2019 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Pre-Championships
NEW ORLEANS – With NCAAs set for this weekend, now is the perfect time to get one final look at where teams are expected to finish in the Pre-Championships Edition of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index released by the U.S. Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.
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For the fourth week in a row, Adams State is the top team in the nation on both the men’s and women’s TFRI.
While the top of both the men’s and women’s chart might have remained steady heading into the national meet, 17 of the top-25 men’s teams and 19 of the top-25 women’s programs experienced some kind of shakeup from the previous edition of the index.
The 2019 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships kick off this Friday, March 8 in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Men’s Story
For the fifth week in a row Adams State is the top team in the country.
The Grizzlies head into indoor nationals with 12 entries and will be look to be led by top-ranked athletes Sydney Gidabuday (tops the country in both the 3000 and 5000), Elias Gedyon (first in the mile and second in the 3000) and Ian Kerr (second in the 200).
It is the longest consecutive streak in the top spot that Adams State has posted since being No. 1 for five weeks in a row to end the 2016 season. That season ended with the Grizzlies winning the NCAA indoor title.
Holding steady at No. 2 was Ashland.
The Eagles enter indoors with ten entries, including tops marks to Myles Pringle (leads the nation in the 400 and is second in the high jump), Trevor Bassitt (second in the 60H and 11th in the 400) and Brent Fairbanks (tops nationwide in the weight throw). Ashland will look towards its throwing unit, to go with the above athletes, at NCAAs as the group has four of the top-13 ranked athletes in the country in the event.
Jumping up one spot to No. 3 was Central Missouri, which is the best mark received by the program since Week4 of the 2011 season.
The Mules have 14 entries with the top marks belonging to Vincent Hobbie (leads the country in the pole vault), Brad Jenkins (third in the triple jump) and Nathan Cummings (third in the shot put). The team will look towards its field events at nationals, with 10 of their 14 entries coming from that unit.
Climbing three spots to No. 4 was Western Colorado which is highest mark received in program history during the indoor season.
The Mountaineers have 10 entries into NCAAs and will look towards Juman Randall (second in the 800), Taylor Stack (third in the 5000 and sixth in the 3000) and the program’s top-ranked DMR squad to lead them at NCAAs.
Dropping two spots but remaining in the top-5 was No. 5 Tiffin, which earned 12 entries into the national meet. The Dragons have been in the top-five in all eight ratings released this season.
Tiffin will look towards projected top scorers Nikolas Curtiss (second in the country in the shot put), Jonte Baker (fifth overall in the 60), Quincy Scott (fifth in the long jump), Jabari Bennett (fifth in the shot put) and Toryko Grace (fifth in the weight throw). Ten of the school’s 12 entries came from field athletes.
The rest of the top-10 was completed by Colo. School of Mines, Findlay, Grand Valley State, Angelo State and Northwest Missouri.
Women’s Story
There was no movement to be had by any of the top-5 programs this week as Adams State held its in position atop the country for the fourth consecutive week.
The Grizzlies have 18 entries into NCAAs, which includes Roisin Flanagan (tops in the nation in the mile and second in the 3000) and standout Kandace Thomas (first in the 60, 200 and long jump). Other top contributions for the national meet could come from Dianna Johnson (second in the 60 and third in the 200) and Eilish Flanagan (second in the 5000 and fourth in the 3000).
Next up was No. 2 Grand Valley State, a team that will enter enter NCAAs with a nation’s best 25 entries.
The Lakers are strong across multiple disciplines and have seen top marks posted this season by Ellianne Kimes (second in the country in the pole vault), Rahael Walters (third in the 800), Allie Ludge (third in the 3000 and fourth in the mile), Angelica Floyd (fourth in the 60 and 11th in the long jump) and Hanna Groeber (fourth in the 5000).
Following in behind was No. 3 Lincoln (Mo.) with a combined 10 NCAA entries.
The group will look to be led by Rene Medley (second in the 200 and third in the 60), Renea Ambersley (second in the 400 and sixth in the 200) and Diana Cauldwell (third in the triple and 12th in the long jump). The Blue Tigers also boast the top-ranked team in the nation in the 4×400.
Holding steady at No. 4 was Southern Missouri with nine entries into the rating index.
Standout athletes from this group include Jasmine Deckard (fourth in the 200), Morgan Smith (fourth in the 60H) and Desirea Buerge (fourth in the shot put), among others.
Coming in behind them was No. 5 SF State with 12 entries into NCAAs.
Top-ranked athletes from the Gators program include Monisha Lewis (tops the nation in the 60H) and Alexis Henry (second in the 200).
The rest of the top-10 was composed of Alaska Anchorage, West Texas A&M, Ashland, Pittsburg State and U-Mary.
