2022 NCAA DII Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – Track is back!
Here is the first installment of the NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor Track & Field National TFRI for the 2022 season, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday.
NCAA Division II — Men's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
2
Ashland
Ashland
3
Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State
4
Lee (Tenn.)
Lee (Tenn.)
5
Fort Hays State
Fort Hays State
All TFRI Reports
Grand Valley State is No. 1 in the first ranking of the season for the fourth time in program history, also sitting at the top of the chart in 2015, 2016 and 2021. The Lakers boast 13 top-10 marks on the Descending Order List, including the top-2 performances in the 5000 from Isaac Harding (No. 1, 13:45.19) and Tanner Chada (No. 2, 13:45.19). Adding to the Lakers’ haul of top-5 performance marks are Hunter Harding and Myles Kerner in the weight throw, Jonathon Groendyk in the 800 and the 4×400 relay.
Ashland, the defending national champions, will start at No. 2 for the second straight year. While the Eagles have six top-10 performances so far this season, four of them sit among the top-2 nationally. Trevor Bassitt accounts for two of those efforts with his national leading times in the 400 (46.08) and 60H (7.75). Joining Bassitt in the 400 is Channing Phillips, who ran the nation’s second-fastest time of 47.44. Not to be outdone, Brent Fairbanks also has the second-best mark in the weight throw (21.43m.70-3¼)
Pittsburg State comes in at No. 3 for a program best ranking, bettering their former best of No. 5 set on multiple occasions. The Gorillas hold six top-10 marks to start the season, including a pair of national leading efforts from Henry Kiner (triple jump, 15.83m/51-11¼) and the 4×400 relay (3:12.86). Other athletes who boast top-5 marks are Braylen Brewer (400), Konner Swenson (shot put) and TJ Caldwell (60H).
Lee (Tenn.) is ranked fourth to begin the 2022 campaign. The Flames tallied six top-10 marks, including five that sit among the top-4 nationally. The duo of Christian Noble and Carson Bix each have two to their credit. Noble and Bix are ranked No. 1 (3:59.70) and No. 2 (4:01.15) in the mile, respectively, while sitting No. 3 and No. 4 in the 5000 on the Descending Order List. Don’t forget about Titus Lagat, who owns the third-best time this year in the 800.
Fort Hays State is making history right out of the gate at No. 5 for a new program best. The Tigers previous best ranking was No. 15 from the 2018 season. With six top-10 marks of their own, five of those are ranked in the top-5 on the Descending Order List. Ryan Stanley is the national leader in the pole vault with a season-best clearance of 5.20m (17-¾), while Phillip Landrum is highly ranked in the 60 (No. 3, 6.73) and 200 (No. 2, 21.29). Other athletes owning top-5 efforts of their own are Nolan Churchman (heptathlon) and Jacob Clark (pole vault).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in the first National TFRI of the season: No. 6 Central Missouri, No. 7 Adams State, No. 8 UC-Colorado Springs, No. 9 CSU Pueblo and No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney. This is a program best ranking for the Mountain Lions, topping their No. 9 billing set last year, while the Lopers are making their first top-10 appearance since 2014.
Mark your calendars for March 11-12, as the 2022 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships will take place at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas.
