Iowa Central Home To Both Top-Ranked NJCAA DI Teams

NEW ORLEANS — It was only a matter of time until a women’s team caught Central Arizona in the NJCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings.

That moment came Wednesday when the latest rankings were released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

QUICK LINKS: Men’s Rankings | Women’s Rankings

Iowa Central is now home to the top-ranked men’s and women’s teams in NJCAA Division I. The Tritons extended their lead in the men’s rankings, while the women jumped two spots to overtake the Vaqueras, who fell to third behind New Mexico JC.

It was a collection of strong performances that allowed Iowa Central to surge in the women’s rankings.

This past weekend the Tritons saw Leanne Pompeani return to form, two sprinters jumped up the descending order list and a thrower join a record-setting teammate in the top-5 nationally. Pompeani is now the top-ranked female at 10,000 meters (35:03.44), Danielle Riggins and Ariel Jackson are second (11.56) and third (11.57) at 100 meters, respectively, and Alexis Chiles is ranked fourth in the shot put.

The only other notable move in the women’s rankings was Iowa Western and Butler (Kan.) switching places. The former was at 10th last week, but is now 8th — and vice versa.

In the men’s rankings, the top-6 teams were identical from last week with the Tritons leading the way.

Hinds jumped three spots to No. 7, which forced Coffeyville, Western Texas and Mesa CC down one spot each.

Other men’s teams that trended multiple spots upward were Vincennes (No. 24 to No. 17), Johnson County (No. 25 to No. 20) and DuPage (No. 28 to No. 23).

Many of these teams will have athletes in action at the 2016 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held May 17-19 in Levelland, Kansas.