(Courtesy of the CIAA)
NEW ORLEANS — As more and more Division II teams hop into action in this 2014 outdoor track & field season for the first time, the picture becomes clearer and clearer in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II National Team Computer Rankings.
Perennial powers moved to the top in the week three edition of the rankings as the defending outdoor national champion Saint Augustine’s men and the Johnson C. Smith women claimed the top spots in Tuesday’s release.
Also making significant moves toward the top as more of their rosters see their first outdoor action of the season were the Adams State men to No. 3, the Saint Augustine’s women to No. 2, the defending national champion Academy of Art women to No. 5 and the Grand Valley State women debuting at No. 6.
The National Team Computer Rankings for Division II are a reflection of performances that have been recorded only during the 2014 outdoor track & field season. While some teams have been competing outdoors since February and many more opened up their spring campaigns this past weekend, still others have yet to compete outside in 2014.
National indoor champion Adams State jumped up 55 positions to No. 13, followed closely by Lincoln (Mo.) at No. 6.
Unlike Division I and Division III, the Division II USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings are not influenced by preseason data. Week one rankings should not be referred to as preseason rankings, but rather the first in a series of regular season rankings issued each week.
The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national team race. Rankings points do not equate with NCAA Championships team points.