2020 NAIA Women’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 Women’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 the team title. The Warriors, who last won the national title in 2017, have a substantial margin over the rest of the field at the moment.
NAIA — Women's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Indiana Tech
Indiana Tech
2
Concordia (Neb.)
Concordia (Neb.)
3
Huntington (Ind.)
Huntington (Ind.)
4
Doane (Neb.)
Doane (Neb.)
5
St. Francis (Ill.)
St. Francis (Ill.)
All TFRI Reports
Eighteen automatic qualifying marks have propelled Indiana Tech to the top spot. Sha’londa Terry has been a force this season for the Warriors thus far with nation-leading marks in the 60 and the 200. Not to be outdone, Destiny Copeland leads the nation in the triple jump and sits second nationally in the long jump.
Concordia (Neb.) sits second to begin the season thanks to eight automatic qualifying marks and seven different efforts that rank in the top-5 nationally. Rachel Battershell is the lone national leader for the Bulldogs with her 56.40 in the 400, while Allison Brooks and Josie Puelz are tied for second nationally in the pole vault and Adrianna Shaw owns the No. 2 spot in the nation in both the shot put and weight throw.
Huntington (Ind.) has been a force so far with 14 automatic qualifying marks, which includes five national-leading efforts. Hannah Stoffel has been a one-woman wrecking crew with top times nationally in the 600 (1:34.31), 800 (2:10.96) and 3000 (9:22.91). Other Foresters in the national lead include Molly Mitchell in the 1000 and the 4×800 relay team.
Doane (Neb.) is ranked fourth in Week 1 and will be led by its field event athletes. The Tigers have seven automatic qualifying marks so far – all in field events – and have nation-leading marks from Alexis Dale in the high jump and Kate Grint in the shot put.
St. Francis (Ill.) holds down the No. 5 spot with eight automatic qualifying marks, of which four of those are in the top-5 nationally. The best marks turned in so far by the Saints is the No. 3 effort nationally by their 4×800 relay team and a No. 4 billing for both Eva Bruno (1000) and Sabrina Baftiri (5000) in their respective events.
The top-10 in Week 1 is filled out by No. 6 Friends (Kan.), No. 7 Eastern Oregon, two-time defending champion No. 8 Wayland Baptist (Texas), No. 9 Siena Heights (Mich.) and No. 10 Cornerstone (Mich.).
