2022 NCAA DII Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 9

NEW ORLEANS – And then there was one.

Here is the Pre-Championships Edition of the 2022 NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday. The only marks used in this edition of the National TFRI are those associated with athletes who qualified for the national championship meet.

NCAA Division II — Women's Outdoor Track & Field

This Week's National Top Five

1
Azusa Pacific

2
West Texas A&M

3
Grand Valley State

4
Minnesota State

5
Adams State

All TFRI Reports

NATIONAL TFRI
PDFs: Team Detail | Event Detail

Top-ranked Azusa Pacific will enter the NCAA Championships as the favorite to win their second-straight outdoor crown. The Cougars have 23 entries across 16 events, with 16 of those entrants residing in the top-10 on the seasonal leaderboard. Nicole Warwick has the top seed in the heptathlon, while Mechaela Hyacinth (100), Jaylah Walker (100H) and Jennifer Sandoval (10,000) are ranked No. 2 in their respective events. It will be a busy weekend for Walker, as she is entered in two individual events and as a member of the Cougars’ 4×100 and 4×400 relays.

Second-ranked West Texas A&M is in a good position to end up high on the podium. The Lady Buffs have 19 of their own entries across 10 events, including two national leaders: Eleonora Curtabbi in the steeplechase; Zada Swoopes in the shot put. Keep an eye on the Lady Buffs sprint contingent, as Leah Belfield and DeOndra Green are ranked among the top-6 in both the 100 and 200 meters, in addition to toting a baton on the second-ranked 4×100 relay.

Third-ranked Grand Valley State and fourth-ranked Minnesota State are clear favorites to land on the podium. The Lakers have 22 entries with 12 residing among the top-10 on the seasonal chart, including a national leader by Judith Essemiah in the hammer throw. GVSU also has multiple athletes in the distance and field events that could bolster their scoring capabilities. The Mavericks own 16 entries for the meet with 12 ranked among the top-10 nationally, including three No. 1s by Denisha Cartwright (100H), Makayla Jackson (long jump) and the 4×100 relay, which features Cartwright and Jackson. Those two are also well positioned in the 100 and 200 meters.

Fifth-ranked Adams State will have 13 entries across six events with a heavy focus in the distance events. The Grizzlies have multiple athletes entered in the 1500 (3), 5000 (5) and 10,000 (2), led by NCAA DII record-holder Roisin Flanagan in the 5000 and top-ranked Brianna Robles in the 10,000.

Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in the Pre-Championships Edition of the National TFRI: No. 6 Fresno Pacific (unchanged), No. 7 Academy of Art (up three spots), No. 8 Lincoln (Mo.) (unchanged), No. 9 Texas A&M-Commerce (unchanged) and No. 10 Pittsburg State (down three spots).

The 2022 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships are set to begin this Thursday at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan!