2023 NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 5
It is Week 5 of the NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index, which means it is one week closer to NAIA Outdoor Championships, which will take place almost exactly a month from now in Marion, Indiana.
That begin said, it appeared to be another week where the rankings changed completely after two top-5 teams – as the No. 1 and No. 4 programs held steady, but chaos reigned otherwise. British Columbia continues to be in the driver’s seat for yet another week. William Carey (Miss.) and Life (Ga.) swapped places, coming in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, while Southeastern (Fla.) held at No. 4 and perennial powerhouse Indiana Tech moved into the top-5 for the first time this season.
Only marks from the current outdoor track and field season have been used in this objective compilation.
NAIA — Women's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
British Columbia
British Columbia
2
William Carey (Miss.)
William Carey (Miss.)
3
Life (Ga.)
Life (Ga.)
4
Southeastern (Fla.)
Southeastern (Fla.)
5
Indiana Tech
Indiana Tech
All TFRI Reports
British Columbia continues to be the favorite for the NAIA team title next month, coming in almost 300 points ahead of the second-ranked team in the National TFRI. Exactly three-sevenths of the Thunderbirds’ top-10 athletes are top-ranked in their respective events, led in part by Rebecca Dutchak’s top-ranked heptathlon performance of 4845 points at the CCC Multi-Events Championships over the weekend. The mid-distance duo of Holly MacGillivray and Rachel Mortimer continue to complement each other well in their respective events, as Mortimer and MacGillivray rank first in the 800 meters (2:08.61) and 1500 meters (4:17.60). As it turns out, the Thunderbirds happen to rank first in every distance event except the steeplechase, as Kiana Gibson and Marley Beckett rank first in the 5000 meters (16.22.04) and 10,000 meters (34:22.91), respectively. Olivia Lundman ranks first in the 5000-meter racewalk with a time of 23:03.90.
Moving up one spot from last week, William Carey (Miss.) comes in as runner-up in the rankings this week. Joy Abu has proven herself as arguably the most well-rounded athlete on the team, as she ranks second in the 100-meter hurdles (13.48) behind her teammate, Salieci Myles (13.41), second in the 400H (59.74), and sixth in the open 400 (55.59), as well as owning a share in the Crusaders’ top-ranked 4x400m relay team (3:46.18). Myles and top-ranked long-jumper Machaeda Linton (6.22m/20-5) make up half of the Crusaders’ second-ranked 4x100m relay squad, as they come in at 45.93. Linton also ranks fifth in the 100m (11.69).
Life (Ga.) dropped a spot from last week to No. 3. One need not look much further than Running Eagle sprinter Talayla Davis, who owns the top NAIA mark in the 100 (11.52), which she turned in this weekend at the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship meet. At the same meet, her 4x100m relay team also turned in a top time of 45.87. This season, Davis has truly made her case as the NAIA’s fastest woman, also sitting second nationally in the 200 (23.63). Hammer thrower Jennifer Batu represents the Running Eagles’ other top-ranked athlete (58.82m/193-0).
The only team to remain constant at its current spot after the No. 1 team, Southeastern (Fla.) stayed put at No. 4 this week. The Fire have five athletes who are ranked in the top-5 in their respective events, albeit none at the top of the leaderboard. They are led in part by 400-meter hurdler Namiyah Simpson, who ranks fourth in that event (1:01.73) and owns shares in both the Fire’s third-ranked 4x100m (46.33) and fourth-ranked 4x400m relay squads (3:49.97). Tenae Grigsby, who also owns a share in the 4x400m performance, showed just how well the hurdlers work together, ranking third right above Simpson in the 400H (1:00.42). Heptathlete Mariam Davis (4743 points, third) represents the other top-5 athlete for the Fire, turning in that performance at the Sun Conference Championships over the weekend.
Entering the top-5 for the first time this season, the National TFRI welcomes back Indiana Tech for the first time since the Warriors were en route to their third consecutive national team championship during the indoor season. Mid-distance standout Lisa Voyles is a big reason why the Warriors are new to the TFRI this outdoor season, ranking second and third in the 800 (2:10.41) and 1500 (4:27.83), respectively. She also owns a share in the Warrior’s 4x800m squad that is ranked fifth (9:23.76).
Rounding out the top-10 teams this week are Indiana Wesleyan at No. 6, Central Methodist (Mo.) at No. 7, Marian (Ind.) at No. 8, Eastern Oregon at No. 9, and Cumberland (Tenn.) at No. 10.
Mark your calendars for May 24-26, because that’s when the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Marian, Indiana.
