2021 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 5

NEW ORLEANS – We are less than a month away from the 2021 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Let’s take a look to see how the men’s race is shaping up in the newest edition of the NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index that was released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Doane (Neb.) will hold down the top spot in the National TFRI for the fourth straight week. The lone top-10 nationally ranked performance came from Connor Floyd, as he moved up to No. 6 in the pole vault rankings with a clearance of 4.85m (15-11).

Indiana Tech jumped two spots two No. 2. The sprints squad notched several nationally ranked performances that boosted the team’s national ranking. The Warriors’ 4×400 relay clocked 3:15.55 for the second-fastest performance of the year. Individual performances came from Jordan Highsmith in the 400 (No. 4, 47.28), Zayquan Lincoln in the 200 (No. 5, 21.10) and 100 (No. 6, 10.52) and Dillan Elkins in the 200 (No. 7, 21.20).

Southeastern (Fla.) moved one spot down to No. 3 with Indiana Tech’s jump. Glenn Rodgers improved his No. 2 billing in the 110H after clocking 14.13 at the Knights Invite. The Fire continue to hold three of the top-5 performances in the event, with Davonte Vanterpool (No. 3, 14.18) and Darion Carter (No. 5, 14.25) joining Rodgers in the rankings.

Soaring nine spots from No. 13 to No. 4 is Montreat (N.C.). There were several athletes with improved season efforts that gave the Cavaliers extra points in the computer rankings. Jacob Prater and Dustin Blevins, already ranked within the top-7 nationally in the long jump, moved into the top-10 for the triple jump. Prater’s jump slots him at No. 5 (14.85m/48-8¾) and Blevins sits at No. 9 (14.65m/48-¾). Other performers are Micah Matheson in the pole vault (No. 7, 4.80m/15-9) and Dylan Branch in the 800 (No. 8, 1:52.89).

Rounding out the top-5 in Week 5 is Madonna (Mich.). The Crusaders bolstered its positioning thanks to a national leading performance by Cortez Cunningham, clocking 20.84 over 200. Steven Anderson also improved his billing in the 110H with a 14.24, good for No. 4 this season.

Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 5: No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 7 Huntington (Ind.), No. 8 Milligan (Tenn.), No. 9 Westmont (Calif.) and No. 10 Saint Mary (Kan.).