2024 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – The indoor season has begun!
Here is the Week 1 edition of the NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, as released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). No marks from previous seasons have been used, which means this objective list is compiled solely of current marks from the 2024 indoor track & field season.
National TFRI is presented by AthleticNET.
NAIA — Men's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Cumberlands (Ky.)
Cumberlands (Ky.)
2
Southeastern (Fla.)
Southeastern (Fla.)
3
Dordt (Iowa)
Dordt (Iowa)
4
Milligan (Tenn.)
Milligan (Tenn.)
5
Marian (Ind.)
Marian (Ind.)
All TFRI Reports
No. 1 Cumberlands (Ky.) has made a big leap, improving the program-high from rating No. 9 in Week 1 of 2019. The Patriots have 11 top-10 marks, with all but two in the top-5 in racking up five national leaders. Luca Santorum leads the 1000 meters (2:27.07) and mile (4:06.68) and is part of the leading 4×800 relay team, while Gustav Bendsen tops the 3000 (8:16.63) and Cole Bennett paces the 3000 racewalk (13:13.57).
Defending champion Southeastern (Fla.) is No. 2. The Fire have 11 top-10 marks, led by James Williamson III in the 200 (20.90).
Dordt (Iowa) is No. 3, rating in the top-4 season-opening list for the fourth-straight year. The Defenders have seven top-10 marks, with Payton Mauldin leading the 600 (1:17.51) and 800 (1:50.29) as well as anchoring the top 4×400 relay team (3:15.14).
Milligan (Tenn.) opens at No. 4. The Buffaloes have nine top-10 marks, with Will Stockley ranking highest at No. 2 in the 3000 (8:17.74).
Opening with its highest rating in program history is Marian (Ind.) at No. 5. The Knights have seven top-10 marks, including a pair of national leaders in Jacob Netral in the shot put (18.11m/59-5) and Isaiah Tipping in the weight throw (19.96m/65-6).
Rounding out the top-10 teams in the national TFRI are No. 6 Indiana Tech, No. 7 Concordia (Neb.), No. 8 Midland (Neb.), No. 9 Texas Wesleyan and No. 10 Doane (Neb.). For Midland and Texas Wesleyan, the ratings are the highest in program history.
Keep February 29-March 2 circled on your calendars, as that’s when the 2024 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled at Dakota State’s Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, South Dakota.
