2022 NJCAA Women’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – Indoor season has begun in a big way.

Accordingly, here is the first edition of the NJCAA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, as released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). No marks from previous seasons have been used, which means this objective list is compiled solely of current marks from the 2022 indoor track & field season.

NJCAA — Women's Indoor Track & Field

This Week's National Top Five

1
New Mexico JC

2
Cloud County (Kan.) CC

3
Iowa Western CC

4
Indian Hills (Iowa) CC

5
Barton (Kan.) CC

All TFRI Reports

NATIONAL TFRI
PDFs: Team Detail | Event Detail

REGIONAL TFRI
PDFs: Team Summary | Event Summary

New Mexico JC is starting the season with many of its cylinders pumping, as the T-Birds have a share of five national-leading marks. Four NMJC top event lists: Deshana Skeete in the 200 (24.18), Damaris Chewon in the 3000 (10:18.10), Kimeone McLeod in the 60 hurdles (8.50) and Aaliyah Lindsay in the triple jump (11.85m/38-10½). The fifth event in which the T-Birds lead is the 4×400 relay (3:47.09). Skeete and Lindsay are two of three T-Birds with a pair of top-5 efforts – Skeete is also No. 3 in the 400 (56.43), while Lindsay adds a No. 3 in the long jump (5.95m/19-6¼). Ese Awusa also owns two top-5 marks, rating No. 2 in the 60 hurdles (8.53) and No. 3 in the 200 (24.58). Other T-Birds in the top-5 are Alexa Contreras (pole vault, No. 3 at 3.05m/10-0), Ashantae Bollers (200, No. 5 at 24.78), Sarah Bertry (3000, No. 5 at 10:52.72) and Jayla Brown (triple jump, No. 5 at 11.44m/37-6½).

Cloud County (Kan.) CC is No. 2 in TFRI, but No. 1 in terms of top-10 marks with 20. The T-Birds also have the most athletes with top-5 marks – 10 individuals, plus a relay. Leading the way is Tahisha Thompson in the weight throw (No. 1, 15.49m/50-10). Two athletes rate No. 3 in Maggie Armstrong (pole vault, 3.05m/10-0) and Hollie Stewart (shot put, 12.78m/41-11¼). There are four T-Birds checking in at No. 4 – Pamela Milano (800, 2:20.64), Melody Ochana (1000, 3:09.53), Vanessa Mercera (high jump, 1.65m/5-5) and Faithlyn Irving (triple jump, 11.67m/38-3½). At No. 5 currently are Leonie Beu (600, 1:35.69), Mia Manley (pole vault, 2.85m/9-4¼) and the 4×400 relay (3:52.88). With the exception of Milano, all of the athletes are freshmen.

Defending NJCAA Indoor champion Iowa Western CC follows at No. 3 with 16 top-10 marks. Two Reivers top the list of qualifiers: current National Athlete of the Week Alliyah McNeil (high jump, 1.77m/5-9¾) and Mercy Biwott (5000, 17:54.46). Osayi Omorodion adds a pair of top-5 efforts – 60 hurdles (No. 3, 8.55) and long jump (No. 4, 5.83m/19-1½). Six more Reivers have top-5 marks: Nickisha Pryce (600, No. 2 at 1:34.12), Terresha Walcott (60, No. 3 at 7.64), Shariden Richardson (1000, No. 3 at 3:06.63), Dyandra Gray (60 hurdles, No. 4 at 8.56), Elizabeth Sebera (weight throw, No. 4 at 14.00m/45-11¼) and Bethany Stacey (1000, No. 5 at 3:10.06).

Indian Hills (Iowa) CC is No. 4 with eight top-10 marks. The Warriors lead three events, and Aaliyah Simmons has two of them in the 600 (1:32.42) and 800 (2:12.48). Kahliyah Anderson tops the 400 (55.94) and anchored the No. 2 4×400 relay team (3:48.74), which also included Simmons. Indian Hills has another top-5 rater in the high jumper Haleigh Hadley (No. 4 at 1.65m/5-5). This is the highest Indian Hills has rated in the national TFRI.

Barton (Kan.) CC is No. 5 with 12 top-10 marks. The Cougars have four performances in the top-5, dominated by the shot put with national leader Kelsie Murrell-Ross (15.04m/49-4¼) and No. 4 Jada Sewell (12.76m/41-10½). Also in the top-5 are Nia Robinson (long jump, No. 2 at 6.17m/20-3) and Kayan Green (600, No. 3 at 1:34.22).

Completing the top-10 teams in the national TFRI are No. 6 South Plains (Texas), No. 7 Iowa Central CC, No. 8 Hawkeye (Iowa) CC, No. 9 Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.) and No. 10 Butler (Kan.) CC.

All teams have the target of March 4-5, which is when the NJCAA Indoor Championships are scheduled at Pittsburg State’s Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kansas.