KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The Sycamore women won their first MVC championship since 1999 in dramatic fashion as they captured the title by winning the final event (4xc400 meter relay) on Sunday. Indiana State moved up three notches in the national rankings as they are 37th which is their second highest placement for week seven since the current system was established in 2008. The Sycamores were 16th in the nation during week seven of the 2010 season.
The Indiana State men dominated the final day of competition in Des Moines, Iowa, and captured their third straight MVC outdoor championship. The Sycamores moved up five spots in the national rankings as they are now 63rd which is their highest ranking for week seven since the current system was established in 2008. The previous best was 64th during the 2012 campaign.
Illinois State is the top ranked women's team from the Missouri Valley Conference as they moved into the top 25 for the first time this season as the Redbirds moved up 14 spots to 25th. Wichita State dropped out of the 25 and are now 26th followed by Indiana State in 37th, Southern Illinois 65th, Missouri State 118th, Northern Iowa 127th, and Drake 187th. Notre Dame is still the top school among major universities in Indiana despite falling 11 spots to 29th. The Sycamores are next at 37th with Indiana 59th, Butler 66th, and Purdue 77th. Loyola, who will join the Missouri Valley for the 2014 season, remained 78th.
Illinois State is also the top ranked men's team from the Missouri Valley Conference as they moved up one spot to 59th. The Sycamores are next at 63rd followed by Wichita State in 70th, Northern Iowa 73rd, Southern Illinois 83rd, and Drake 172nd. Indiana is still the top ranked team among major universities in Indiana despite falling three spots to 36th. Purdue is now 54th with Notre Dame 58th, Indiana State 63rd, and Butler 147th. Loyola, who will join the Missouri Valley for the 2014 season, is 45th.
GREAT LAKES REGION RANKINGS
The final week of the region rankings were also released Tuesday by the USTFCCCA with the Sycamore women finishing the 2013 season in fifth while the men dropped a notch to eighth in the Great Lakes Region.
The top six teams from the week six rankings will finish the Great Lakes Region rankings in that order led by Notre Dame and followed by Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Indiana State, and Kent State. Wisconsin moved up two to seventh with Indiana dropping one to eighth, Akron down one to ninth and Miami (Ohio) up one to 10th. The rest of the top 15 has Cincinnati followed by Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Purdue, and Butler.
The top three teams were unchanged in the men's Great Lakes Region rankings with Wisconsin on top followed by Ohio State and Indiana. Akron and Michigan both moved up one spot to fourth and fifth, respectively, with Notre Dame dropping two to sixth. Purdue and Indiana State swapped positions with the Boilermakers now seventh and Sycamores eighth. Kent State and Michigan State also swapped spots with the Golden Flashes now ninth and the Spartans 10th. The rest of the top 15 has Miami (Ohio) followed by Eastern Michigan, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Central Michigan.
USTFCCCA Rankings
