The Lindenwood athletic department achieved another Top Five finish in 2009-10 in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. The school was fifth in the final NAIA standings that were released last week by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Lindenwood has now finished fifth or higher for 11 of the last 12 years.
Lindenwood compiled 715.5 points during the past school year in the Directors' Cup standings, which awards points to schools according to their performances during NAIA National Championship events. The Lions and Lady Lions were just nine points behind Concordia (Calif.) for fourth-place, and also finished behind the top three of Azusa Pacific, Simon Fraser, and Fresno Pacific.
Lindenwood was the top finisher among Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) schools, recording over 515 points more than its next closest conference rival.
Lindenwood received the most points from its football team which was awarded 90 points for its runner-up finish. The men's swimming and diving team collected 85 points for finishing third at its national championships. The top two women's teams were the indoor and outdoor track and field squads. The indoor team was awarded 73.5 points after its sixth-place showing, and the outdoor team finished eighth and received 70.5 points.
Other men's teams collecting points were wrestling (72), outdoor track and field (67.5), indoor track and field (58.5), and golf (55.5). The men's cross country team and men's soccer team also earned points but only the top six totals count in the final standings.
Other women's teams scoring in the standings were swimming and diving (60), golf (34), tennis (25), and cross country (24).
