By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA                              February 8, 2016

NEW ORLEANS — Through the first three iterations of the National Team Computer Rankings in NCAA Division I Women’s Indoor Track & Field, it was clear that Arkansas, the defending national champion, had a leg up on the competition.

If anything is clear after the newest rankings, released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, it’s that the Razorbacks might have company.

NCAA DIVISION I NATIONAL TEAM RANKINGS TOP 5 – WOMEN 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Arkansas Georgia Oregon Florida Texas 198.60 pts 179.10 pts 121.45 pts 116.43 pts 109.72 pts View Complete Women’s National Coaches’ Poll

A 26-point swing in the rankings following this past weekend’s meets moved second-rankedGeorgia within shouting distance of Arkansas. The Bulldogs went up 13.44 points to a total of 179.10, while the Razorbacks fell 13.15 to 198.60.

The National Team Computer Rankings are complied by a mathematical formula based on national descending order lists. The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national team race. Rankings points do not equate with NCAA Championships team points. A full description of the rankings can be found here.

This is the final week that data from the previous season is used. Starting next week, rankings will be solely based on the current season.

It should also be mentioned that the National Team Computer Rankings should not be referred to as a “poll,” as no voting occurs during the process.

Georgia gained ground on Arkansas thanks to a strong performance by Chanice Porter. The senior matched teammateKendell Williams for the third best high jump in the nation of 1.87m (6-1.5). Just last week, Porter moved into third place on the National Descending Order List in the long jump.

Other than the Bulldogs inching closer to the Razorbacks, there wasn’t much that happened in the National Team Computer Rankings since it was a light week.

The top-7 behind Arkansas and Georgia remained the same with No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Florida, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Kansas State and No. 7 Southern California falling into place. Less than points separate the Ducks (121.45) from the Longhorns (109.71).

Making a move back into the top-10, however, was that of Georgetown. The Hoyas went from No. 11 last week to No. 8 this week, which is their highest ranking in school history (previously No. 9 in Week 1 of 2015). Georgetown junior Sabrina Southerland had herself quite a weekend as she took over the national top spot in the 800 (2:03.10).

Michigan must be partying like it’s 2009 since it gained its highest ranking in the past seven years. The Wolverines jumped from No. 16 to No. 11 this week, thanks to the efforts of sophomore Erin Finn (3000),Shannon Osika (mile) and Cindy Ofili (60H).

The debut of the 2015 NCAA XC champ Molly Seidel buoyed Notre Dame. Seidel’s time of 8:57.13 in the 3000 has her No. 2 on the NDOL and jumped the Irish eight spots from No. 24 to No. 16.

Elsewhere in the top-25, Clemson, Mississippi and Villanova all joined the fray. The Rebels are the highest ranked of the three (No. 23), while the Wildcats made the biggest leap (No. 39 to No. 24). The Tigers are ranked 25th after being a fringe team in previous polls.

Expect there to be some more movement in the rankings in the upcoming weeks as athletes will look to get qualifying times for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held March 11-12 in Birmingham, Alabama.