NJCAA DI Rankings Continue To Take Shape As Season Progresses

NEW ORLEANS — With less than one month remaining until the 2016 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, it’s pretty clear as to what’s happening in the National Team Computer Rankings.

In the most recent rankings that were released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the top-ranked Iowa Central men extended their lead while the also top-ranked Triton women are trying their best to fend off a scrappy effort by New Mexico JC.

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

Iowa Central’s men are now up 111.37 points on second-ranked South Plains (787.04-675.67). Coming in at a very distant third is Barton County (472.02) and Butler (Kan.) sits in fourth place at 449.20 points. Fifth place belongs to Iowa Western.

Over in the women’s rankings, the Tritons’ first-place lead over the Thunderbirds shrunk to 9.15 points (637.51-628.36). Iowa Central took over first place last week as the previous No. 1 Central Arizona, fell to third place.

Rounding out the top-5 of the women’s rankings are South Plains (fourth) and Barton County (fifth).

Only two new teams joined the top-25 in either ranking and that happened in the men’s version where Garden City CC came in at 24th and Lincoln (Ill.) entered at 25th.

Points in the National Team Computer Rankings are based off national descending order lists. The higher an athlete is ranked, the more points he or she provides his or her team. Only marks from this season are included unless otherwise stated.

The 2016 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held May 17-19 in Levelland, Kansas. A lot can change in the rankings between now and then.