NEW ORLEANS — Using only marks from the current outdoor track & field season, the Iowa Central men and the Central Arizona women are favored to win the NJCAA Division I titles come May 21 in Levelland, Kansas.

The Tritons and Vaqueras were projected highly in the first NJCAA Division I National Team Computer Rankings, released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

If Iowa Central makes good on the prognostications, it will be the first outdoor title for the Tritons. Central Arizona has been far more successful as this would be its sixth title since 1998 (1998-99, 2006-08).

In the men's rankings, Iowa Central is a healthy favorite over No. 2Barton County. The Tritons have 688.10 points, compared to the Cougars' 469.25. Rounding out the top-5 are third-ranked Central Arizona, fourth-ranked South Plains and fifth-ranked Coffeyville.

South Plains won each of the last nine NJCAA Division I crowns. Eight of those were outright, with the Texans sharing the title with Central Arizona in 2007.

Over in the women's rankings, the Vaqueras are 175.38 points ahead of second-ranked Iowa Central. Following Central Arizona and the Tritons are No. 3 New Mexico JC, No. 4 South Plains and No. 5 Pima CC.

Points in the National Team Computer Rankings are computed based on the descending order lists. The higher an athlete is on the list, the more points he or she provides his or her team.

The National Team Computer Rankings will come out each of the next six Wednesdays.