2024 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 5
NEW ORLEANS – Last week’s conference championship action provided five changes in the Top-10, but Cumberlands (Ky.) continues its season-long position at No. 1 in the Week 5 (pre-championships) edition of the NAIA Men’s Indoor National Track & Field Rating Index (TFRI), as released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
National TFRI is presented by AthleticNET. Only marks from the current season are used in this objective ranking.
With almost all regular season action completed, attention now shifts to the 2024 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, scheduled for February 29-March 2 at Dakota State’s Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, South Dakota.
NAIA — Men's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Cumberlands (Ky.)
Cumberlands (Ky.)
2
Dordt (Iowa)
Dordt (Iowa)
3
Indiana Tech
Indiana Tech
4
Marian (Ind.)
Marian (Ind.)
5
Southeastern (Fla.)
Southeastern (Fla.)
All TFRI Reports
No. 1 Cumberlands (Ky.) won the Mid-South Championships by over 100 points and are looking for their first NAIA Indoor title; their last top-20 finish was fourth in 2021. The Patriots increased their number of top-10 marks to 17 and are the only program with more than ten top-5 marks (12). Three of these are national leaders, with current M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Luca Santorum leading the 1000 meters (2:23.87), Dennis Kipkurui topping the 5000 (14:09.04) and Dillan Melchiore pacing the 3000 racewalk (13:08.32).
Dordt (Iowa) moves up to No. 2, matching their highest ranking (achieved nine times from 2021-23). The runner-up position is the highest that Dordt has finished in the NAIA Indoor Championships (2021). The Defenders, runner-up in last week’s GPAC Championships, have ten top-10 marks and can match Cumberlands with three national leaders: Payton Mauldin in the 400 (46.99) and 600 (1:17.00) and the Mauldin-anchored 4×800 relay team (7:40.18).
Dropping a notch to No. 3 is Indiana Tech, who were NAIA Indoor runners-up in 2022 after winning the 2021 crown (their sixth in eight years). The Warriors, who won the WHAC Championships last week, have nine top-10 marks, including their national-leading 4×400 relay team (3:11.73).
Holding at No. 4 is Marian (Ind.), champions of the Crossroads League. The Knights have been top-5 all season, and their highest finish since 2017 at the NAIA Indoor is fifth in 2021. Marian has nine top-10 marks and a pair of national leaders with Jacob Netral in the shot put (18.11m/59-5) and Isaiah Tipping in the weight throw (21.35m/70-0½).
Defending champion Southeastern (Fla.) remains No. 5 after winning The Sun Conference by over 100 points. The Fire have nine top-10 marks, led by national 200 leader James Williamson III (20.90).
Rounding out the top-10 teams in the national TFRI are No. 6 Milligan (Tenn.), No. 7 Doane (Neb.), No. 8 Midland (Neb.), No. 9 Concordia (Neb.) and No. 10 Eastern Oregon.
