NEW ORLEANS – As the NCAA Division II outdoor championship meet approaches later this week, men of St. Augustine's and the women of Angelo State are the nation's top-ranked teams in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll, which was announced on Monday.
On the men's side, ACU is ranked No. 3 in the country, while the ACU women are ranked No. 4 in the nation. ACU swept the outdoor championships in 2008, while the men finished second last year to St. Augustine's and the women finished sixth.
Competition begins Thursday and No. 1 St. Augustine's will be looking for its second straight and 11th overall NCAA outdoor title, while No. 2 Adams State stalks close behind and will attempt to be the first NCAA Division II school to sweep cross country and indoor and outdoor titles in a single year to earn a "triple crown."
The Adams State men won NCAA titles in cross country and in indoor track & field earlier this school year and will be looking for their first ever NCAA outdoor crown. St. Augustine's leads all with 19 entries for the championships, 13 of which come in the sprint and hurdle events, while Adams State will have 14 entries to 12 for Ashland and seven for ACU.
On the women's side, No. 1 Angelo State enters as the top ranked team, a year removed from finishing runner-up to No. 2 Lincoln (Mo.) by three points on the Rambelles' home track.
An NCAA crown for Angelo State would be its first, but a national title for Lincoln (Mo.) would be the seventh outdoors for the Blue Tigers. No. 3 Grand Valley State poses a huge threat to the two top-ranked teams as the Lakers will hold court with a championship-high 25 entries. Lincoln with 20 and Angelo State with 18 fall next in the ranks in the entry category. ACU will send 10 athletes and one relay team to the meet.
