NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Alaska Anchorage men’s and women’s track & field teams were ranked in the top 15 according to the national team computer rankings conducted by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday. The women’s team enters the season with a No. 9 ranking, while the men’s team starts at No. 13.

The men’s team, which has been polled in the top 20 since the start of the 2010 season, is the lone Great Northwest Athletic Conference team in the ranking. Saint Augustine’s leads the nation, while Texas A&M-Kingsville and Angelo State round out the top three.

On the women’s side, the Seawolves lead the GNAC, while Seattle Pacific is No. 11. Defending champion Grand Valley State is polled at No. 1, while Adams State is No. 2 and Lincoln (Mo.) is No. 3. UAA’s No. 9 preseason ranking is the highest since the program started in 2005.

The Seawolves return 22 letterwinners, including eight of the nine individuals that qualified for the NCAAs, and add 20 newcomers. UAA will also get back five All-Americans in Susan Bick, Micah Chelimo, Alfred Kangogo, Ruth Keino and Shaun Ward.

UAA is in action this weekend with the annual Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore., on April 30-31.