Washington women move to #18 in first USTFCCCA D1 computer rankings, while WWU men crack top 25...

NEW ORLEANS--There were some changes in the USTFCCCA Division I and II national indoor track & field rankings that were released by the organization Tuesday.

In Division I, the University of Washington women's team moved up from their pre-season #20 ranking to #18, thanks in part to the early season mark from pole vaulter Diamara Planell Cruz, who cleared 13-11 1/4 (4.25m) at the UW Preview meet almost two weeks ago.

The Huskies' points in the computer model used by the USTFCCCA to rank teams comes from its vaunted middle distance and distance group, with key runners--Baylee Mires, Katie Flood (left/photo courtesy University of Washington), and Megan Goethals--none of whom have competed so far this season.

The Huskies are aiming to qualify their distance medley relay team for the NCAA Indoor championships in March.

Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida and Georgia are the country's top five women's squads.

On the men's side, the top five are Arkansas, Florida, Oregon, Wisconsin and Texas A&M.

Other MPSF squads ranked in the top 25 include Arizona (8), Arizona State (11), Colorado (14), and Stanford (20) on the men's side, while Stanford (9) and Arizona State (22) represent the conference on the women's side. 

In Division II, Western Washington made a major jump from its #63 pre-season ranking all the way to #25 in the men's rankings.  The Vikings are the only team from the GNAC ranked in either national top 25 computer rankings.

The national team rankings is complied by mathematical formulae based on national descending order lists and data taken from previous seasons. For the preseason ranking and early-season rankings, data will be taken from previous seasons as well as the current season.

The USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings should not be referred to as a “poll” as no voting occurs during the process.

The complete USTFCCCA Division I and II rankings can be accessed via their web site.

ICYMI:  Washington bred runners Michael Berry and Marcus Chambers of the University of Oregon are among the country's top runners in the 400 after their performances at the University of Kentucky on Saturday.

Berry lost a battle with Florida's Arman Hall in Lexington, as the Rainier Beach HS grad ran 46.13 to Hall's 45.84 at the Rod McCravy Memorial meet on the 290-meter Nutter Field House indoor track.

Chambers, the Tacoma native and 2013 USA junior champion at 400m from Foss HS, was fifth in 47.11.

The newest member of the Seattle-based Brooks Beasts, Garrett Heath, ran 3:54.59 over the weekend in New York at the Armory at the New Balance meet.

Speaking of the Brooks Beasts, a group of Beasts will travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to compete in the Camel City Elite Races at the JDL Fast Track on February 1st.

Nick Symmonds, Mark Wieczorek, and Cas Loxsom will run the men's 800; Riley Masters will run the mile; Phoebe Wright is entered in the women's 800; Katie Mackey runs the women's mile; while Brie Felnagle, Angela Bizzari, Jamie Cheever, Deborah Maier and Jessica Tebo are in the women's 3000.

The release from JDL Fast Track is available here.

NOTE:  The USTFCCCA contributed to this report.