2024 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 8
NEW ORLEANS – Cumberlands (Ky.) is No. 1 for the sixth-straight time as the Week 8 edition of the 2024 NAIA Men’s Outdoor National Track & Field Rating Index was released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Only marks from the 2024 outdoor track & field season have been used in this objective compilation. This is the final national TFRI of the year as the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships run next Wednesday-Friday at the Indiana Wesleyan Track Complex in Marion, Indiana.
National TFRI is presented by AthleticNET.
NAIA — Men's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Cumberlands (Ky.)
Cumberlands (Ky.)
2
British Columbia
British Columbia
3
Madonna (Mich.)
Madonna (Mich.)
4
Marian (Ind.)
Marian (Ind.)
5
Indiana Wesleyan
Indiana Wesleyan
All TFRI Reports
Much like the indoor season, Cumberlands (Ky.) is writing a success story after finishing in a tie for 19th last year. The Patriots have 14 top-10 marks – most in the country – with No. 1 in three events: Youssef Asslouj in the 5000 (13:53.99), Dillan Melchior in the 5000 racewalk (21:54.28) and the 4×800 relay (7:25.20).
British Columbia is No. 2 for the first time since Week 4 and is always a threat. The Thunderbirds were runners-up last year and third in 2022 after missing two years due to COVID-19 following their only title in 2019. UBC has nine top-10 marks with two national leaders: Dylan Uhrich in the steeplechase (8:58.69) and Andrew Davies in the 10,000 (29:03.01).
Madonna (Mich.) dropped a notch to No. 3. The Crusaders – who tied for the NAIA Outdoor title in 2021 – have 11 top-10 marks, led by national 200 leader Cortez Cunningham (20.67).
No. 4 is Marian (Ind.), the only team ranked in the top-5 all season. The Knights have two national leaders among their 10 top-10 marks: Jacob Netral in the shot put (18.60m/61-0 ¼) and Isaiah Tipping in the hammer (65.28m/214-2).
Rising to a season-high No. 5 is host Indiana Wesleyan. The Wildcats – top-10 the last two years – lack a national leader in any event but have the second-most top-10 marks with 11. IWU’s leading entrants are Braden Vernot and Ridge Willard, who rate No. 2 in the steeple (9:01.88) and decathlon (6733), respectively.
Completing the top-10 teams in the National TFRI are No. 6 Indiana Tech, No. 7 Southeastern (Fla.), No. 8 Texas Wesleyan, No. 9 Doane (Neb.) and No. 10 William Carey (Miss.).
