Crunch Time Changes Complexion Of NJCAA DI Rankings

NEW ORLEANS — Thirteen days from today, the 2016 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Levelland, Kansas.

Between now and May 17, athletes will try their best to qualify for the meet or improve on their already solid marks in hopes of leading their team to a national championship. If the meet started today, however, the Iowa Central men and the New Mexico JC women would be the odds-on favorites to take home the team crowns.

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

In the most recent National Team Computer Rankings that were released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the Tritons and Thunderbirds stood tall. In Iowa Central’s case, the team had already been ranked No. 1 since the beginning of the season. When it comes to New Mexico JC, the Thunderbirds did just enough to overtake Iowa Central’s women.

Want to know how close the race is for the top spot in the women’s rankings? Try 1.03 points.

That’s right: New Mexico JC tallied 622.05 points this week compared to 621.02 for Iowa Central.

The difference is a bit bigger when it comes to the Triton men, as they lead South Plains by 73.90 points. Settling behind the Texans, just like last week are Barton County, Butler (Kan.) and fith-ranked Iowa Western.

In the women’s rankings, the Thunderbirds and Tritons are 1-2, followed by Central Arizona, South Plains and Monroe.

There was only one new addition to either set of rankings and that was the Gillette men. The Pronghorns went from No. 27 last week to No. 19 this week and were aided by a 61.36-point jump.