2021 NCAA DII Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 6
NEW ORLEANS – We’ve made it to May!
As the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season heads into the final month and post-season competition starts to ramp up, let’s take a look at the most recent installment of the NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index, released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday.
NCAA Division II — Women's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Azusa Pacific
Azusa Pacific
2
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
3
West Texas A&M
West Texas A&M
4
Missouri Southern
Missouri Southern
5
Adams State
Adams State
All TFRI Reports
Azusa Pacific continues to headline the National TFRI after claiming the PacWest Championship, notching numerous new or improved season bests in the process. Elle Alexander picked up two of them herself in the discus (No. 3, 53.68m/176-2) and hammer throw (No. 9, 57.44m/188-6). Other top performers for the Cougars were Jaylah Walker in the 100H (No. 7, 13.86) and Nicole Warwick in the long jump (No. 8, 6.08m/19-11½). Walker also ran the second leg of the 4×100 that is now ranked No. 2 (45.34).
No. 2 Grand Valley State hosted the GVSU Extra Weekend Meet and picked up a handful of season bests. Judith Essemiah extended her national lead in the event to 64.21m (210-8) to become the No. 6 performer all-time in NCAA DII. Adding a new nationally ranked performance for the Lakers was Allie Ludge, running the 1500 (No. 5, 4:23.37) in her first race of the outdoor season.
While No. 3 West Texas A&M, No. 4 Missouri Southern and No. 5 Adams State have pulled away from the rest of the pack, they are only separated by a few points themselves.
The Lady Buffs gained a new top-10 nationally ranked performance after traveling to Allendale, Michigan for the GVSU Extra Weekend Meet. Eleonora Curtabbi clocked the ninth-fastest time in the steeplechase of 10:43.74.
For the fourth-ranked Lions, Kirsten Leisinger notched a season best in the hammer. Her throw of 60.81m (199-6) is the second-best throw of the year.
The Grizzlies saw two new or improved season bests that fall within the top-10 nationally at the RMAC Championships: Stephanie Cotter in the 1500 (No. 7, 4:23.93c/4:29.60A); Nicole Lawrence in the 800 (No. 9, 2:09.68c/2:10.37A).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 6: No. 6 Saginaw Valley State, No. 7 Minnesota State, No. 8 Academy of Art, No. 9 U-Mary and No. 10 CSU Pueblo.
The 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships are set for May 27-29 in Allendale, Michigan, hosted by Grand Valley State.
