JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Both of Lincoln's outdoor track & field teams are ranked among the top-20 in the country in this week's United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II rankings, released on Tuesday (April 25).

The Blue Tiger women, rated No. 18 a week ago, moved up to No. 13 in the nation following a strong performance at the Jesse Owens Classic in Columbus, Ohio last weekend (April 21-22). Lincoln earned 75.97 points this week.

West Texas A&M leads the national ratings with 278.86 points, followed in the top-five by Grand Valley State (263.32 points), Azusa Pacific (228.98), Minnesota State (191.63) and Adams State (146.35). Other ranked programs from the MIAA include No. 6 Pittsburg State (129.52), No. 8 Northwest Missouri (110.24), No. 10 Missouri Southern (101.12), No.15 Fort Hays State (70.47) and No. 18 Central Missouri (64.34).

In the men's rating, Lincoln is No. 20 after receiving 65.47 points. MIAA rival Pittsburg State is ranked No. 1 with 277.82 points, with Grand Valley State (205.48) rated No. 2, West Texas A&M (202.13) checking in at No. 3, and Colorado-Mines (172.53) and Adams State (163.94) rounding out the top-five. The other ranked MIAA programs include No. 8 Missouri Southern (106.81), No. 15 Central Missouri (79.00), No. 17 Nebraska Kearney (76.00) and No. 25 Northwest Missouri (48.29).

Both Lincoln track & field teams are led by head coach Victor Thomas and assistant coach Ailene Smith. The programs will split time between two meets this weekend, with some athletes headed to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa on April 28-29, and other traveling to Lawrence, Kan. for the Rock Chalk Classic on April 29.