2020 NCAA DII Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – It’s been well over a month since the preseason rankings were released, and we saw teams begin to shake up the first week of the regular season edition of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday.
While Tiffin remains in the drivers seat, the rest of the top-5 had some shifts, and some much larger than others.
NCAA Division II — Men's Indoor Track & Field
This Week's National Top Five
1
Tiffin
Tiffin
2
Lincoln (Mo.)
Lincoln (Mo.)
3
Ashland
Ashland
4
American International
American International
5
Colo. School of Mines
Colo. School of Mines
All TFRI Reports
The Dragons have posted strong performances across the board to date, and are bolstered by their showing in the field events. Tiffin has three of the top-5 shot putters in the country in Jabari Bennett (No. 1), Nikolas Curtiss (No. 2) and Eric Jackson (No. 4). Cameron Burrows is also showing his versatility, as the senior boasts the top mark in the high jump, ranked No. 5 in the heptathlon and No. 7 in the long jump. Adding to the depth of the Dragons include Quincy Scott sitting at No. 2 in the long jump and Jontae Baker owning the fourth-fastest time in the 60.
Lincoln (Mo.) climbed three spots from No. 5 to No. 3 thanks to owning some of the top performances in the long and triple jumps. Ryan Brown is ranked No. 1 in the long and triple jumps. Kizan Davis is ranked No. 2 in the long jump and No. 3 in the triple jump, while teammate Salif Mane comes in at No. 3 in the triple. Javan Gray is also the third fastest performer this year in the 200.
Moving up one spot to No. 3 is Ashland. The Eagles are receiving major contributions from the sprints and throws. Junior phenom Trevor Bassitt is the national leader in the 60 Hurdles, 200 and 400 meters, and part of the 4×400 relay that is ranked fourth. Ashland also owns the top three spots in the weight throw thanks to the performances of Brent Fairbanks (No. 1), Alex Hill (No. 2) and Nick Zak (No. 3).
The biggest move in the rankings this week comes from American International, soaring 54 spots up from No. 58 to No. 4. This is the program’s first top-5 ranking since they were No. 5 in 2013.
The Yellow Jackets have top-5 performances in all of the distance events from Ezra Mutai, Leakey Kipkosgei and Benoit Campion. Mutai is ranked No. 1 in the 3000 and No. 3 in the 5000. Campion is ranked in three events – the 800 (No. 5), the mile (No. 3), and the 3000 (No. 4), while Kipkosgei is ranked No. 5 in the mile and No. 3 in the 3000.
Grand Valley State moved into the top-10, improving three spots from No. 11 to No. 8. Dennis Mbuta is ranked No. 4 in the 800, Jacob Battani is ranked third in the pole vault, and Justin Scavarda currently has the fifth best mark performance in the weight throw this season.
Improving ten spots to No. 9 is CSU-Pueblo. Marcelo Laguera appears in the top-6 in three events, which includes the top time in the 5000. Dylan Day is the second-fastest performer this year in the mile, while Nathan Hood is ranked third in the 800.
Saint Augustine’s soared 32 spots from No. 42 to No. 10 in this week’s rankings. The Falcons boast the top 4×400 relay of the year at 3:09.17, while the duo of Jalen Jones and Philip Marcelle sit at No. 4 and No. 5 in the 400, respectively.
One of the biggest movers this week is Oklahoma Baptist, moving up 34 spots from No. 53 to No. 19. for the program’s highest national placement. The Bison are led by Brandon Crowley’s No. 2 time in the 60 Hurdles at 7.93.
The next edition of the National Rating Index will be released on Monday, February 3.
