Titans Rank 12th In Women's Preseason Indoor Track & Field Rankings

Titans Rank 12th In Women's Preseason Indoor Track & Field Rankings

Preseason computer rankings released Jan. 11 by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) lists the UW-Oshkosh women's indoor track & field team 12th in the NCAA Division III.

The computer rankings were first introduced during the 2011 season. Mathematical information based on current national descending-order lists in all events are used to compile a team's ranking. The purpose of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving a top finish at the NCAA Division III Championship.

Oberlin College (Ohio) captured the top mention in the preseason rankings with 100.06 points. The Yeowomen were followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology with 91.22, Misericordia University (Pa.) with 84.23, Ithaca College (N.Y.) with 76.47 and Ohio Northern University with 74.07.

Completing the top 10 teams in the rankings were Williams College (Mass.) with 72.52 points, University of Chicago (Ill.) with 64.79, Bridgewater College (Va.) with 55.91, Johns Hopkins University (Md.) with 55.36 and George Fox University (Ore.) with 51.97.

UW-Oshkosh, which began its indoor season by winning a seven-team meet in Kolf Sports Center on Dec. 2, listed 12th in the rankings with 46.25 points. Illinois Wesleyan University was 11th with 48.04 points.

Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) is the defending NCAA Division III indoor champion. The Bears tallied 44 points to slip past runner-up Ithaca College's total of 41.25 at last year's national meet.

UW-Oshkosh returns 22 letter winners from last year's squad that placed third with 103 points at the WIAC and 56th with three points at the NCAA Division III indoor championships.

Two-time All-American Emily Reichenberger returns after earning 2017 WIAC Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year honors. Reichenberger, who won the 60-meter dash at last year's WIAC Indoor Championship, claimed All-America laurels by finishing sixth in the 200-meter dash in 2016 and eighth in the 60-meter dash a year ago at nationals.

Also returning to the Titans after competing at the 2017 Division III Indoor Championship is Cheyenne Moore. The two-time WIAC cross country champion qualified for last year's national meet in the 5,000-meter run.

In this season's national event rankings, Moore ranks 10th with a time of 17:12.30 in the 5,000-meter run.

UW-Oshkosh, which has scored at least three points at each of the past 32 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships, leads the Division III with its nine titles. The Titans, who have also produced six second-place finishes at the national indoor meet, claimed Division III championships in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

The 2018 NCAA Division III Indoor Championship will be held March 9-10 at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.

UW-Oshkosh continues its indoor schedule by hosting Ripon College on Saturday (Jan. 13) in Kolf Sports Center.

2018 USTFCCCA NCAA Division III Preseason Indoor Computer Rankings