The Lincoln men's and women's indoor track and field teams both moved up in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II national rankings, which were released Monday evening.
The Lincoln women are now ranked No. 2 in the country after winning the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association indoor title over the weekend. The Blue Tigers, who were previously ranked third, won five events en route to their fourth consecutive title.
Lincoln finished with 195.66 points in the latest poll, nine fewer than top-ranked Adams State, which collected 204.56. Grand Valley State (179.95), Ashland (126.88) and Johnson C. Smith (110.37) round out the top five teams.
Four MIAA programs earned a mention in the rankings, tying the league for the second most teams in the poll.
Central Missouri made one of the biggest leaps, climbing from No. 15 to No. 7 after receiving 73.11 points. Nebraska-Kearney is ranked 24th with 34.94 points, while Southwest Baptist is ranked 25th with 34.50 points.
The Blue Tiger men, who were ranked No. 17 last week, received 52.97 points to climb to No. 13. Lincoln is one of six ranked MIAA programs, giving the league the most teams listed in the weekly poll.
Pittsburg State, which won the MIAA men's championship by 1.5 points, is the league's highest-ranked program, checking in at No. 7 with 79.66 points. Missouri Southern, the team Pittsburg State edged out for the title, is No. 8 with 76.52 points.
Also ranked from the MIAA are No. 11 Nebraska-Kearney (62.95), No. 16 Southwest Baptist (48.73) and No. 25 Central Missouri (28.54).
Adams State is also No. 1 in the men's poll after collecting 283.66 points. Saint Augustine (206.37), Ashland (189.87), Grand Valley State (133.52), and Minnesota State (119.46) round out the top five teams.