2022 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – Track is back!
Here is the first edition of the NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index for 2022, as released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). No marks from previous seasons are used, which means this objective ranking is comprised solely of marks from the 2022 indoor track & field season.
NAIA — Women's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Indiana Tech
Indiana Tech
2
Concordia (Neb.)
Concordia (Neb.)
3
William Carey (Miss.)
William Carey (Miss.)
4
St. Francis (Ill.)
St. Francis (Ill.)
5
Hastings (Neb.)
Hastings (Neb.)
All TFRI Reports
It’s no surprise that Indiana Tech will start the season at No. 1 after earning a whopping 28 top-10 nationally ranked marks. The Warriors are headlined by several national-leading performances by Destinee McGrady in the 400 (55.80), Loanie Cellard in the 3000 RW (14:09.32), Kylin Nichols and and Erica Xayarath in the high jump (1.68m/5-6) and the 4×400 relay (3:47.68). Indiana Tech also has multiple athletes that sit in the top-10 in the 60, 200, 400, 60H, high jump, long jump, triple jump and pentathlon.
Concordia (Neb.) comes in at No. 2 with 15 top-10 marks on the Descending Order List. The field events alone combine for eight of those marks – three in the pole vault, two in the high jump and weight throw, and one in the pentathlon. The Bulldogs’ also have three three relays ranked in the top-3, including the nation’s fastest DMR.
William Carey (Miss.) is slotted at No. 3 after tallying eight top-10 marks to start the season, with three of them being national leaders. Brittany Jones has two of those No. 1 performances in the long jump (5.95m/19-6¼) and triple jump (12.71m/41-8½). Joy Abu is also a national leader in the 60H, along with top-5 rankings in the 200 and 400.
St. Francis (Ill.) is ranked No. 4 to start the season. The Saints have tallied 10 top-10 marks, with three of them coming from the 5000. Sabrina Baftiri is the national leader in the event (17:07.13) and is joined by Laisha Corona (No. 4, 17:08.40) and Katherine Bakken (No. 4, 17:37.41). Baftiri is also ranked fifth in the mile, while Corona is ranked No. 2 in the mile and No. 7 in the 3000.
Hastings (Neb.) rounds out the top-5 teams. With seven top-10 efforts to start the season, five of those sit among the top-5 on the Descending Order List. Lauren Tamayo is the highest ranked effort with her No. 2 soccer in the pentathlon. Other impact athletes are Veronica Pinkerton (800), Savannah Congrove (RW 3000). Nisa Thomas (60H) and Kiara Anderson (weight throw).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 1: No. 6 Doane (Neb.), No. 7 Life (Ga.), No. 8 Dordt (Iowa), No. 9 Southeastern (Fla.) and No. 10 Marian (Ind.).
Mark your calendars for March 3-5, because that’s when the 2022 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, South Dakota.
