March 12, 2008

Cleveland, Ohio - On the strength of three top-five finishes, Simon Fraser (B.C.) took over the lead in the first winter NAIA U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Standings. The Clan, who finished the fall in second place, have scored a total of 618 points, including 317¬.50 with the finish of five winter NAIA championships.

Simon Fraser placed second in both men's and women's swimming, third in women's indoor track and field and 20th in men's indoor track and field to move ahead of Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in the standings.

Lindenwood (Mo.) jumped from eighth place in the final fall standings to second after scoring in all five winter sports to date. The Lions have a total of 546.50 points, with 338.50 coming this winter, the highest winter point total of any institution. They captured the wrestling title, placed fourth in men's swimming, seventh in women's swimming, 19th in men's indoor track and field and 31st in women's track and field.

Azusa Pacific (Calif.), who led the NAIA Directors' Cup standings throughout the fall, is currently in third place with a total of 523.50 points. The Cougars scored in two winter sports as they captured the men's indoor track and field championship and placed second in women's track and field.

Fourth place belongs to Concordia (CA) with 456.50 points. The Eagles placed seventh in men's swimming, 10th in women's swimming and 24th in men's track and field to score a total of 163.5 points this winter.

Rounding out the top-five is Fresno Pacific (Calif.), who soared 10 places from its fall finish, after scoring 205.5 points this winter. The Sunbirds placed fifth in women's swimming, sixth in men's swimming and ninth in women's indoor track and field, bringing their total points to 378.50.

NAIA Championship winners this winter are; California Baptist (men's and women's swimming), Azusa Pacific (men's indoor track and field), Wayland Baptist (women's indoor track and field) and Lindenwood (wrestling).

The final winter NAIA U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Standings will be released on March 27, 2008 and will include men's and women's basketball for Division I and Division II.

The Sports Academy Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. The United States Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Alabama, is the program sponsor. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 12 sports - six women's and six men's.

Please note, standings published midseason are unofficial. Official standings will be published upon the completion of the spring season. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's Web site at www.nacda.com.

For a list of final fall standings click here.