2019 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 8
NEW ORLEANS – It’s Championship Week in NAIA Outdoor Track & Field!
We know which athletes are headed to the 2019 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships this weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama, so it’s time to look at the Pre-Championships Edition of the National TFRI, which only uses marks from those athletes competing in the Yellowhammer State.
QUICK LINKS: USTFCCCA National Championships Central | Timing Site
This marks the sixth year in a row that the NAIA Outdoor T&F Championships have been held in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The last time the meet was held in the same location for more than five years was between 1959 and 1967 when it was based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
NAIA — Men's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
British Columbia
British Columbia
2
Indiana Tech
Indiana Tech
3
Wayland Baptist (Texas)
Wayland Baptist (Texas)
4
William Carey (Miss.)
William Carey (Miss.)
5
Saint Mary (Kan.)
Saint Mary (Kan.)
All TFRI Reports
British Columbia is projected to win its second outdoor national title in the past three years, as it is the top-ranked team in the Men’s National TFRI. The Thunderbirds have 10 marks that are ranked in the top-5 nationally, including five in the top-2. Kieran Lumb accounts for two of those by himself as he is the top-ranked athlete in both the 1500 and 5000.
Indiana Tech and Wayland Baptist (Texas) are expected to battle for runner-up honors according to the National TFRI. The Warriors and the Pioneers have combined for 13 national top-5 marks this late in the season with a near-even split (Indiana Tech has seven, compared to six for Wayland Baptist). Cayce Griffin and Matt Lockridge are the Warriors to watch as they’re ranked No. 1 nationally in the 10,000 and 100, respectively, while the Pioneers feature the top-ranked athlete in the 400 (Quintaveon Poole) and the top-ranked 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams.
William Carey (Miss.) and Saint Mary (Kan.) are off pace a bit and come in at No. 4 and No. 5 in the final Rating Index of the season. The Crusaders are led by the second-ranked triple jumper in the nation (Malik Crandle), while the Spires have Phillip Lagemann and Luke Skinner in that position in the 5000 and steeplechase, respectively.
The rest of the top-10 included No. 6 Southern Oregon, No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 8 Grand View (Iowa), No. 9 Southern-New Orleans (La.) and No. 10 Tennessee Wesleyan. Grand View (Iowa) jumped four spots between Week 7 and Week 8 based off their strong entries to the national meet.
NAIA — Women's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
British Columbia
British Columbia
2
Southern-New Orleans (La.)
Southern-New Orleans (La.)
3
Concordia (Neb.)
Concordia (Neb.)
4
Wayland Baptist (Texas)
Wayland Baptist (Texas)
5
Doane (Neb.)
Doane (Neb.)
All TFRI Reports
British Columbia remained the top-ranked team in the Women’s National Rating Index for good reason. The Thunderbirds have 15 – Count them: 15 – entries into the national meet that are ranked in the top-5. What is even more impressive is that UBC doesn’t have a single No. 1 mark this season, but counters that with sheer quality and quantity.
Southern-New Orleans, last year’s national champion, sits second in the final Rating Index. The Knights have 12 entries of their own ranked in the top-5 nationally, including three that headline the 400 (Stacey Ann Williams), 400H (Kimona Smikle) and 4×400 relay.
Concordia (Neb.) is a clear favorite to finish third on the strength of its field athletes. The Bulldogs have six entries that are ranked in the top-5 nationally, of which five are in the field events. Adrianna Shaw has two of those by herself as she is ranked first nationally in the discus and third nationally in the hammer, while Samantha Liermann is the top-ranked athlete in the shot put.
Wayland Baptist (Texas) and Doane (Neb.) are projected to battle for the final podium spot. The Pioneers and the Tigers have nearly identical ranks of top athletes: WBU has two No. 1s and two No. 3s, while Doane (Neb.) owns two No. 1s, a No. 2 and a No. 3. It’s possible that the Tigers could sweep the high jump as Shay Brown and Alexis Dale are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in that event.
The rest of the top-10 included No. 6 Hastings (Neb.), No. 7 Indiana Tech, No. 8 William Carey (Miss.), No. 9 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and No. 10 Oregon Tech.
