JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Following strong performances at the MIAA Outdoor Championships this past weekend (May 5-7), both of Lincoln's track & field programs have moved up in the national ratings. The Lincoln women are ranked No. 7 in the country while the Blue Tiger men are No. 15 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II rankings, released on Tuesday (May 9).

The LU women earned 116.48 points to climb from No. 16 to No. 7 this week. Lincoln is ranked just behind MIAA rival Pittsburg State, which garnered 121.25 points to claim the No. 6 ranking. Four other MIAA programs are mentioned in this week's top-25: No. 10 Northwest Missouri (96.37 points), No. 11 Missouri Southern (86.15), No. 12 Fort Hays State (83.78) and No. 14 Central Missouri (72.51).

West Texas A&M moved up two slots to claim the No. 1 overall ranking, collecting 269.09 points to move past No. 2 Grand Valley State (258.70) and last week's No. 1 program, No. 3 Azusa Pacific (243.60). Minnesota State (230.36) and Adams State (185.37) are the other two teams currently ranked ahed of Lincoln.

In the men's ratings, the Blue Tigers moved up from No. 24 to No. 15 after receiving 71.97 points this week. Pittsburg State leads the men's rankings with 259.30 points, and West Texas A&M is No. 2 with 214.85 points. Adams State (164.65), Grand Valley State (160.35) and Colorado-Mines (150.65) round out the national top-five. Other MIAA teams rated in the top-25 include No. 12 Missouri Southern (96.34), No. 13 Central Missouri (93.80), No. 17 Nebraska Kearney (66.15) and No. 20 Northwest Missouri (62.72).