2024 NJCAA DI Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 7
NEW ORLEANS – Iowa Western CC makes its first-ever appearance at No. 1 as the Week 7 edition of the 2024 NJCAA Division I 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 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships run next Thursday-Saturday at Louisiana-Monroe’s Brown Stadium in Monroe, Louisiana.
NJCAA Division I — Men's Outdoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Iowa Western CC
Iowa Western CC
2
South Plains (Texas)
South Plains (Texas)
3
New Mexico JC
New Mexico JC
4
Indian Hills (Iowa) CC
Indian Hills (Iowa) CC
5
Barton (Kan.) CC
Barton (Kan.) CC
All TFRI Reports
Iowa Western CC jumped up to No. 1 with a convincing win in NJCAA Region 11 Championships. They’ll be looking to improve on their best NJCAA Outdoor finish of second from 2022. The Reivers are well stocked with 22 top-10 marks – most in the nation – including the top runner in the 10,000 in Geoffry Ronoh.
How common is it to have No. 2 South Plains (Texas) in the team title picture? The Texans have had a share of each of the last three crowns, sharing honors last year and 2021 while winning 2022 outright (they have 15 titles dating back to 2007). This year SPC sports 16 top-10 marks and leads four events – triple jump with Mouhameth Fall (15.89mw/52-1¾w), javelin with Jaime Moreno (66.67m/218-9), decathlon with Harry Crosby (7073) and the 4×800 relay (7:34.26).
No. 3 New Mexico JC was co-champion last year and also have 16 top-10 marks and four national leaders. Prime among the T-Birds’ leaders is Tapiwanashe “Carlie” Makarawu, who leads the 100 (10.05cw) and 200 (20.00c). He won the 100 title last year. Donald Chiyangwa tops the 400 (45.58c) and Tomas Vega leads the steeplechase (8:53.46); Vega was runner-up last year in the steeple and 5k while twin brother German was runner-up in the 10k.
Indian Hills (Iowa) CC is No. 4 and clearly a threat after winning the NJCAA Indoor team title in March. The Warriors have 14 top-10 marks, led by national leaders Tyrice Taylor in the 800 (1:47.92) and Tate Joens in the hammer (58.72m/192-8). Taylor has a PR of 1:46.94, set while winning the NJCAA Outdoor title last year. Don’t overlook Traunard Folson, who is a threat in the sprints, rating No. 2 in both the 100 (10.06) and 200 (20.29).
Barton (Kan.) CC is back up to No. 5 in the rankings. The Cougars were third the last two years after sharing the title in 2021 (they’ve got six total going back to 1998). Barton has two national leaders, courtesy of its impressive throwing crew – current M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Christopher Young leads the shot put at 18.57m/60-11¼ while Ricardo Hayles tops the discus at 60.83m/199-7. Young – defending champ in the shot and javelin – rates among the top-4 in all four throwing events.
Rounding out the top-10 teams in the National TFRI are No. 6 Pima (Ariz.) CC, No. 7 Salt Lake (Utah) CC, No. 8 Coffeyville (Kan.) CC, No. 9 Fort Scott (Kan.) CC and No. 10 Cloud County (Kan.) CC.
