It’s Moving Week In The NJCAA ITF Rankings

NEW ORLEANS — It was Moving Week in the NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings as 20 of the men’s teams in the top-25 and 18 of the women’s teams in the top-25 saw their positions change in the most recent rankings that were released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Both top-ranked teams didn’t move at all this week as the Iowa Central CC men and the New Mexico JC women remained entrenched at the top of their respective areas.

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

In the men’s rankings, South Plains (Texas) improved a total of 114.83 points and only moved up one spot from No. 3 to No. 2. That shows just how wide of a gap there is between the Tritons and the rest of the pack.

South Plains (Texas) saw six athletes combine for three top-3 spots this past weekend (two individual events, one relay). Kwaume McGee is now ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA in the high jump while Laquan Narin is No. 2 in the long jump. The 4×400 relay team is now No. 1 following a time of 3:10.11.

Barton County (Kan.) CC dropped to No. 3, while Butler (Kan.) CC and Cloud County (Kan.) CC swapped spots from No. 5 to No. 4 and No. 4 to No. 5, respectively.

Elsewhere in the men’s rankings, Meridian (Miss.) CC jumped from No. 13 to No. 10 thanks to a pair of strong efforts in the 800 (Kobey Hill and Noah Smith) as well as one in the 4×400 relay (5th in NJCAA).

Other teams that soared multiple spots included Mesa (Ariz.) CC (No. 16 to No. 14), Central Arizona (No. 17 to No. 15), Pima (Ariz.) CC (No. 21 to No. 19) and Hutchinson (Kan.) CC (No. 25 to No. 21).

Over in the women’s rankings, New Mexico JC is followed by Barton (Kan.) CC, Iowa Central, Iowa Western CC and South Plains (Texas). The Cougars and Tritons swapped spots from last week, while the Plainswomen jumped from No. 9 to No. 5.

Central Arizona found its way inside the top-10 as it added 23.65 points to its total from Week 2. Throwers Audrey Ciofani and Portious Warren each had a big hand in that as they moved up to the top spot in the weight throw and shot put, respectively.

Butler (Kan.) and Highland (Kan.) CC are in the top-16 as the former went from No. 19 to No. 15 and the latter from No. 23 to No. 16. Highland (Kan.) earned a bunch of points in the rankings thanks to its 4×800 team that is now No. 2 in the nation.

The only new addition to the top-25 this week is Macomb (Mich.) CC. A strong weekend by its 4×800 team vaulted the Monarchs from No. 32 to No. 24.

If you can believe it, the 2017 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships are just three weeks away. They’ll be held March 3-4 in Pittsburg, Kansas.