Storm hold steady at No. 5 in Central Region after last week’s jump

INDIANOLA, Iowa — The Simpson men's track and field team held steady at No. 5 in the Central Region, according to the latest National Team Computer Rankings released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Storm made the move from sixth to fifth last week and held their ground for the week four rankings. The most notable move came in the national rankings, however, where Simpson catapulted from 91st overall to 34th in just one week. 

USTFCCCA Regional Rankings, Week 4

Simpson currently boasts five events ranked in the top 30 in Division III and two in the top 10:

• 4th — Emmitt Wheatley, 200 meters (22.02)
• 9th — Dylan Kalinay, 60 hurdles (8.20)
• 17th — Emmitt Wheatley, 60 meters (6.94)
• 25th — Isaac Frazier, heptathlon (4418)
• 27th — Chase Wetterling / Kirk Wicks / Travis Tupper / Jordan Coughenour, 4x400 relay (3:24.20)

Wheatley leads the Iowa Conference in the 60 and the 200 and Kalinay leads in the 60 hurdles. One team not in the top 30 in the nation -- the 4x200 relay team of Wetterling, Wicks, Tate Tufte and Keagan Zwiefel -- also leads the conference. 

Points in the USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings are based on the NCAA Division III Descending Order Lists. The higher an athlete is ranked on the list, the more points he or she provides his or her team. From there, a team's points are totaled and more points mean a better billing in the top-25.

USTFCCCA CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS
1. St. Thomas, 362.37
2. Wartburg, 245.95
3. Dubuque, 242.42
4. Nebraska Wesleyan, 234.23
5. Simpson, 183.44
6. St. Olaf, 182.49
7. Central, 179.61
8. Bethel, 126.53
9. Coe, 122.73
10. Concordia Moorhead, 105.38