Stanford Holds Dominating Lead in the Division I Sears Directors' Cup Race

As of April 29, 1999

Cleveland, Ohio -- Stanford University, four-time winners of the Division I Sears Directors' Cup, presented by the nation's athletics directors, has concluded the winter championship season with a dominating lead in the race for the Division I Sears Directors' Cup, presented by the nation's athletics directors. The Cardinal hold a 210-point margin over its nearest competitor.

Stanford scored in 10 of 13 sports, earning the runner-up positions in women and men's swimming and men's track and field; and placing third in fencing. The Cardinal also added a sixth place showing in men's gymnastics, ninth in women's gymnastics, 17th in men's basketball, 30th in wrestling, 33rd in women's basketball and 47th in women's track and field to post 720 points. The Sears Directors' Cup is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and sponsored by Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Holding onto the second spot with 510 points is Penn State, with points earned from a national title in fencing, fourth in men's gymnastics and wrestling and ninth in women's gymnastics. Other teams scoring were women's basketball, women and men's swimming and women and men's track and field. Rounding out the top five are Michigan, third with 460 points; Florida, fourth with 430 points; and Georgia, fifth with 360 points.

This is the final winter standings and includes women and men's basketball, fencing, women and men's gymnastics, men's ice hockey, rifle, skiing, women and men's swimming, women and men's track and field and men's wrestling. Winning the most recent national championships were Georgia in women's gymnastics and Michigan in men's gymnastics. In addition to Penn State, winning the remaining national championships were Purdue in women's basketball, Connecticut in men's basketball, Maine in men's ice hockey, Colorado in skiing, Georgia in women's swimming, Auburn in men's swimming, Texas in women's track and field, Arkansas in men's track and field, and Iowa in wrestling. The highest Division I finish in rifle, a National Collegiate sport, was second place by Navy.

Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports -- 10 for men and 10 for women. Each national champion receives 100 points. There are four Sears Directors' Cup Awards, one to honor the institution with the best all-around athletics program in each of the NCAA's Divisions I, II and III and the NAIA. It is the first-ever cross-sectional all-sports national recognition award for both men and women. The winner of the award receives a trophy designed by Waterford Crystal.

A complete listing of the final winter sports standings follows.