New Orleans, La. - The Central Methodist women's outdoor track and field program jumped three spots to No. 18 in the latest edition of the NAIA Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Rating Index. 

The Eagles land at No. 18 in the national rating index with 128.18 points. Central is also the top team in the Heart of America Athletic Conference rankings and No. 2 in the South Central Region. 

British Columbia out of the Cascade Conference is the No. 1 team in the country with 597.85 total points, followed by Indiana Tech in second with 494.83 points. William Carey (305.21), Concordia (Neb.) (297.61), and Life University (277.52) round out the top five programs. 

Altogether, the women's program is ranked in the Top 25 in 13 different events, including four in the Top 10 nationally. Reigning Heart Women's Track Athlete of the Week Keiara-Ashley Cunningham is No. 4 in the nation in the 400m hurdles (1:02.31) and is part of the 4x400m relay team made up of Dayana Montenegro, Jessica Bailey, and Kailey Johnson, which is No. 8 in the country with a time of 3:56.29. 

Kailey Johnson is 10th nationally in the 100m hurdles and Sadie Heisner (14.31) is No. 6 in the pole vault (3.65 meters). 

Central track is currently competing at the Georgia Tech Invite today and tomorrow in Atlanta, Ga., in addition to the Wildcat Open hosted by Culver-Stockton College Saturday, April 23 in Canton, Mo. 

To view the NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index, please click here. 

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