NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Christopher Newport University men's track and field team broke into the top 25 this week as they were ranked 15th by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The national rankings are based on a mathematical formula used to showcase the teams that have the best potential of achieving top spots in the national-title race. The Captains earned 43.80 points this week, up 14.77 from last week. North Central (Ill.) sits at the top spot for the third consecutive week with 180.78 points.

The USTFCCCA also released the national top 10 athletes in each event. Junior Richard Roethel is leading the heptathlon with 5,014 points. Case Western Reserve's Micheal Cohara is ranked second with a score of 4,523. Roethel also ranks in the high jump where his 2.09m (6-10.25) jump puts him tied for second.

Qalification to the 2012 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships has been changed this year   and is based on the descending-order list for the season in each event. For each men's individual contest the top 13 athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each women's event the top 15 athletes wil be accepted. 

The Captains return to action this weekend as they host the Vince Brown Invitational.

USTFCCCA Top 25

NCAA Division III National Top 10 by Event