2023 NCAA DII Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 9
NEW ORLEANS – Here is the Pre-Championships Edition of the NCAA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National TFRI, as released on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). This edition only uses marks from athletes who qualified and declared for next week’s championships, which gives us a clear picture of which teams are in contention for national titles.
NCAA Division II — Men's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State
2
West Texas A&M
West Texas A&M
3
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
4
Adams State
Adams State
5
Colo. School of Mines
Colo. School of Mines
All TFRI Reports
Pittsburg State has dominated the TFRI for much of the season, and remains on top as we look to the national championships. The Gorillas are the reigning outdoor national champions, took the title indoor this year as well, and are looking primed to continue their streak. Cordell Tinch declared for three events at this week’s championships, and is the top seed for two of them – long jump (8.24m/27-0½) and the 110-meter hurdles (12.97). Tinch also holds the No. 2 seed in high jump (2.18m/7-1¾). The Gorillas also look to Henry Kiner to help lead them across the finish line, with a No. 1 performance in the triple jump (16.41m/53-10) and a No. 4 mark in the long jump (7.82m/25-7¾). Four others have marks in the top-5 in their respective events: TJ Caldwell and Daylin Williams in the 110 hurdles; Caleb Calvin in javelin, and Hunter Jones in decathlon. They add a No. 3 4×100 relay squad to assist in their national championship aspirations.
West Texas A&M retains their No. 2 spot in the National TFRI. The Buffs have been runners-up at back-to-back outdoor championships, and are looking to change that trend and add a national title to their accolades this year. They feature a nation-leading 4×100 relay (38.92), and a No. 3 4×400 relay (3:08.47). Quinton Sansing is their sole individual national leader, with a 45.65 mark in the 400 meters that puts him as a favorite to add a national title to his previous All-Americans. Butare Rugenerwa holds down a No. 4 position in the 800 meters (1:48.19), the sole top-5 individual for the Buffs outside of the sprint events. Joseph Manu has the No. 4 in the 100 meters (10.11) and is tied with teammate Jeremiah Lauzon for the No. 3 position in the 200 meters (20.59). Isaac Botsio rounds out the top-5 performances for the Buffs with his No. 3 100 meters (10.09).
Grand Valley State holds steady at No. 3. The Lakers won their last national title outdoors in 2021, placing third behind Pittsburg State and West Texas A&M outdoors last year. GVSU continues to have a pair of top ranked athletes: Eli Kosiba in the high jump (2.25m/7-4½), and Myles Kerner in the shot put (19.85m/65-1¾). Jacob Urban’s 65.76m (215-9) mark in the hammer throw puts him at the No. 2 position, less than 20cm off the leader, while Caleb Futter, No. 2 in the steeplechase (8:42.20) looks to double back in the 5000 meters as well, where he is ranked 18th (14:01.66).
Adams State hangs on at No. 4 in the final TFRI of the year. They hope to build on a strong indoor season which saw them finish in second at the national championship meet, behind West Texas A&M. The Grizzlies feature a pair of national leaders: Miguel Coca in the 1500 meters (3:40.96c) and Cameron Allan in the 10,000 meters (28:37.09). Coca and Allan are both planning audacious doubles, each entered in the 5000 meters, with Coca seeded third (13:36.51) and Allan seeded fifth (13:50.64). Allan is joined in his 10k/5k double by teammate Awet Beraki, who sits at second in the 10,000 meters (28:42.09) and sixth in the 5000 meters (13:50.64). Rounding out the top-5 performances for the Grizzlies is Papay Glaywulu, who holds a No. 3 performance in the triple jump (15.89m/52-1½).
Colorado School of Mines ends the regular season at No. 5 on the TFRI as they look towards the national championship. The Miners dominated the cross country season this year, ending with a national title in domineering fashion, and look to build off that distance success next week. They’re led by a No. 1 5000-meter performance from Dillon Powell (13:30.93), and a No. 3 1500-meter effort by Luke Julian (3:41.84). Powell and Loic Scomparin are both attempting the 5k/10k double, with Powell being seeded sixth in the 10,000 meters (29:02.02) and Scomparin being seeded fourth in the 5000 meters (13:45.65) and tenth in the 10,000 meters (29:09.66). They add a final top-5 performance by Hunter Potrykus in pole vault (5.36m/17-7), to contribute to their case for a national title.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in the Week 2 TFRI: No. 6 Angelo State, No 7. Missouri Southern, No. 8 Academy of Art, No. 9 Azusa Pacific, No. 10 Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Keep your eyes on Pueblo, Colorado, as the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships kicks off this week and we see which teams and individuals will be crowned national champions.
