2024 NCAA DII Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 9
NEW ORLEANS – Let’s crown a champion!
Here is the Pre-Championships Edition of the 2024 NCAA DII Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index, which was released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday. Only marks from athletes who will be competing at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships this weekend are used in this objective calculation.
National TFRI is presented by AthleticNET.
NCAA Division II — Women's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Adams State
Adams State
2
Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State
3
Minnesota State
Minnesota State
4
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
5
West Texas A&M
West Texas A&M
All TFRI Reports
It’s go time for the Grizzlies. Adams State has held strong at the No. 1 spot in the National TFRI for six straight weeks. The only thing left to do for Grizzlies is conclude the run with their first outdoor national title. Ultimately, that starts and ends with their distance squad who owns 12 top-five times in the nation spanning from the 800 meters up to the 10,000 meters. A familiar name after her record setting performances, Gracie Hyde will look to put up big points. After all, her 22.5 points were vital in the 2024 Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships, as when the dust settled, the margin of victory was a mere three points. Adams State will need similar production to repeat that which they accomplished in March.
Revenge is said to be a dangerous source of motivation. If Pittsburg State is able to wield that power, it will pose a healthy threat. The Gorillas fell just shy of a trophy a few months ago at the indoor championships but their versatility across the board means there could be one on the way soon enough. Pittsburg State boasts eleven top-ten marks and a trio of national leaders strewn between seven events. Erica Schamel and Taylor Nelloms have the high jump and triple jump on temporary lockdown, while the combination of Blakelee Winn, Taniya Looney, Jamiya Morgan, and Diandrenique Gaines aim to set the track on fire in the 4×100 relay.
Minnesota State is in peak form at the right time. The Mavericks were showing off during Conference Championships Weekend, registering a slew of elite performances on their way to a commanding 127 point win over the rest of the NSIC. Denisha Cartwright did her thing, posting a new NCAA DII record in the 100-meter hurdles, while her peers got to work in the field events, going third, fifth and eighth nationally in the triple jump . With a full head of steam and 13 top-10 marks to its name, Minnesota State will be aiming to capture its first ever outdoor national title.
Grand Valley State’s campaign for a title will start – and probably end – far away from the track. The Lakers will rely on a handful of trusty throwers to launch them to the top for the first time since 2012. Seven of their top-ten marks entering this weekend are categorized under shot put, discus, or hammer throw. None other than Erika Beistle, the national leader in two of the three events, will set the tone for GVSU.
West Texas A&M has a knack for sticking around. The last time the Buffs were outside of the top-5 it was 2019. Nine top-10 marks have them knocking on the door for a national title once again. The only catch is that six of those times are split between three individuals: Deborah Acheampong, Corrssia Perry, and Florance Uwajeneza in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 5000 meters, and 10,000 meters respectively.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 9: No. 6 Azusa Pacific, No. 7 Angelo State, No. 8 Academy of Art, No. 9 Colorado School of Mines and No. 10 Findlay.
