2020 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – The new indoor track & field season is a few weeks old, which means it’s a perfect time to check out the first NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index that was released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Based on those results turned in already this season, it appears as if Indiana Tech is the going-away favorite to walk out of Brookings, South Dakota, with yet another team title. The Warriors, who won five of the past six indoor crowns, doubled the next closest team’s score in Week 1.
NAIA — Men's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Indiana Tech
Indiana Tech
2
Concordia (Neb.)
Concordia (Neb.)
3
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
4
Doane (Neb.)
Doane (Neb.)
5
William Carey (Miss.)
William Carey (Miss.)
All TFRI Reports
Indiana Tech athletes have posted 20 automatic qualifying marks for the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 5-7. The Warriors are led by national-leading marks by Qawtavis Johnson (60), Gairy Springer (200) Tequan Claitt (high jump), Malik Johnson (long jump) and the 4×800 relay team. Indiana Tech also has eight other national top-5 marks to its credit so far this season.
Concordia (Neb.) comes in at No. 2 with six automatic qualifying marks of its own and 10 national top-10 marks. Jacob Cornelio is the lone national leader for the Bulldogs with his heave of 20.04m (65-9) in the weight throw, while Cody Williams is currently second nationally in the heptathlon and Gavin Dehaai (pole vault) and Xavier Ross (400) are third nationally in their respective events.
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) owns the No. 3 spot in Week 1 thanks to hitting eight automatic qualifying marks. Leading the way for the Tigers are national leaders Wesley Meyer in the 800 and the mile, Bryce Vollrath in the shot put and the distance medley relay team.
Doane (Neb.) sits fourth, up 17 spots from where it finished last year at the NAIA Championships. The Tigers have been led by national leaders Tyce Hruza (pole vault) and Levi Sudbeck (heptathlon) thus far, with Jacob Heitkamp (high jump) and Ajack Waikur (triple jump) posting strong marks in their respective events.
William Carey (Miss.) rounds out the top-5 in Week 1 thanks to hitting eight automatic qualifying marks. The Crusaders have national leaders in the guise of Kaleb Clark (long jump), Malik Crandle (triple jump) and the 4×400 relay team, as well as top-5 marks in the 60 and the high jump.
The top-10 in Week 1 is filled out by No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 7 St. Francis (Ill.), No. 8 Taylor (Ind.), No. 9 Grand View (Iowa) and No. 10 Milligan (Tenn.).
