Northwest Missouri State men’s and women’s track and field teams enter the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional polls as announced by the organization on Tuesday.

The Northwest men enter the first USTFCCCA poll ranked No. 6 and just 77 tenths behind No. 5 Pittsburg State. Missouri Southern claimed the top spot on the men’s side just ahead of Lincoln (Mo.), despite the Blue Tigers earning the No. 1 spot in the National Rankings.

Following them is Central Missouri at No. 3 and Abilene Christian at No. 4 with the Gorillas rounding out the top five.

Both men’s and women’s South Central polls are dominated by MIAA schools with only two Lone Star Conference teams ranked in the top 10. Behind the Bearcats is No. 7 Emporia State followed by Texas A&M-Kingsville at No. 8, Southwest Baptist at No. 9 as and Fort Hays State rounding out the men’s top 10.

On the women’s side the Bearcats stand at No. 8 as only two non-MIAA teams are ranked in the top 10. Lincoln, the No. 2 team nationally, checks in as the top team in the South Central Region followed by Central Missouri.

Missouri Southern stands at No. 3 with Abilene Christian at No. 4 and Fort Hays State rounding out the top five. Emporia State follows at No. 6 with Truman State checking in just ahead of the Bearcats at No. 7.

Lone Star Conference foe Angelo State enters the poll at No. 9 as Southwest Baptist rounds out the top 10.

Northwest returns to the track this weekend in Seward, Neb., at the Concordia Classic Friday and Saturday.

— NWMSU Sports Information —