2017 NAIA ITF Season Comes Into Focus With Rankings Debut

NOTE: Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for the USTFCCCA rankings after this week. Please check your membership status HERE.

NEW ORLEANS — The NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings made their 2017 debut Wednesday when they were released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Indiana Tech’s men — the defending national champs — and women headline the rankings, which are tabulated by assigning point totals to where athletes and relay teams stand on the descending order lists from the current season.

QUICK LINKS: Men’s Rankings | Women’s Rankings

We’ll start with the men’s rankings, where the Warriors have four athletes ranked No. 1 in their respective events and many more in the top-3 of theirs. Just this past weekend, Keejavon Moore (60) and Malik Stuart (shot put) took over the NAIA lead.

Siena Heights (Mich.) comes in at No. 2 with 274.73 points and only one top-ranked athlete (Brent Rodden in the 800).

The 3rd spot belongs to Doane (Neb.), while No. 4 Concordia (Neb.) and No. 5 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) round out the top-5. Just eight points separate Doane (Neb.) from Siena Heights (Mich.), while Concordia (Neb.) and Cardinal Strictch (Wis.) are nearly 80 and 100 points behind Doane (Neb.).

Over in the women’s rankings, the defending national champ Wayland Baptist (Texas) sits all the way down at No. 14, while Indiana Tech leads the way.

The Warriors’ lead is a staggering 288.55 points over No. 2 Siena Heights (Mich.). Indiana Tech has three top-ranked athletes and a score of others in the top-3.

A look at the rest of the top-5 reveals Doane (Neb.) at No. 3, Hastings (Neb.) at No. 4 and Friends (Kan.) at No. 5. Hastings (Neb.) and Friends (Kan.) both have multiple athletes ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, while Doane (Neb.) only has one at the moment.

We’ll see who is ranked No. 1 when the 2017 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships are held March 2-4 in Johnson City, Tennessee.