2023 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 6
NEW ORLEANS – It is officially championship month, and in just over three weeks, we will have champions crowned.
Southeastern (Fla.) continues to roll in the latest edition of the NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Rating Index, which was released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Fire, British Columbia, and Life (Ga.) all remained at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Meanwhile, we have a brand-new face in the top-5 for the first time, with Dordt (Iowa) at No. 4. Keiser (Ga.) rounds out the top-5.
Only marks from the current outdoor track and field season have been used in this objective compilation.
NAIA — Men's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Southeastern (Fla.)
Southeastern (Fla.)
2
British Columbia
British Columbia
3
Life (Ga.)
Life (Ga.)
4
Dordt (Iowa)
Dordt (Iowa)
5
Keiser (Fla.)
Keiser (Fla.)
All TFRI Reports
Despite having two fewer top-ranked performances than the No. 2 team, Southeastern (Fla.) remains in the driver’s seat in the NAIA heading into the final month of the season. Keishon Franklin’s 400-meter time of 46.20 represents the only top-ranked performance for the Fire, which he turned in this past weekend at the UNF East Coast Relays. He continues to be ranked ninth in the 200 meters (20.93), as well as holding shares in the Fire’s fourth-ranked 4x100m relay (40.35) and second-ranked 4x400m (3:11.26).
British Columbia sits evenly between the No. 1 and 3 spots. A particularly top performance for the Thunderbirds is their 4x800m relay team, which ascended to the top of the national leaderboard in a time of 7:36.47 at the Ralph Vernaccia Invitational over the weekend. While Dylan Uhrich’s 3,000-meter steeplechase time of 8:52.31 continues to lead the NAIA, he also turned in a ninth-ranked effort in the 1500 meters at the same meet (3:50.51). Along with being stellar in the distance races as the squad has been, the Thunderbirds also continue to be led by the 1-2 duo of Rowan Hamilton (75.77m/248-7) and Matthew Uliana (63.98m/209/11) in the hammer throw.
The last of three teams to hold on to their current ranking is Life (Ga.). Despite not moving up nor down, the Running Eagles stepped up their game this weekend at the Jim Green Track & Field Invitational, running top-ranked 4×100 (40.13) and 4×400 (3:08.51) relay times at the same meet. Phemelo Matlhabe was a huge part of both relay teams, as he leads the individual events for the Running Eagles, ranking third in the 100 (10.28) and second in the 200 (20.56).
For the first time since being crowned national champions this past cross country season, Dordt (Iowa) makes an appearance in the TFRI. As one can guess, the Defenders are led by a barrage of distance runners, middle and long, led in part by the team’s only top-ranked athlete in Payton Mauldin in the 800 (1:49.07). A second-ranked performance by 3,000-meter steeplechaser Peter Shippy (9:08.74) at The Monday Meet, followed by a third-ranked mark by teammate Thaniel Schroeder (9:13.07) from the weekend before that helps the Defender’s case, as does Joe Anderson’s fourth-ranked effort in the 5000 (14:21.59). A pair of third-ranked relay squads (3:12.79 in the 4x100m and 7:41.28 in the 4×800) round out the top-5 performances.
Dropping one spot from last week, Keiser (Fla.) is the fifth and final team in the top-5. The Seahawks continue to be led by top-ranked decathlete Cole Wilson (6785 points). Nigel Steenwinkel is close behind in fourth (6,555 points). The Seahawks are also led by the 2-5 partnership of Emil Carlsson (5.05m/16-6 ¾) and Tom Paris (4.90m/16-¾) in the pole vault.
Rounding out the top-10 for the sixth week of the season are The Master’s (Calif.) at No. 6, Indiana Wesleyan at No. 7, Indiana Tech at No. 8, Marian (Ind.) at No. 9, and Cumberland (Tenn.) at No. 10.
Three weeks from now, the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be underway in Marian, Indiana, so mark your calendars for May 24-26.
