2022 NCAA DII Women’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – Track is back!
Here is the first installment of the NCAA Division II Women’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 — Women's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Azusa Pacific
Azusa Pacific
2
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
3
Minnesota State
Minnesota State
4
Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State
5
CSU Pueblo
CSU Pueblo
All TFRI Reports
For the first time in program history, Azusa Pacific will start the indoor season as the top-ranked team. This is also the program’s best ranking in the National TFRI, improving on their previous best of No. 5 from the 2019 season. The Cougars earned 10 top-10 marks in the first few weeks of competition, including national leading efforts from Mechaela Hyacynth (60: 7.35c/7.31A) and Chinenye Agina (high jump: 1.83m/6-0). Jaylah Walker accounts for three of those top-10 efforts, as she’s ranked No. 2 in both the 200 and 400, and is No. 10 in the 60H. Other athletes ranked among the top-5 in their respective events are Alayna Verner (400), Sara Wagenveld (pole vault) and Alysa Henry (pentathlon).
Grand Valley State, the defending national champions, will come in at No. 2 for just the second time in program history. The Lakers picked up 10 top-10 performances of their own, including three alone in the 3000 from Klaudia O’Malley (No. 1, 9:23.65), Allie Ludge (No. 3, 9:27.95) and Hannah Roeske (No. 6, 9:35.42). Kayce Rypma also owns the fourth-best time in the 5000 this year. The throwers are also placing themselves in the mix, as Judith Essemiah is No. 2 in the weight throw and Emma Richards is No. 3 in the shot put.
Minnesota State will begin the season at No. 3 for the second consecutive year. The Mavericks have nine top-10 marks, including two national-leading efforts by Ja’Cey Simmons in the 200 (24.44c/24.82) and Katie Taylor in the weight throw (20.03m/65-8¼). Taylor also has the seventh-best shot put of the season, while Makayla Jackson (60, long jump) Rose Cramer (200), Denisha Cartwright (60H) and Flore Gracia (triple jump) sit among the top-8 in their respective events.
Pittsburg State is ranked No. 4 to start the year with eight top-10 nationally ranked marks. Leading the Gorillas with national-leading performances are Isabelle Peters in the pole vault (4.11m/13-5¾) and Trace Mosby in the pentathlon (4122). Mosby also boasts two other top-5 efforts on the Descending Order List in the 60H and high jump, and runs a leg on the third-ranked 4×400 relay.
CSU Pueblo rounds out the top-5 and set a new program best in the National TFRI. The Thunder Wolves turned in eight top-10 efforts on the Descending Order List, with Yasmine Hernandez and Hailey Streff leading the team with two each. Hernandez and Streff are ranked No. 2 and No. 8 in the 800, respectively, while sitting No. 3 and No. 4 in the mile. Those two also run on the eighth-ranked 4×400 relay.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in the first National TFRI of the season: No. 6 Lee (Tenn.), No. 7 West Texas A&M, No. 8 Lincoln (Mo.), No. 9 Adams State and No. 10 Indianapolis.
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.
