General | Nov 22, 2017

SAINT LEO, Fla. – Two strong performances during the cross country season propelled Saint Leo University to a ranking of No. 18 in the first 2017-18 Learfield Directors' Cup standings report, released Wednesday morning by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

The Lions had the highest finish of any Sunshine State Conference institution with 97.00 points. Their closest SSC rival was Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which was ranked No. 24 with 79.00 points.

The Saint Leo women's cross country team finished 21st overall at the 2017 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, the highest finish in program history, earning 53 points in the Learfield Directors' Cup race. The men's cross country team advanced to the national championship race with a third-place finish at the NCAA South Region Championships, knocking SSC champion Florida Southern College out of nationals in the process, and earning 44 points for the Lions in the Directors' Cup tally.

Shippensburg University (Pa.) is atop the Learfield Directors' Cup standings with 212.50 points, including 100 points for winning the 2017 Division II Field Hockey Championship. Adams State (Colo.), who won both the men's and women's team titles at the 2017 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, is second with 200.00 points.

The Learfield Cup 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 Directors' Cup Committee is reviewing the scoring structure for 2016-17 which will be finalized prior to the winter sports standings.

The next Directors' Cup standings update is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, with the final fall standings update slated for Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo Department of Athletics, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com.  Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.