From Washington University Athletics
Highlighted by four top-10 finishes in the winter, Washington University in St. Louis remained in first place in the 2016-17 Division III Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, as announced Thursday by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
WashU accumulated 427 points in the winter, second-most in NCAA Division III, to increase its overall total to 837. The Bears have a 131.75-point lead over second-place Williams College (705.25). Tufts University (699.00), Johns Hopkins University (592.50) and Middlebury College (584.00) round out the top five.
WashU had all six winter teams compete in the NCAA postseason play, as all 12 fall and winter programs qualified for NCAAs in 2016-17.
The women's indoor track and field team collected 100 points after winning its first national championship in school history on March 11, 2017, in Naperville, Ill. The national title was also the 21st for the WashU Department of Athletics.
Women's Basketball recorded 73 points after a fifth-place finish, while men's and women's swimming and diving each placed sixth and brought home 73.5 points each. Men's Indoor track and field recorded was awarded 57 points after a 17th place finish and men's basketball picked up 50 points after a 17th place finish.
The University Athletic Association (UAA) has six teams in the top 40: WashU (first), University of Chicago (11th), Emory University (12th), Carnegie Mellon University (31st), University of Rochester (35th) and New York University (39th).
WashU has finished in the top-five in the Learfield Directors' Cup 10 straight years – 2015-16 (second), 2014-15 (fourth), 2013-14 (fourth), 2012-13 (fifth), 2011-12 (second), 2010-11 (third), 2009-10 (third), 2008-09 (fourth), 2007-08 (second), 2006-07 (fifth).
The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships.
The first set of spring standings will be released on May 18.