Release courtesy of the USTFCCCA

NEW ORLEANS – The defending national champion Adams State men and the women of Lincoln (Mo.) will enter this weekend’s NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships as the favorites in the team races, according to the National Team Computer Rankings announced Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

These rankings only take into account the entries into the NCAA Championships, which will be held March 11-12 in Pittsburg, Kansas. The rankings formula does not directly equate to the NCAA Championships scoring system, but the rankings are meant to project how teams will fare at NCAAs.

The Grizzlies (211.05 ranking points), going for their second title in a row, are projected to duel primarily with No. 2 Tiffin (178.54), No. 3 Grand Valley State (166.64), and No. 4 Saint Augustine’s for the national trophy.

MEN'S TEAM RACE BREAKDOWN

Adams State will be relying heavily on the distance events this weekend. Of the Grizzlies’ 18 entries into the Championships – tied for the most in the country with Grand Valley State – 13 come in the endurance races. That includes the top seeds in the mile, 3000 and 5000 (courtesy of Oliver Aitchison and Sydney Gidabuday), with six entries at 3000 meters and four in the mile.

GVSU, on the other hand, is the only team represented in every discipline across the board (sprints/hurdles, mid-distance, distance, relays, jumps, throws and combined events). The Lakers will be looking for big points in the weight throw, with four top-nine entries into the event led by top seed Darien Thornton.

No. 2 Tiffin and No. 4 Saint Augustine’s might be farther back in the total entries department with 13 apiece, but what they lack in quantity they make up in quality.

Tiffin will be looking for a third-consecutive sweep of the 60- and 200-meter titles from Lamar Hargrove, plus big points from shot put/weight throw contender Coy Blair.

Academy of Art will rely on Mobolade Ajomale and Jordan Edwards to score big points in the sprints among the Urban Knights’ 10 entries, while Colorado Mines will draw upon its national champion cross country distance runners with eight of their 11 entries competing against Adams State and GVSU for points in the endurance events.

WOMEN'S TEAM RACE BREAKDOWN

Eight of Hillsdale’s 12 entries are in the distance events, with No. 2 Emily Oren headlining four entries at 3000 meters, alone. Oren will have a big weekend ahead of her, entered in the mile and 3000, as well as the No. 3 distance medley relay.

Grand Valley State has the most entries of any women’s team in the meet at 15. Seven of them come in the distance events, including three in that same 3000-meters race. In fact, that will be a significant event as No. 8 Alaska Anchorage also has two entrants in that race, along with another from No. 6 Lewis. GVSU also boasts a bit of depth across the board with three sprinters/hurdlers, three throwers and a pair of jumpers.