2023 NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 6
NEW ORLEANS – It’s officially championship month in the NAIA ranks.
The top-three teams in the NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index stayed the same, with British Columbia holding a sizable lead on the rest of the field. William Carey (Miss.) and Life (Ga.) are close together at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, while Indiana Tech and Southeastern (Fla.) traded spots at Nos. 4 and 5 from last week.
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
Indiana Tech
Indiana Tech
5
Southeastern (Fla.)
Southeastern (Fla.)
All TFRI Reports
The top-ranked Thunderbirds from British Columbia appear to be lapping the field with one month to go in the season. An athlete on the team is ranked either first or second in every distance event from 800 meters through 10,000 meters, not the least of which includes mid-distance ace Racher Mortimer, who ranks second in the 800 meters (2:08.61) and third in the 1500 meters (4:20.51). Kiana Gibson may just be Star of the Week for UBC, as her 3,000-meter steeplechase time of 10:11.52 that she ran at the Ralph Vernaccia Invitational this past weekend puts her atop the NAIA in that event, to go along with her top-ranked 5000-meter of 16:22.04, an event in which the Thunderbirds hold the top four spots, in Katie Newlove (16:27.09), Marley Beckett (16:28.58), and Kyla Becker (16:33.40), respectively. The Thunderbirds fetature the two best 10,000-meter runners in the NAIA in Beckett (34:22.91) and Becker (35:35.96). A 3-4 and 1-2 duo in consecutive events if there ever was one.
The Crusaders of William Carey (Miss.) come in second this week, largely led by their hurdling sensation in Joy Abu. To this point, Abu ranks second in both hurdle races (13.48 in the 100-meter hurdles, and 59.74 in the 400-meter hurdles), as well as sixth in the open 400 (55.59). Despite two second-ranked performances, she does, however, hold a share in a top time, as her 4x400m relay team leads the NAIA with its time of 3:46.18). Her second-ranked 100H time ranked second right behind her top-ranked teammate, Salieci Myles (13.31). A top-ranked long jump (6.22m/20-5), and fifth-ranked 100-meter time (11.69) by Machaeda Linton, as well as the third-ranked 4×100 relay squad (45.93) that she owns a share in, round out the top-5 performances that the Crusaders have turned in thus far.
Not moving an inch from their spot in the rankings from last week, Life (Ga.) holds on to the No. 3 spot once again. A pair of top-ranked efforts from sprinter Talayla Davis (100m, 11.52) and hammer thrower Jennifer Batu (58.82m/193-0) lead the way for the Running Eagles. Along with her top-ranked burst in the 100, Davis holds two other marks that are ranked second, one of which is an individual event (200, 23.63), and another of which she owns a share in (4x100m relay, 45.87).
Indiana Tech continues to slowly move up the NAIA ladder in the outdoor ranks, climbing up to No. 4 this week. Mid-distance ace Lisa Voyles is the Warriors’ leader from an individual standpoint, as she ranks first in the 800 (2:08.01) and fifth in the 1500 (4:27.83), respectively. Jamaya Warthen’s third-ranked time in the 100 (11.66) is next up for the Warriors, as she also anchors their top-ranked 4×100 relay (45.82). The team has another highly-touted relay team, as their 4x400m squad comes in second in the NAIA (3:47.89).
Southeastern (Fla.) holds down the No. 5 spot in Week 6. The Fire have several different athletes who are ranked in the top-5, including relay teams that rank fourth (4×100, 46.33) and fifth (4×400, 3:49.97) respectively. SEU is also led by the 3-5 contingent of Tenae Grigsby (1:00.42) and Namiah Simpson (1:01.73) in the 400H, as well as a fourth-ranked heptathlon performance by Mariam Davis (4,743 points).
Rounding out the top-10 for this week are Indiana Wesleyan at No. 6, College of Idaho at No. 7, Central Methodist (Mo.) at No. 8, Concordia (Neb.) at No. 9, and Eastern Oregon at No. 10.
The 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships are right around the corner in Marian, Indiana, so mark your calendars for May 24-26.
