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Defending DII Champ Saint Augustine’s Men Reclaim No. 1 - USTFCCCAPublished by
Defending DII Champ Saint Augustine’s Men Reclaim No. 1By Kyle Terwillegar, USTFCCCA April 21, 2015
NEW ORLEANS – It was a Saint Augustine’s takeover in the sixth edition of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings, released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The two-time defending national champion Falcon men reclaimed the No. 1 position they last held two weeks ago, while the SAU women flew up four spots to No. 2, just behind top-ranked Central Missouri. With just over a month remaining until the NCAA Division II Championships in Allendale, Michigan, on May 21-23, the rankings continue to ebb and flow with each passing week; of the combined 20 teams in the men’s and women’s top 10s, 18 checked in at a different position than a week ago. Case in point: only Saint Augustine’s and Ashland – the former men’s No. 1 which dropped down to No. 2 this week – remained part of the top five from last time; Pittsburg State fell from No. 3 to No. 11, Adams State from No. 4 to No. 8, and Angelo State from No. 5 to No. 10. Assuming their positions and reprising former top-five ranks of their own were No. 3 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 4 Minnesota State and No. 5 Grand Valley State.
For Saint Augustine’s – which saw the rankings’ second-biggest improvement of 44.81-points to a 180.28 team rankings score – was boosted to the top, as usual, by its corps of dynamic short sprinters. Omar Johnson ran a DII-leading 45.78 and was joined in the top five by teammates Burkheart Ellis, Jr., at No. 3 and Khari Herbert at No. 5. Ellis, Jr., also posted the No. 2 time at 200 meters, followed by No. 5Daniel Jameison and No. 6 Johnson. Those performances put the Falcons 22 points ahead of No. 2 Ashland, and more than 40 ahead of the group of teams from No. 3 Texas A&M-Commerce through No. 8 Adams State that are all themselves separated by fewer than 20 points. As has been the case of late, movement in the women’s top five was more subdued – but teams are starting to creep up on indoor champ Central Missouri. The Jennies checked in at 173.04 points – down about three points despite Heavin Warner’s NCAA Division II record in the hammer throw. Just one week ago, only one team was within 30 points of UCM; this week, both Saint Augustine’s (153.01) and cross country champion Grand Valley State (150.57) are within 25 points, with No. 4 New Mexico Highlands, which dropped two spots this week, still very much in the hunt at 132.65, Rounding out the top five was Pittsburg State (116.60) following a three-position jump. Like their men’s teammates, the women of Saint Augustine’s moved up the rankings behind the power of their sprinters and hurdlers. Samantha Woodburn had herself a weekend at the CIAA Championships, moving up to No. 3 at 200 meters, No. 6 at 400 meters and running a leg of the No. 1 4×100 relay. Also contributing big points for the Falcons were No. 6 Ornella Livingston at 200 meters, No. 6 Shakinah Brooks in the long jump, and No. 7 Shamia Lassiter in the 100-meter hurdles. Three women’s teams made double-digit improvements in the rankings. No. 13 Winston-Salem Statejumped up 12, No. 18 Johnson C. Smith leapt a week-best 18 positions, and No. 24 Western Washingtonimproved 13 spots. Two more men’s teams climbed 10-or-more spots, as No. 4 Minnesota State rose 11 notches and No. 13Azusa Pacific ascended 10 positions. At the regional level, the eight regions saw a combined two new men’s No. 1 teams and three new top-ranked women’s squads. Adelphi’s men climbed to No. 1 in the East, while Shorter took command of the South. For the women, Saint Augustine’s moved to No. 1 in the Atlantic, as did Stonehill in the East and West Texas A&M in the South Central.
Read the full article at: www.ustfccca.org
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