2022 NCAA DI Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – The first month of the outdoor season has been a whirlwind!

Here is the debut edition of the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index for the 2022 season! Only marks from the current season are being used, which gives a comprehensive, objective look at which teams have stood out in the early goings.

NCAA Division I — Men's Outdoor Track & Field

This Week's National Top Five

1
Texas

2
Baylor

3
Texas A&M

4
Southern California

5
Texas Tech

All TFRI Reports

NATIONAL TFRI
PDFs: Team Detail | Event Detail

REGIONAL TFRI
PDFs: Team Summary | Event Summary

Texas leads the way by a substantial margin following an impressive start to the season. The Longhorns, who won their first national title in program history earlier this month during the indoor season, own 16 national top-10 marks on the Descending Order List. Three of those performances rate No. 1 nationally: Jonathan Jones in the 800 at 1:45.83; Tripp Piperi in the shot put at 21.54m (70-8); and Leo Neugebauer in the decathlon at 8131 points. Jones is one of four Texas athletes ranked in the top-10 of the 800, alongside Crayton Carrozza at No. 3, Yusuf Bizimana at No. 4 and Brendan Herbert at No. 7 (Cameron Herron is right outside at No. 11).

Baylor opens the season at No. 2. The Bears might only have eight national top-10 marks so far, but three of those lead the nation: Nathaniel Ezekiel in the 400-meter hurdles at 49.14; Johnny Brackins in the long jump at a windy 8.17m (26-9¾); and Chincecherem Prosper Nnamdi in the javelin throw at 78.24m (257-4). Just as water is wet, the Bears’ 4×400 relay is highly-ranked.

Texas A&M starts the outdoor campaign at No. 3. The Aggies hold seven national top-10 marks with six of those among the top-5 performers. Moilatel Mpoke has been a standout athlete for Texas A&M to begin the season, ranking among the top-3 nationally in both the 400 (No. 1, 45.84) and the 400H (No. 3, 49.46). James Smith, who is ranked fourth in the 400H right behind Mpoke, is a member of the nation-leading 4×400 relay that went 3:01.51.

Southern California is ready to make some noise at No. 4. The Trojans have notched seven national top-10 marks so far this season with two among the top-2 performers: Trey Knight in the hammer throw at 71.09m (233-3) and Earnie Sears III in the high jump at 2.27m (7-5¼).

Texas Tech rounds out the top-5 in Week 1. The Red Raiders only have five national top-10 marks to begin the season, but each of those rank among the top-4 nationally. Both Courtney Lindsey (200m) and Chris Welch (triple jump) top the Descending Order List, while Malik Metivier (400H) and Moad Zahafi (800m) are second in their respective events.

Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 1: No. 6 Princeton, No. 7 Arizona State, No. 8 LSU, No. 9 Washington and No. 10 Kentucky.

Mark your calendars for June 8-11, because that’s when the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon!