NEW ORLEANS – The ACU men's and women's track and field teams are each ranked in the top 10 in the season's first rankings by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association, which were released late Tuesday.
The women's team is ranked No. 3 in the country, while the men's team is ranked No. 9 in the nation. Defending national champion St. Augustine's is the top-ranked team on the men's side, while last year's national runner-up and defending Lone Star Conference champion Angelo State is the top-ranked women's team in the country.
No. 3 Abilene Christian, the 2008 NCAA team champions, has the nation's leading 4×100-meter relay squad who clocked 46.05 at last weekend's Texas Relays. The Wildcats also have the nation's leader in the discus (Paige Newby) and javelin (Linda Brivule). Brivule is the two-time defending national champ with the javelin.
The top-ranked Rambelles of Angelo State (318.68) has emerged as the early team to beat in Division II as the team is loaded with seven of the nation's top marks. Angelo State, who placed second at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships to current-No. 16 Lincoln (Mo.) by just three points, returns many of their stars from last year that made them a formidable opponent.
Currently, multi-talented Aisha Adams has the nation's lead in the heptathlon, high jump, and the long jump and was part of the Division II leading 4×400-meter relay squad that clocked 3:40.29 at last weekend's Texas Relays. In addition, Angelo State's Celethis Byrd has the national lead in the 200 (23.95) and the 400 (54.64). At 800 meters, Andria Nussey is leading the division with a 2:09.51 clocking.
This week's release represents marks accumulated by teams in the 2010 outdoor season through last weekend as reported to the Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). Mathematical formulae are used to compile a team's ranking based on an athlete's or relay's standing in relation to others in the same event across the country. A team's score in the national team rankings is a reflection of its “cumulative” chances as it relates ultimately to the NCAA Championships. Also released this week is the regional team index, a reflection of a team's all-around strength in relation to other teams in their region.
The next release of updated rankings for NCAA's Division II will continue on Tuesday, April 13, with weekly updates leading to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships to be held May 27-29 in Charlotte, N.C.
