2023 NCAA DII Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 7
NEW ORLEANS – And then there was one.
Here is the Pre-Championships release of the NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor Track & Field National TFRI, as released on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Only marks from the current season are being used, which gives an objective look at those teams who are expected to compete for podium spots at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
NCAA Division II — Men's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State
2
Adams State
Adams State
3
West Texas A&M
West Texas A&M
4
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
5
UC-Colorado Springs
UC-Colorado Springs
All TFRI Reports
Top-ranked Pittsburg State is the heavy favorite to capture its second national title in program history and first since 2018. The Gorillas, which brings 19 entries to Virginia Beach, have 14 that rank among the top-5 nationally this season. This includes four national-leading marks by Cordell Tinch in the 60-meter hurdles (7.50) and the long jump (7.94m/26-¾), Xavier Carmichael in the 60 meters (6.62), Corey Lyons in the 400 meters (46.62) and the 4×400 meter relay (3:07.72). Pittsburg State has multiple high-ranking entries across five events, with three entries in both the 60-meter hurdles and 400 meters that boast top-5 seeds.
Adams State will enter the NCAA Championships ranked second. The Grizzlies have 16 total entries and six that rank among the national top-5, including three national-leading marks from Miguel Coca in the mile (3:56.84), Papay Glaywulu in the triple jump (16.61m/54-6) and the Distance Medley Relay (9:35.50). Coca is also ranked second in the 3000 meters, while Awet Beraki is ranked second in the 5000 meters and fifth in the 3000 meters.
West Texas A&M will go to Virginia in third with 13 entries, with seven of them residing in the top-5 nationally. Isaac Botsio holds the team’s lone national-leading mark in the 200 meters at 20.95, while also sitting in the top-3 in the 60 meters. Joining Botsio in those events is Joseph Manu with a pair of No. 5 rankings. The Buffs could see some big points in the field events as Hamdi Ali and Joseph Oreva are ranked No. 3 in the high jump and long jump, respectively.
Defending champion Grand Valley State is ranked fourth ahead of the NCAA Championships. Of the Lakers’ 12 entries, two are national-leading marks: Eli Kosiba in the high jump (2.23m/7-3¾); Myles Kerner in the shot put (19.57m/64-2½). The Lakers will have two entries in those events that rank among the top-5 on the national leaderboard.
Fifth-ranked UC-Colorado Springs will have 10 entries for the Championships. While having no national-leading marks, the Mountain Lions do have four entries that are ranked among the national top-5, including a pair of No. 3s from Afewerki Zeru in the 3000 meters and Dakota Abbott in the triple jump.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in the Pre-Championships National TFRI: No. 6 Missouri Southern, No. 7 Colorado School of Mines, No. 8 Central Missouri, No. 9 CSU Pueblo and No. 10 Mississippi College.
