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

NEW ORLEANS – British Columbia is No. 1 in the final 2022 NAIA Women’s Outdoor National Track & Field Rating Index, leading for the eighth week in a row in the version that 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 41^st edition of the women’s meet and the eighth at this facility.

NAIA — Women's Outdoor Track & Field

This Week's National Top Five

1
British Columbia

2
Indiana Tech

3
Concordia (Neb.)

4
William Carey (Miss.)

5
Hastings (Neb.)

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NATIONAL TFRI
PDFs: Team Detail | Event Detail

If ever anyone is prepared, it’s British Columbia. The Thunderbirds haven’t won a national title since their last participation in 2019, as cancelation of the meet in 2020 and UBC’s season in 2021 can both be chalked up to the pandemic’s toll. The Thunderbirds are clearly ready this year, sporting 23 top-10 marks with six national leaders with six different athletes. Distance events will be prominent for UBC, leading the 1500 with Holly MacGillivray (4:23.74), steeplechase with Jenna Melanson (10:11.03), 5000 with Glynis Sim (15:39.23), 10,000 with Kyla Becker (35:40.26) and 5000 race walk with Olivia Lundman (23:12.53). Hailey Kjaer adds the nation’s best javelin at 45.95m (150-9). With the exception of potential relay duty, none of these athletes is slated to compete in more than one event.

Holding steady at No. 2 is defending champion Indiana Tech. The Warriors, also reigning indoor champs, have 18 top-10 marks with three national leaders. Destiny Copeland is tops in the triple jump at 12.47m (40-11) and looks to add to her career total of five NAIA titles combining indoor and outdoor in the triple jump and long jump (she won both at the indoor meet in March). Lisa Voyles leads the nation in the 800 (2:08.44) and the Warriors have the top 4×400 squad (3:44.26).

Concordia (Neb.) is back at No. 3 and claims 12 top-10 marks. The Bulldogs have the nation’s top pole vaulter in Josie Puelz at 4.10m (13-5¼) – the defending champ won her second-straight indoor crown in March.

William Carey (Miss.) is No. 4. Nine of the Crusarers 10 top-10 marks are among the top-5, including three national leaders involving Joy Abu – she leads the 100 hurdles at 13.60w and 400 hurdles at 57.78 and anchors the nation’s fastest 4×100 at 45.12. Abu won both hurdle events last year and indoors in March won the 60 hurdles and 400 for a second-straight year.

Remaining No. 5 is Hastings (Neb.). The Broncos have nine top-10 marks, with five in the top-5. Highest among those is Karsen Sears, who leads the long jump at 6.06mw (19-10¼w). Lauren Tamayo adds a pair of No. 2s in the heptathlon (5053) and high jump (1.72m/5-7¼).

Rounding out the top-10 teams in the national TFRI are No. 6 Life (Ga.), No. 7 Marian (Ind.), No. 8 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), No. 9 St. Francis (Ill.) and No. 10 Southern Oregon.