2020 NCAA DI Women’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 7
NEW ORLEANS – The latest edition of the NCAA Division I Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, based solely on the entries for the 2020 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, gives us some insight as to what the team battle could look like in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The top-5 remained steady heading into the national championships, while other teams within the top-25 climbed up the national leaderboard and better positioned themselves for a successful weekend of competition.
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LSU stayed at No. 1 for the fourth straight week as the Tigers seek their 12 indoor title and first since 2004. The last time the Tigers were ranked No. 1 for four weeks in a row was 2013, also heading into the national championships. LSU finished third in the team standings.
The Tigers will have 13 entries at the NCAA Championships and 10 are ranked in the top-8 in their respective events. Bowerman Watch List athlete Tonea Marshall is the top-ranked entry in the 60 Hurdles.
No. 2 Southern California, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Georgia, and No. 5 Arkansas remained put and look to chase down LSU.
Southern California have nine entries and will heavily rely on its sprints corps to bring home the program’s first indoor title. The trio of Bailey Lear, Kaelin Roberts, and Kyra Constantine are ranked 1-3-7 in the 400, while Anna Cockrell and Mecca McGlaston are both tied at No. 5 in the 60 Hurdles.
The Aggies own nine entries into the meet and will eye its first podium spot since 2009 when they placed second. The field events will be crucial in the Aggies pursuit of a podium finish. Tyra Gittens will enter the meet ranked No. 1 in the pentathlon and No. 3 in the high jump. Deborah Acquah also owns a pair of No. 2 rankings in the long jump and triple jumps.
Georgia will have 10 entries into the meet. Jasmine Moore leads the team with a pair of top-5 rankings in the triple jump (No. 1) and long jump (No. 5). The defending champion Razorbacks have 11 entries and want to improve from last year’s runner-up finish. Watch for Katie Izzo, as she is the top entry in the 5000, No. 5 in the 3000, and part of the No. 4 ranked Distance Medley Relay.
While No. 6 Kentucky remained steady, Nos. 7-10 all changed. No. 7 Oregon, No. 9 Texas and No. 10 Colorado all improved positions. Washington dropped one spot to No. 8.
Kentucky, Oregon, and Texas each have eight entries into the meet. The Wildcats have two athletes that are ranked No. 1 in their respective events – Abby Steiner in the 200 and Ellen Ekholm in the high jump. Kentucky also has the second-fastest 4×400 Relay. The Ducks top performers are Lexi Ellis (triple jump) and Rhesa Foster (long jump), as both are ranked No. 3 in their respective events. The Longhorns will be led by Julien Alfred, as she is the top seed in the 60 with her time of 7.12, and Kennedy Simon is ranked No. 2 in the 400. Colorado will rely heavily on Bowerman Watch List athlete Dani Jones, who is ranked No. 1 in the mile, No. 5 in the 800, and part of the No. 6 ranked Distance Medley Relay.
Virginia Tech is the lone new addition to the top-25, improving three spots to No. 23.
Be sure to check back later this week for more information on the 2020 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships.
