CU, C of I in Top 25 in NAIA Learfield Sports Directors Cup Standings
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scoring in both men’s and women’s indoor track and field, Concordia University added 103 points to stay within the top 10 in the
NAIA Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings released on March 12.
With 341 total points, Concordia came in at No. 7 overall among NAIA institutions. Along with track and field, the first winter compilation included final results in men’s and women’s swimming and wrestling. Concordia, which does not sponsor three of the five sports included in the newest update dropped five places after finishing the fall season ranked No.2 in the Directors’ Cup standings.
The Cavs scored 61.5 points in men’s track after finishing in 14th place and 41.5 points in women’s track after finishing in 30th place.
The next rankings will be released March 26 and will include results from men’s and women’s basketball.
With top-30 finishes in both swimming categories, The College of Idaho added 83.5 points for a 218-point haul in the No. 25 position. With 90 points from a runner-up result in wrestling at the national championships, Southern Oregon more than doubled its tally for 17 overall points. Also representing the Cascade Collegiate Conference, Eastern Oregon scored 47 points with a 27th-place finish in men’s track to rest in 99th.
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Azusa Pacific (Calif.) remains atop the Directors’ Cup Standings with 583 points. The Cougars recorded three top-10 finishes, including a national championship in men’s track & field. The Cougars also finished second in women’s track & field, and seventh in women’s swimming.
Lindenwood (Mo.) moves up from third place into second with 578.5 total points in the first winter standings after scoring in all five winter sports to date. The Lions captured the men’s wrestling national championship, placed sixth in women’s track & field, seventh in men’s swimming, eighth in women’s swimming and 11th in men’s track & field. Lindenwood scored a season-high 374.50 points.
Concordia (Calif.) moves into the top-five after recording 85 points for its third place showing in men’s swimming to increase its total to 444.5 points. The Eagles also finished sixth in women’s swimming, 19th in women’s track & field and 21st in men’s track & field.
Five winter NAIA championships have been completed to date with the following institutions capturing titles: Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) (women’s swimming); California Baptist (men’s swimming); Wayland Baptist (Texas) (women’s track & field); Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (men’s track & field); and Lindenwood (Mo.) (men’s wrestling).
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 12 sports – six women’s and six men’s.