JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - After stellar performances at the 2022 MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend (May 7-8), at which both programs finished in third place, Lincoln's men's and women's teams have each entered the top-10 of the national rankings. The LU men's outdoor track & field team is ranked No. 7 in the country while the Blue Tiger women are No. 9 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Division II rankings, released on Tuesday evening (May 10).

The Blue Tiger men, who were previously ranked No. 20, shot up 13 spots after posting six marks that rank among the top-10 in the nation at the MIAA Championships. LU, which garnered 131.99 points this week, is ranked in between a pair of MIAA rivals, as Central Missouri (142.70) is No. 6 and Missouri Southern (105.07) is No. 8. Other ranked league programs include No. 18 Washburn (62.95) and No. 22 Fort Hays State (52.63).

West Texas A&M currently leads the men's ratings with 282.15, and Grand Valley State is No. 2 with 243.46 points. Texas A&M-Commerce (200.85), fellow MIAA member Pittsburg State (192.54) and Adams State (162.50) round out the top-five.

In the women's rankings, Lincoln moved up from No. 13 to No. 9 after earning 105.43 points. LU is the second-highest of the ranked MIAA programs, behind only No. 7 Pittsburg State, which collected 132.88 points. No. 13 Central Missouri (84.12 points), No. 18 Fort Hays State (63.98) and No. 23 Missouri Southern (46.54) are also ranked from the MIAA.

Leading the women's ratings is Azusa Pacific with 229.63 points, with Grand Valley State (228.77) close behind at No. 2. Closing out the top-five are West Texas A&M (221.57), Minnesota State-Mankato (200.04) and Fresno Pacific (154.85).