2019 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 6
NEW ORLEANS – The running of Conference Championships Weekend across the nation brought big changes to the latest edition of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index which was released by the U.S. Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday.
Twenty-three of the top-25 men’s programs and 20 of the top-25 women’s teams experienced some kind of movement in this edition of the index.
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TFRI scored by USTFCCCA region |
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NATIONAL TFRI PDFs: |
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TFRI scored by USTFCCCA region |
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While change was seen throughout both the men’s and women’s ratings, the top of the charts held steady as Adams State remained the No. 1 team in the nation on both the men’s and women’s side for the third week in a row. Overall the top-two men’s and top-three women’s programs held in their previous position.
Remember to keep checking back as one final rating index will be released next week to preview the 2019 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, set for March 8-9 in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Men’s Story
For the fourth week in a row, Adams State is the No. 1 team in the country.
The Grizzlies are coming off a fourth-place finish at the RMAC Championships this past weekend. Individual conference title winners from the group included Ian Kerr (200), Elias Gedyon (3000) and Samuel Reid (shot put). It is the longest streak spent in the top spot of the country for Adams State since a stretch of five consecutive rankings back in 2016.
Holding steady in the No. 2 spot was Ashland after a second-place finish at the GLIAC Championships. Conference titles were earned by Jared Ryder (triple jump), Brent Fairbanks (weight throw), Travis Moore (heptathlon) and the 4×400 unit.
Advancing one spot to No. 3 was Tiffin after the program won its first G-MAC Championship in its debut season in the conference. Conference championship performances were had by Donte Baker (60), Errik Snell (60H), Cameron Burrows (high jump), Quincy Scott (long jump) and the 4×400 team.
Jumping up three spots to No.4 was Central Missouri after a six-point victory at the MIAA Championships over the weekend. It was the program’s first conference title since the 2013 season and 21st overall, the most in conference history. Conference championships were won by Jacob Weber (600), Vincent Hobbie (pole vault) and Nathan Liby (weight throw).
Dropping two spots, through no fault of its own, was No. 5 Grand Valley State after the program won its second consecutive conference crown. The Lakers had six individual title winners in Thomas Capers (400), Dennis Mbuta (800), Zach Panning (mile and 3000), Hunter Weeks (high jump) and Andrew Koenigsknecht (pole vault). The DMR team also captured a conference crown.
The rest of the top-10 was completed by No. 6 Colo. School of Mines, No. 7 Western Colorado, No. 8 Findlay, No. 9 Angelo State and No. 10 Lincoln (Mo.).
The largest gain in the top-25 was taken by No. 11 Northwest Missouri after the program improved 11 spots following a sixth-place finish at the MIAA Indoor Championships.
The biggest improvement overall was a tie between No. 56 MSU Moorhead and No. 63 McKendree as each school shot up 32 spots from the previous edition of the ratings.
Three previously unranked teams joined the index this week, led by No. 87 West Chester.
Women’s Story
Adams State is once again the No. 1 team in the nation, a position the program has held for three consecutive weeks.
The Grizzlies won the RMAC Championships over the weekend, the school’s first since the 2017 season and 24th overall indoors. Conference championship performances were seen out of Kandace Thomas (60 and long jump), Dianna Johnson (200), Roisin Flanagan (mile), Eilish Flanagan (3000), Malena Grover (5000) and the DMR squad.
Slotting in behind them at No. 2 was Grand Valley State who also experienced no change from the previous edition of the ratings. The Lakers captured their 20th consecutive GLIAC Championship with 10 individual titles and two relay crowns. Individual championships were won by Angelica Floyd (60 and long jump), Sarah Beulla (400), Rachael Walters (800), Allie Ludge (mile), Gina Patterson (3000), Jessica Gockley (5000), Tiara Wiggins (60H), Ellianne Kimes (pole vault), Anna Obi (triple jump) and by the group’s 4×400 and DMR units.
Holding steady at No. 3 was Lincoln (Mo.) after the group finished as the runner up at the MIAA Championships by just a single point in the smallest margin of victory in conference championship history. Individual titles went to Rene Medley (60 and 200), Renea Ambersley (400), Shanice Clarke (600), Diana Cauldwell (triple jump) and the 4×400 team.
Improving five spots to No. 4 was Missouri Southern after a third-place finish at the MIAA Championships. The lone individual conference crown was captured by Morgan Smith (60H). It is the highest rank received by the program in school history.
Completing the top-five at No. 5 was SF State who dropped a single position from the previous index. The Gators did not have a conference meet this weekend and instead had athletes competing at the East Bay Quad Meet and the Boston University Last Chance Qualifier.
The top-10 was rounded out by No. 6 UC-Colorado Springs, No. 7 Alaska Anchorage, No. 8 West Texas A&M, No. 9 Ashland and No. 10 Pittsburg State.
The largest jump in the top-25 belonged to No. 17 Minnesota State after a runner up finish at the NSIC Championships. It was a 20-spot improvement from the previous edition of the ratings. Pittsburg State also moved back into the top-10 and improved 14 spots after winning the MIAA Championships.
The largest gain overall was a 33-spot improvement taken by No. 38 Northwest Missouri after the Bearcats came in sixth at the MIAA Championships.
Four new programs joined the index after being previously unranked the week before. The highest of these teams was No. 99 Davenport (Mich.).
