Winds Of Change Sweep Through NJCAA ITF Rankings

NOTE: Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for rankings. Please check your membership status HERE.

NEW ORLEANS — Things are changing in the NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings, at least as it pertains to the order of the top women’s teams.

Iowa Central is no longer the overwhelming favorite to sweep the NJCAA team titles come March 3-4 when the 2017 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships are held in Pittsburg, Kansas at Pittsburg State University.

Men’s Rankings | Women’s Rankings

The Triton men do still own a 271.54-point advantage over No. 2 Barton (Kan.) CC. That much hasn’t changed even though Iowa Central lost 67.55 points in the past week.

However, it’s the Triton women who are no longer No. 1.

New Mexico JC’s women surged 87.61 points from Week 1 to Week 2 to upend Iowa Central. The Thunderbirds have 358.36 points compared to the Tritons’ 271.86. New Mexico JC was buoyed by three athletes and one relay team taking over the national lead in their respective events: Krystal Sparling (60), Esther Gitahi (1000), Latavia Coombs (pentathlon), Distance Medley Relay.

Iowa Central is now closer to No. 3 Barton (Kan.) CC than it is the top-ranked T-Birds. The Tritons are just 0.22 points clear of the Cougars.

Rounding out the top-5 is Iowa Western CC and Monroe (N.Y.). South Plains (Texas) fell out of the top-5 all the way down to No. 9, which allowed Vincennes (Ind.), Coffeyville (Kan.) CC and Western Texas to gain ground.

Points in the National Team Computer Rankings are based off the NJCAA Descending Order Lists. A higher an athlete or relay team is ranked in his or her event, the more points he earns for his or her team. Those points are then totaled and teams are ranked based off the numbers the computer spits out.

Over in the men’s rankings, little has changed when it comes to the top-5. Iowa Central is still No. 1, as mentioned before, and Barton (Kan.) CC is No. 2. Coming in third once again is South Plains (Texas). Fourth belongs to Cloud County (Kan.) CC and the top-5 is wrapped up by Butler (Kan.) CC.

The most notable jump in the men’s rankings belonged to Western Texas. The Westerners vaulted 10 spots from No. 20 to No. 10 and can thank Travis Riley (No. 1 long jump) and Sean Bailey (No. 2 400) for that.

Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC went from No. 26 to No. 12 this week, while Allen (Kan.) CC surged from No. 38 to No. 18. Those were jumps of 14 and 20 spots, respectively.