2017 NCAA DIII Women’s Outdoor Team Rankings – Week 4

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

NEW ORLEANS – One thing has remained constant in the NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings this season and that’s Washington (Mo.) as the team to beat.

For the 5th week in a row, the Bears own the No. 1 ranking. The most recent rankings were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and WashU isn’t ready to relinquish its hold on that top spot.

Things changed around the Bears, however, as Williams moved up from No. 3 to No. 2, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps fell from No. 2 to No. 3, SUNY Geneseo jumped from No. 8 to No. 4 and MIT held ground at No. 5.

WashU strengthened its footing – and nearly opened up a 100-point lead on the Ephs – thanks to Alison Lindsay and Daisy Ogede. Lindsay took over the NCAA DIII lead in the steeplechase after she clocked a time of 10:41.56 this past weekend. Ogede put together quite the performance at the UAA Championships, where she notched a pair of top-5 times in the 200 (1st, 23.99) and 100 (4th, 11.89) and anchored the 4th fastest 4×100 team (47.37).

The Knights added another top-3 mark to its tally this past weekend. That came in the guise of Sara Rosenzweig in the steeplechase. Rosenzweig crossed the finish line in 10:42.97 and is 2nd on the NCAA DIII Descending Order List.

Nebraska Wesleyan, the 6th ranked team in Week 4, gained a top-5 mark – actually it was a NCAA DIII-leading mark. SteaVen Becker launched the shot put 14.26m (46-9½) and it put her at the top of the NCAA DIII Descending Order List.

Emory made a big move in the rankings as it went from No. 20 to No. 8. Dani Bland has been the top athlete for the Eagles all season long as she is still No. 1 on the NCAA DIII Descending Order List in the 100 (11.70w) and recently added a 2nd-place mark in the 200 (24.26).

UW-Eau Claire and Whitworth vaulted 22 and 40 spots, respectively. The Blugolds come in at No. 12 and most recently saw Jessie Reineck add a top-5 mark to her tally in the 200 (4th in 24.49) after already owning one in the 400 (4th, 55.84). The Pirates settled in at No. 13 and were boosted by Kayla Brase in the triple jump (3rd, 12.23m/40-1½) and their 4×400 relay team.

Other big movers in the top-20 included Wartburg and Bridgewater (Va.), as they jumped 16 and 19 spots, respectively, while Rochester (N.Y.) and Otterbein soared 39 and 26 spots, respectively into the top-25.

We saw some big changes in the National Team Computer Rankings this week and look for that trend to continue as the season heads into the final month. The 2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships are set to be held May 25-27 in Geneva, Ohio.