The Barton women fell one spot to No. 5 in the latest NJCAA Indoor Track and Field poll.
After starting the year at No. 3 in the nation, the Cougars have slipped one spot in each of the ensuing polls. Barton went to No. 4 in the second poll then to No. 5 in this, the third poll of the season.
Iowa Central kept its top spot for the third straight week with defending NJCAA Indoor Champion New Mexico JC moving back up second. Former Barton assistant Keith Blackwill is the head coach at New Mexico JC.
The Top 25 poll by the United State Track and Field Association is based on a point total formula from actual times and distances.
The biggest mover in the top 10 was South Plains, which vaulted from No. 9 all the way up to No. 3 in the nation. Central Arizona fell a spot to No. 4 followed by Barton in a close points battle.
There are now nine Jayhawk Conference schools ranked in the top 25 with the addition of Colby this week. Four in the Top 10.
After Barton in the Top 10 is Cowley at No. 7 , Butler at No. 9 and Cloud County at No. 10
Also ranked in the Top 25 is Highland at No. 11, Coffeyville at No. 13, Garden City at No. 15, Hutchinson at No. 16 and the newest member Colby in the 25th and final spot.
The last meet before the NJCAA Championships will be this weekend for Barton. The Region VI Championships will take place Sunday at Ahearn Field House in Manhattan. The mutli events will precede that on Thursday and Friday at Highland.

NJCAA Women’s Indoor Track Top 25
1 Iowa Central 392.70
2 New Mexico JC 307.56
3 South Plains 242.04
4 Central Arizona 236.68
5 Barton 231.42
6 Monroe 181.68
7 Cowley 159.52
8 Western Texas 145.21
9 Butler 124.84
10 Cloud County 120.89
11 Highlands 99.66
12 Vincennes 92.33
13 Coffeyville 59.27
14 Iowa Western 47.85
15 Garden City 47.28
16 Hutchinson 42.38
17 Paradise Valley 42.21
18 Cuyahoga 34.67
19 Hawkeye 34.22
19 Hinds 34.22
21 Meridian 31.85
22 Mesa 31.59
23 Pima 28.61
24 Essex 24.65
25 Colby 24.02