot pursuit after strong weekends.

The week six rankings announced Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) saw three men’s teams jump 10 or more spots into the top six, while the Grand Valley State men and women took over at No. 2 in both genders’ leaderboards.

Results from around the nation brought the No. 1 Falcon men and women back toward the rest of the pack. The three-time defending national champion men dropped nearly 40 points to 182.54, while the women slipped 14 points to 165.26.

GVSU – which competed in six different meets this weekend – took advantage and moved to within 30 points of both genders’ top spots. Boosted by national top-10 performances in distance, hurdle, jumping and throwing events, the Laker men improved 23 points to 164.21.

Displaced to No. 3 was Texas A&M-Kingsville (150.13).

GVSU’s strong women’s distance corps was out in full force with six top-20 efforts, including top-six marks at 5000 meters from No. 3 Kendra Foley and No. 6 Gina Patterson. The distance surge lifted the Lakers six spots from last time, checking in at 133.94 points.

Rounding out the men’s top six were three teams that improved a combined 55 spots from last week. No. 4 Adams State (137.10) climbed 10 spots behind National Athlete of the Week Sydney Gidabuday, indoor national champion No. 5 Tiffin (114.97) improved 30 spots, and No. 6 Missouri Southern (114.57) jumped up 15.

The GVSU women displaced Johnson C. Smith to No. 3, followed by another six-position improver in No. 4 Pittsburg State. West Texas A&M dropped two spots to round out the top five.

Reigning national outdoor women’s champ Central Missouri improved one spot to No. 6, while No. 7 Lewis jumped 60 spots from last time.

Also making a significant leap on the men’s side was No. 23 Southern Indiana, which flew up 28 positions from last time.

The National Team Computer Rankings are complied by a mathematical formula based on national descending order lists. 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.