2022 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 9

NEW ORLEANS – British Columbia finished as No. 1 in the 2022 NAIA Men’s Outdoor National Track & Field Rating Index, leading as the Week 9 (and final) edition was released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Only marks from the current outdoor track & field season have been used in this objective compilation.

Rankings and ratings will mean little beginning Wednesday, when the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This will be the 70^th edition of the men’s meet and the eighth at this facility.

NAIA — Men's Outdoor Track & Field

This Week's National Top Five

1
British Columbia

2
Southeastern (Fla.)

3
Life (Ga.)

4
Indiana Tech

5
The Master's (Calif.)

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NATIONAL TFRI
PDFs: Team Detail | Event Detail

British Columbia is poised to reclaim the national title, which it won for the first time in 2019. The 2020 meet was of course canceled due to the pandemic, which washed out the Thunderbirds’ 2021 season as well. UBC enters the 2022 nationals with 10 top-10 marks and two national leaders – Dylan Ulrich in the steeplechase (8:57.17) and Rowan Hamilton in the hammer (75.98m/249-4). Hamilton, who won this meet as a freshman in 2019, is the leading collegiate hammer thrower this year combining all divisions.

No. 2 Southeastern (Fla.) has the most top-10 marks with 11 and cut British Columbia’s lead in half since the last TFRI. The Fire have their highest ranker with Zachary Nichols in the hammer (65.19m/213-11) but have multi-talented sprinter Joseph Taylor, who rates top-5 in all three sprints and is part of the Fire’s 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams, both also among the top-5.

Moving back up to No. 3 is Indiana Tech. The Warriors have five top-10 marks, with four among the top-2. That includes two national leaders with Zayquan Lincoln in the 100 (10.17w) and the 4×100 relay, which also features Lincoln. Don’t count him out in the 200 – he’s listed just 16^th at 21.17, but he won the event last year as well as in this year’s indoor meet. The Warriors also have the No. 2-rated 400 runner in Danute O’Banion (46.16), a strong component in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays, which rate No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

Life (Ga.) is No. 4, a scant three points out of its former No. 3 position. The Running Eagles have eight top-10 marks, with two national leaders – Phemelo Matlhabe in the 200 at 20.50 and the 4×400 relay at 3:08.00.

The Master’s (Calif.) is No. 5, completing a season-long stretch among the top-5. The Mustangs have seven top-10 marks with five among the top-5. They have two who rate No. 2 – Wesley Methum in the 10,000 at 29:39.30 and Caleb Pouliot in the pole vault at 5.05m/16-6¾. Methum is also No. 3 in the 5000, an event he won at last year’s meet.

Completing the top-10 teams in the national TFRI are No. 6 Saint Mary (Kan.), No. 7 Midland (Neb.), No. 8 Montreat (N.C.), No. 9 Taylor (Ind.) and No. 10 St. Thomas (Fla.).