2023 NJCAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 2
NEW ORLEANS – South Plains (Texas) continues to lead the way in the NJCAA Men’s Indoor National Track & Field Ratings Index (TFRI), as released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
This is the second edition of the year for the TFRI, which only uses marks from the current season to objectively rank programs on a national basis.
NJCAA — Men's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
South Plains (Texas)
South Plains (Texas)
2
New Mexico JC
New Mexico JC
3
Barton (Kan.) CC
Barton (Kan.) CC
4
Indian Hills (Iowa) CC
Indian Hills (Iowa) CC
5
Iowa Central CC
Iowa Central CC
All TFRI Reports
South Plains (Texas) is No. 1 for a ninth-straight time – a streak that started in Week 6 of 2021. The Texans increased their lead to over 160 points and improved their number of top-10 marks from 23 to 34. Eight of those marks lead the nation, with three athletes at or near all-time highs – Hossam Hatib in the 600 meters at 1:16.23 (just 0.01 seconds off the NJCAA record in leading a 1-2-3-4 sweep of Texans at the top), Mehmet Celik in the 800 at 1:47.92 (converted from an NJCAA-record 1:48.23) and mile at 4:04.07, and Kudakwashe Chadenga in the high jump at 2.26m (7-5), which ties the all-time NJCAA indoor best. Also leading the nation for SPC are Justin Guy in the 60 hurdles at 7.92 and Nelvin Appiah-Konadu in the heptathlon at 4886. The Texans also sport the nation’s fastest in the 4×400 (3:06.35) and distance medley (9:53.02) relays.
New Mexico JC repeats at No. 2, matching its highest rating in program history. The T-Birds improved their number of top-10 marks from 14 to 17, with 14 ranking in the top-5 and two leading the nation – current M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Tapiwanashe Makarawu in the 200 at 20.54 and Kelsey Daniel in the triple jump at 15.80m (51-10).
Moving up a spot to No. 3 is Barton (Kan.) CC, last year’s runner-up at the NJCAA Indoor Championships. The Cougars own 14 top-10 marks – five in the top-5 including Christopher Young, who supplanted teammate Brandon Lloyd as national leader in the shot put at 18.07m (59-3½). Barton rates 1-2-3 in the shot put.
Indian Hills (Iowa) CC follows at No. 4. The Warriors have 14 top-10 marks, six of which are also in the top-5. Rivaldo Marshall owns the national lead in the 1000 (2:23.23) and is No. 2 in the 800 (1:48.46).
Iowa Central CC remains No. 5. The Tritons have 10 top-10 marks, half of which are among the top-5. Rating highest individually for Iowa Central is Waukeem Walters, national leader in the long jump at 7.56m (24-9¾).
Completing the top-10 teams in the national TFRI are No. 6 Butler (Kan.) CC, No. 7 Cloud County (Kan.) CC, No. 8 Iowa Western CC, No. 9 Mesa (Ariz.) CC and No. 10 Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.).
Keep March 3-4 circled on your calendars, as that’s when the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled at the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility in Topeka, Kansas.
