2023 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 5
NEW ORLEANS – Here is Week 5 of the NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National TFRI, as released on 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 qualifying marks from the 2023 indoor track & field season.
With just a few weeks remaining in the indoor season, the rankings continue to shift as teams look forward to the championships early next month.
NAIA — Men's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Southeastern (Fla.)
Southeastern (Fla.)
2
Life (Ga.)
Life (Ga.)
3
Keiser (Fla.)
Keiser (Fla.)
4
Milligan (Tenn.)
Milligan (Tenn.)
5
Dordt (Iowa)
Dordt (Iowa)
All TFRI Reports
Southeastern (Fla.) maintains their national No. 1 ranking into Week 5, holding eight individual top-10 performances and a second in the nation 4×400 team. James Williamson III continues to hold the national lead in the 200 (21.05) and the national No. 2 spot in the 60 (6.62). Kyle Manuel also continues to hold the second in the nation mark in the shot put (17.29m/56-8¾). At the Radd Collegiate Last Chance meet this past week, the Fire dropped a 3:12.84 4×400 relay, with a team of James Turner, Joseph Taylor, Davien Worrels, and Keishon Franklin.
Life (Ga.) continues their steady rise in the rankings, ascending to the number two position this week. The Running Eagles feature six individual top-10 performances, as well as a nation-leading 4×400 and a national No. 2 DMR. Jacob Ulrich continues to hold national leads in both the 400 (46.92) and 600 (1:17.13 OT), and featured alongside Ngoni Chadyiwa, Marvin Jean-Francois, and Venord Burrows on Life’s 4×400 team (3:12.59). Burrows also featured in their DMR (9:56.08c) from this weekend alongside Joshua Wagner, Lance Wells, and Abedelemejid Kerebo.
Keiser (Fla.) rises two spots this week to retake the No. 3 spot in the rankings. They hold eight top-10 individual rankings, and the No. 5 overall 4×400. Vindero Lightfoot holds the second best time in the 400 (47.59) and the No. 8 spot in the 60 (6.74), and was a member of the Seahawks 4×400 along with Omario Windett, Cliff Desir, and Brandon Baker. Melvin Johnson holds the seventh spot in the 200 (21.40), while Emil Carlsson (5.10m/16-8¾) and Tom Paris (5.00m/16-4¾) stand first and third in the nation, respectively, in pole vault.
Milligan (Tenn.) holds onto the No. 4 spot heading into the end of this indoor season, with 12 top-10 individual performances and a national No. 5 DMR. Just four men hold all 12 of the Buff’s top-10 individual performances. Sylas Chambers holds the seventh position in the nation in the 600 (1:19.40c) and the No. 5 position in the 1000 (2:26.60c). Aaron Jones is the national leader in the 3000 (8:08.40c) and the national No. 5 in the 5000 (14:25.89). Will Stockley holds the second best mile (4:06.26c), and is in the top-1o in the 1000 (2:26.38c), 3000 (8:17.76c), and 5000 (14:30.14). Bryn Woodall is the national leader in the 1000 (2:25.31c), the second best in the 3000 (8:08.79c), and holds additional top-10s in the mile (4:10.37) and 5000 (14:23.95).
Dordt (Iowa) fell three spots to the No. 5 position heading into this week of competition, with seven individual top-1o performances and a national No. 7 4×400. Payton Mauldin, Trey Engen, and Joe Anderson make up each of those top-10 appearances. Mauldin holds top-10s in the 400 (48.05c), 600 (1:17.93c), and 800 (1:50.87 OT), while Engen holds top-10s in the 1000 (2:26.94 OT) and mile (4:09.49), and Anderson stands as No. 5 in the 3000 (8:17.57 OT) and No. 6 in the 5000 (14:27.72).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 2: No. 6 Grace (Ind.), No. 7 Marian (Ind.), No. 8 Doane (Neb.), No. 9 Madonna (Mich.), and No. 10 Oklahoma City.
A little over a week is left to go before the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships kicks off on March 2 at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, South Dakota.
