USTFCCCA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Team Rankings

AZUSA, Calif. -- The Azusa Pacific women’s track and field team received its first Division II national ranking, appearing at 16th in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)’s second indoor national team computer rankings. It is the program’s first Division II national ranking in the USTFCCCA’s computer rankings, which are generated from the season’s current results.

Senior Megan VanWinkle leads the Cougars by making the indoor national qualifying list in three events after the first two meets of the season. VanWinkle is ranked third in the nation in the pentathlon with 3,816 points, seventh in high jump with a personal-best of 5-feet, 8-inches (1.73 meters), and 14th in long jump with a season-best of 18-feet, 10.75-inches (5.76 meters). Senior Staci Foster also tops the qualifying list in fourth place in the mile with a time of 4:49.19.

“We’re working to build a championship program at the Division II level, and having the results that put us in these rankings is a step in that process,” Azusa Pacific women’s track and field head coach Preston Grey said. “As I told the team this week, this is a huge deal to get recognized in this way and have our program on that list so we can start working up the ladder. We have great athletes who are working very hard to put us on the map, and this represents a great first step for where we want to take this program.”

Other Cougars who have posted provisional qualifying times through the first two indoor meets of the season are: freshman Eileen Stressling (12th, 5000 meters), junior Amber Panapa (13th, weight throw), and sophomore Sydney Eaton (38th, high jump).

Azusa Pacific is the highest-ranked PacWest program, appearing seven spots ahead of No. 23-ranked Academy of Art. The Cougars are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 7, for the Westmont Sunshine Indoor Open in Santa Barbara, Calif.