Saint Augustine's Men & Lincoln (Mo.) Women Top Preseason DII Indoor National Rankings

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Saint Augustine's Men & Lincoln (Mo.) Women Top Preseason DII Indoor National Rankings
January 14, 2014

NEW ORLEANS – The defending national indoor champion Saint Augustine’s men and the Lincoln (Mo.) women have been deemed preseason favorites for the 2014 NCAA Division II indoor track & field season in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II National Team Computer Rankings released Tuesday.

NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL TEAM COMPUTER RANKINGS TOP 5: MEN
1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
Saint Augustine’s
233.10pts
’13: 1st Adams State
217.09pts
’13: 3rd Ashland
204.97pts
’13: 2nd GVSU
123.59pts
’13: 4th TAMU-Kingsville
108.56pts
’13: 8th
View Complete Men’s National Team Computer Rankings
As the defending champions not only indoors but also outdoors, head coach George Williams’ Saint Augustine’s men begin their title defense — looking for their 13th indoor title in program history — as the No. 1 team in the preseason rankings (or the season’s first edition of the rankings) for the third time in the past five seasons.

Lincoln (Mo.)’s women are their gender’s early-season favorite after finishing runners-up at nationals a year ago. The Tigers, coached by Victor Thomas, were last the favorites in the initial edition of the rankings in 2010 before going on to claim their most recent NCAA indoor team title. They have claimed four titles since 2004.

NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL TEAM COMPUTER RANKINGS TOP 5: WOMEN
1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
Lincoln (Mo.)
237.98pts
’13: 2nd GVSU
200.39pts
’13: 4th Adams State
171.08pts
’13: 6th Ashland
138.38pts
’13: 5th Johnson C. Smith
91.12pts
’13: 7th
View Complete Women’s National Team Computer Rankings
Defending indoor — and outdoor — women’s national champion Academy of Art will start its quest for a second-straight title at No. 10.

Rounding out the men’s top five were No. 2 Adams State, No. 3 Ashland, No. 4 Grand Valley State and No. 5 Texas A&M-Kingsville.

No. 2 Grand Valley State’s women, indoor champions in 2011 and 2012, start out at No. 2, followed by No. 3 Adams State, No. 4 Ashland and No. 5 Johnson C. Smith to complete the women’s top five.

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National Team Computer Rankings will be complied by mathematical formulae based on national descending order lists and data taken from previous seasons. For the preseason ranking data was taken from previous seasons as well as the current season.

However, only marks from the current season will be used in subsequent rankings.

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. A full description of the rankings can be found here.

USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings should not be referred to as a "poll” as no voting occurs during the process.

Men’s Preseason Rankings
MEN’S TEAMS WITH MULTIPLE RETURNING INDIVIDUAL SCORERS FROM 2013 NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
10 Saint Augustine’s
5 Ashland
5 Adams State
5 Grand Valley State
4 Texas A&M-Kingsville
3 Minnesota State
3 Southern Connecticut
3 Findlay
3 Central Missouri
3 Lincoln (Mo.)
2 Alaska Anchorage
2 Lake Erie
2 West Texas A&M
2 Academy of Art

With a nation-best 10 individual scorers returning — including a pair of defending individual champions — the No. 1 Saint Augustine’s men turned in a rankings score of 233.10 for a gap of just 16 points between themselves and No. 2 Adams State.

The Falcons are led by returning national champions Jermaine Jones at 200 meters and Moussa Dembele in the 60-meter hurdles, along with the nation’s top returner at 400 meters, Josh Edmonds.

Saint Aug’s may have the firepower on their side for a title run, recent history is decidedly against them. Since the current model of the USTFCCCA rankings was instituted for DII in 2010, no team ranked No. 1 in the initial edition has gone on to win the indoor crown, and the last two (Grand Canyon in 2013 and Lincoln (Mo.) in 2012) each finished 10th.

On the two occasions on which the Falcons were the early-season favorites in 2010 and 2011, they finished runners-up and sixth, respectively.

In fact, each of the past four men’s indoor national championship teams have been ranked No. 5 (Grand Canyon, 2012; Abilene Christian, 2011; Adams State, 2010) or lower (Saint Augustine’s No. 6, 2013) in the initial edition of the rankings.

ACTIVE MEN’S INDOOR NCAA CHAMPS
Kevin Batt, Adams State
3000 Meters (2013)
Johnny Carter, Academy of Art
Long Jump (2013);
Triple Jump (2013)
Micah Chelimo, Alaska Anchorage
5000 Meters (2013)
Moussa Dembele, Saint Augustine’s
60-Meter Hurdles (2013)
Jermaine Jones, Saint Augustine’s
200 Meters (2013)
Nick Lebron, So. Conn. State
Heptathlon (2012)
Romel Lewis, Lincoln (Mo.)
60 Meters (2013)
Audo Omot, Augustana (S.D.)
800 Meters (2011)
Jeron Robinson, TAMU-Kingsville
High Jump (2013)
Tabor Stevens, Adams State
Mile (2013)
Drew Windle, Ashland
800 Meters (2013)
Jordan Yamoah, TAMU-Kingsville
Pole Vault (2013)

No. 2 Adams State, with 217.09 rankings points, also has two returning individual champions in mile winner Tabor Stevens — also the 2013 cross country champion — and 3000 meters champ Kevin Batt among five returning scorers from its third-place team at the 2013 championships.

The Grizzlies last claimed the title in 2010.

Not far behind at No. 3 was Ashland at 204.97, which also returns five scorers from its 2013 national runner-up team including 800 meters champ Drew Windle. The Eagles have finished runners-up nationally in two of the past three indoor seasons.

No. 4 Grand Valley State, checking in with a rankings score of 123.59, doesn’t return any individual champions, but five Lakers points-scorers from its 2013 fourth-place team are back.

At No. 5 with 108.56 points, Texas A&M is the third men’s team set to return a pair of defending national champions in high jumper Jeron Robinson and pole vaulter Jordan Yamoah among four returners from its eighth-place squad at the 2013 indoor meet.

No. 6 Findlay, No. 7 Minnesota State, No. 8 Southern Connecticut, No. 9 Colorado Mines and No. 10 Academy of Art finish out the top 10. Academy of Art is the fourth team with multiple returning individual national titles in the form of long jump and triple jump titles by Johnny Carter in 2013.

The GLIAC registered as the preseason’s strongest conference with three top-10 teams and five total, with a nation-best six total coming from the MIAA.

Women’s Preseason Rankings
WOMEN’S TEAMS WITH MULTIPLE RETURNING INDIVIDUAL SCORERS FROM 2013 NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
6 Lincoln (Mo.)
5 Adams State
5 Johnson C. Smith
4 Angelo State
4 Ashland
4 Grand Valley State
3 New Haven
3 Alaska Anchorage
3 Central Missouri
2 Wayne State (Neb.)
2 Sioux Falls
2 Ferris State
2 Western State

No. 1 Lincoln (Mo.) topped the preseason rankings behind the strength of a nation-best six returning scorers form the 2013 indoor championships, including two-time defending 60 meters champion Latoya King. The Tigers registered a rankings score of 237.98, nearly 40 points ahead of No. 2 Grand Valley State.

Lincoln, which finished runner-up at nationals a year ago, is the preseason favorite for the first time since it last won the title in 2010.

Unlike recent Division II men’s history, women’s teams deemed favorites by the USTFCCCA computers have won three of the past four NCAA indoor titles. Grand Valley State in 2012 and 2011 and Lincoln in 2010 all won as preseason favorites, while defending champion Academy of Art — ranked No. 5 at the beginning of 2013 — is the lone non-favorite to win since the current USTFCCCA rankings began in 2010.

No. 2 Grand Valley State, in addition to having four returning scorers from its fourth-place team at NCAAs in 2013, also returns 2012 pole vault champion Kristen Hixson. The Lakers’ rankings score of 200.39 came courtesy of the deepest list of ranked individuals in the country, with 41 entries on the list of student-athletes in the national top-30 list in their respective events.

A title for GVSU would be its third in the past four seasons.

ACTIVE WOMEN’S INDOOR NCAA CHAMPS
Erin Alewine, Central Missouri
Pentathlon (2013)
Kearah Danville, Angelo State
Triple Jump (2013)
Kristen Hixson, Grand Valley State
Pole Vault (2012)
Latoya King, Lincoln (Mo.)
60 Meters (2012, 2013)
Alicia Nelson, Adams State
3000 Meters (2013)
Anna Rudd, Ferris State
5000 Meters (2013)
Barbara Szabo, Western State
High Jump (2011, 2012, 2013)
Danielle Williams, Johnson C. Smith
60-Meter Hurdles (2013);
200 Meters (2012)

No. 3 Adams State has five returners from the 2013, led by returning 3000 meters individual champion Alicia Nelson, for a rankings score of 171.08. The Grizzlies finished sixth at the NCAA Championships a year ago, and last won in 2008.

With 138.38 rankings points and four returning scorers from its fifth-place team at last year’s indoor nationals, Ashland came in at No. 4. The Eagles were runners-up at the 2010 championships to Lincoln.

Rounding out the top five was Johnson C. Smith, which finished seventh at NCAAs a year ago. The Golden Bulls registered 91.12 rankings points and return five national scorers from 2013. Included in that total is defending 60-meter hurdles champion and 2012 200 meters champion Danielle Williams. A title for JCS would be its first.

No. 6 Central Missouri, No. 7 Angelo State, No. 8 Sioux Falls, No. 9 Western State and No. 10 Academy of Art complete the top 10.

Notable for No. 9 Western State is high jumper Barbara Szabo, who will be going for her fourth consecutive indoor title in her signature event. She would become the fifth woman and the eighth NCAA student-athlete — regardless of Division — to accomplish the feat indoors, and the third woman and fourth overall from Division II.

The NSIC is the best-represented conference in the Division with six total teams, but with two of the top four teams and five overall, the GLIAC checked in as the top conference.

View All Teams Beyond the Top 25

USTFCCCA NCAA DIVISION II
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD NATIONAL TEAM COMPUTER RANKINGS (TOP 25)
2014 Preseason — January 14
next ranking: January 28

Rank School Points Conference Head Coach (Yr) 2013 FINAL
1 Saint Augustine’s 233.10 CIAA George Williams (38th) 1
2 Adams State 217.09 RMAC Damon Martin (19th) 3
3 Ashland 204.97 GLIAC Jud Logan (11th) 2
4 Grand Valley State 123.59 GLIAC Jerry Baltes (15th) 4
5 Texas A&M-Kingsville 108.56 Lone Star Ryan Dall (6th) 8
6 Findlay 106.75 GLIAC Marc Arce (26th) 15
7 Minnesota State 103.03 NSIC Jim Dilling (1st) 5
8 Southern Connecticut 90.56 Northeast-10 John Wallin (4th) 21
9 Colorado Mines 83.40 RMAC Matt Sparks (1st) 30
10 Academy of Art 63.12 PacWest Charles Ryan (4th) 11
11 Missouri Southern 62.79 MIAA Bryan Schiding (1st) 21
12 Neb.-Kearney 58.23 MIAA Brady Bonsall (6th) 40
13 Indianapolis 58.10 GLVC Scott Fangman (17th) 6
14 West Texas A&M 54.69 Lone Star Darren Flowers (5th) 30
15 Pittsburg State 51.87 MIAA Russ Jewett (26th) NR
16 American International 50.50 Northeast-10 Leo Mayo (8th) 18
17 Central Missouri 50.16 MIAA Kirk Pedersen (18th)Kip Janvrin (16th) 7
18 Southwest Baptist 49.41 MIAA Corey McElhaney (6th) 20
19 Lincoln (Mo.) 49.22 MIAA Victor Thomas (13th) 9
20 Shippensburg 48.31 PSAC Dave Osanitsch (9th) 12
21 Alaska Anchorage 46.22 GNAC Michael Friess (24th) 14
22 Lake Erie 42.23 GLIAC Bryan Harmon (7th) 15
23 Lake Superior State 34.94 GLIAC Jason Davis (1st) 21
24 Hillsdale 33.52 GLIAC Jeff Forino (3rd) NR
25 Notre Dame (Ohio) 33.06 Mountain East Earl Peterson (2nd) NR





Men’s Conference Index Top 10
Rank Conference Points Top 25 Teams
1 GLIAC 607.41 6
2 RMAC 383.30 2
3 MIAA 344.98 6
4 CIAA 269.57 1
5 Lone Star 163.25 2
6 Northeast-10 161.61 2
7 NSIC 139.18 1
8 GLVC 135.62 1
9 PSAC 113.22 1
10 PacWest 63.12 1



View All Teams Beyond the Top 25

USTFCCCA NCAA DIVISION II
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD NATIONAL TEAM COMPUTER RANKINGS (TOP 25)
2014 Preseason — January 14
next ranking: January 28

Rank School Points Conference Head Coach (Yr) 2013 FINAL
1 Lincoln (Mo.) 237.98 MIAA Victor Thomas (13th) 2
2 Grand Valley State 200.39 GLIAC Jerry Baltes (15th) 4
3 Adams State 171.08 RMAC Damon Martin (26th) 6
4 Ashland 138.38 GLIAC Jud Logan (11th) 5
5 Johnson C. Smith 91.12 CIAA Lennox Graham (7th) 7
6 Central Missouri 85.55 MIAA Kirk Pedersen (18th)/Kip Janvrin (16th) 13
7 Angelo State 81.35 Lone Star James Reid (15th) 8
8 Sioux Falls 75.97 NSIC Reid Ehrisman (2nd) 18
9 Western State 69.27 RMAC Chris Bradford (5th) 15
10 Academy of Art 66.44 PacWest Charles Ryan (4th) 1
11 Alaska Anchorage 65.48 GNAC Michael Friess (24th) 11
12 New Haven 57.22 Northeast-10 Shaunnaya Williams (3rd) 16
13 U-Mary 54.26 NSIC Mike Thorson (20th) 9
14 Ferris State 53.23 GLIAC Steve Picucci (6th) 14
15 Tiffin 53.02 GLIAC Jeremy Croy (14th) 26
16 Simon Fraser 43.04 GNAC Brit Townsend (14th) 12
17 Wayne State (Neb.) 40.19 NSIC Marlon Brink (14th) 20
18 Georgian Court 40.17 East Coast Michael Murawski (2nd) 36
19 Minnesota Duluth 39.80 NSIC Joanna Warmington (3rd) 39
20 Saginaw Valley State 39.64 GLIAC Rod Cowan (5th) 21
21 Missouri Southern 38.90 MIAA Patty Vavra (20th) 33
22 Livingstone 37.43 CIAA Justin Davis (5th) 39
23 Augustana (S.D.) 36.25 NSIC Tracy Hellman (14th) 26
24 Saint Augustine’s 36.10 CIAA George Williams (38th) NR
25 Winona State 34.47 NSIC Mason Rebarchek (10th) 36





Women’s Conference Index Top 10
Rank Conference Points Top 25 Teams
1 GLIAC 545.14 5
2 MIAA 436.65 3
3 NSIC 301.97 6
4 RMAC 278.97 2
5 CIAA 220.94 3
6 Northeast-10 144.72 1
7 GNAC 133.95 2
8 Lone Star 105.30 1
9 PSAC 70.22
10 PacWest 66.44 1




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