2018 NCAA DIII Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Rankings – Pre-Championships

NEW ORLEANS – Everything but the top team changed in the final NCAA Division III Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Team Rankings of the season.

Williams continued to hold down the top spot in the nation in the most recent rankings released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA).

NCAA Division III National Team Rankings Top 5 – Men 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Williams UMass Boston MIT Ohio Northern Washington (Mo.) View Complete National Team Computer Rankings

These rankings reflect only accepted entries to the 2018 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will take place this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Ephs tied UW-La Crosse for the most accepted entries into NCAAs with 12. Williams spread its entries across five event areas with athletes in the sprints and hurdles, mid-distance, relays, jumps and combined events. Summer-Solstice Thomas is expected to score major points for the Ephs as she is ranked No. 1 in the high jump – along with teammate Emma Egan – and No. 2 in the pentathlon (Egan is No. 4).

UMass Boston, better yet Wadeline Jonathas, is ranked No. 2 in the ultimate index. The Beacons have never been ranked higher and Jonathas is a major reason for that. Jonathas is entered in four events at NCAAs – 60 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and the long jump – and is ranked No. 1 in all of them.

Ohio Northern is fourth, hot on the heels of third-ranked MIT. The Polar Bears will be led by Emily Richards, who is entered in three events this weekend – 800 meters, the mile and 3000 – and, like Jonathas, is the top-ranked athlete in each.

Washington (Mo.) rounds out the top-5 going into NCAAs. The Bears turned in the nation’s fastest time in the DMR this past weekend and that pairs well with the No. 2 ranking that Annalise Wagner has in the 800.

Wartburg soared 26 spots from No. 33 to No. 7. The Knights took advantage of the final qualifying weekend and recorded six top-10 marks, including the No. 1 billing in the 4×400.

Oberlin, the preseason No. 1, is back in the top-10 at No. 8. The Yeowomen jumped five spots from No. 13 and need their throwers – Monique Newton and Ana Richardson – to come through in a big way this weekend.