WUSTL Athletics Remains First in Division III Directors’ Cup
STANDINGS
St. Louis, Mo., March 29, 2012 — The Washington University in St. Louis Department of Athletics holds the top spot with 693.50 points in the final winter 2011-12 Division III Learfield Sports Directors Cup standings, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) on Thursday.
This marks the second time in school history Washington University has held the overall lead heading into the spring sports season. Washington U. sat in first place in 2007-08 with 693.50 points en route to its highest finish in school history – second, 899 points.
Middlebury College (Vt.) is second with 676 points, while Amherst College (Mass.) is third with 654.75 points. Massachusetts Institute of Technology sits in fourth place with 542.75 points, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater rounds out the top five with 532.50 points. 15-time Directors’ Cup champion Williams College is sixth with 528 points.
Washington University is one of five University Athletic Association (UAA) members within the top 50 in Division III–Emory University (14th, 378 points), University of Chicago (33rd, 265 points), Case Western Reserve University (42nd, 219.50 points) and New York University (43rd, 216.50 points).
After sitting in first place following the fall season for the second-straight year, Washington U. recorded 321.50 points in the winter after all six teams competed in NCAA postseason play. The women’s indoor track and field team highlighted the winter season for the Bears with a third-place finish, tied for the highest finish in school history.
Men’s and women’s basketball each made NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the second round to finish in a tie for 17th place (50 points). Senior Tyler Jackson’s national championship in the 60-meter hurdles highlighted the men’s indoor track and field team’s 18th-place finish (54.5 points) at the national meet.
Washington U. also picked up a 25th-place finish (49 points) in women’s swimming and diving and 41st place (33 points) in men’s swimming and diving. The Bears’ winter total of 321.50 points was the third highest in Division III.
Washington University has recorded nine-straight top 10 finishes in the Directors’ Cup: 2010-11 (third), 2009-10 (third), 2008-09 (fourth), 2007-08 (second), 2006-07 (fifth), 2005-06 (seventh), 2004-05 (third), 2003-04 (ninth), 2002-03 (fifth).
The final Division III standings will be released on June 6, 2012.