2020 NCAA DII Women’s Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 7
NEW ORLEANS – It’s championship week, and the newest edition of the NCAA Division II Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has shaped up what the team battle could look like in Birmingham. This week’s rankings are based soley on the entries for the 2020 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
The entire top-10 only saw two changes from a week ago.
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For the eighth consecutive week, Grand Valley State has owned the top of the national rankings. The Lakers will enter the national championships with the most entries at 22 will seek its first national title since winning back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012, also being ranked No. 1 for the entire season.
Of the 22 entries, the Lakers have three athletes that lead their respective events – Nicole Sreenan in the 400, Allie Ludge in the 3000, and Bobbie Goodwin in the weight throw.
Chasing GVSU is No. 2 Lincoln (Mo.), No. 3 Missouri Southern, and No. 4 Adams State. All three will have 11 entries in Birmingham.
The Blue Tigers have the opportunity to win its first indoor title since 2016 off of the strength of its sprints crew. Rene Medley is the top seed in both the 60 and 200, while Kissi-Ann Brown and Christine Moss are both ranked No. 2 in the 400 and are part of the second-fastest 4×400 Relay.
The Lions will eye a podium spot with several top performers. Emily Presley (pole vault) and Payton Roberts (shot put) are ranked No. 1 in their respective events, and Jasmine Deckard is a double entry in the 60 (No. 6) and 200 (No. 2).
The Grizzlies will look for big performances from its distance crew if they will get back from the podium. They also have three top-3 performers, with Stephanie Cotter leading the way as the top-ranked entry in the mile.
Rounding out the top-5 is Northwest Missouri State in search for the program’s first podium finish. Eight of the Bearcats’ nine entries are ranked within the top-7 of their respective events. Hiba Mahgoub (200 and 400) and Jordan Hammond (60 Hurdles and pentathlon) will double up in individual events, and be part of the 4×400 Relay that comes in with the seventh-fastest time.
No. 6 U-Mary, No. 8 Indianapolis, and No. 10 Tiffin all remained still from a week ago. No. 7 Minnesota State earned a two-spot bump to No. 7, while West Texas A&M fell two spots to No. 9.
The Marauders have seven entries into the meet, including the top-ranked Distance Medley Relay and Ida Narbuvoll doubling up in the 3000 and 5000 as the No. 2 seed in each. The Greyhounds have five entries, with Berenice Cleyet-Merle and Lauren Bailey each doubling up in individual events. Cleyet-Merle is ranked No. 1 in the 800 and No. 3 in the mile, and Bailey is ranked No. 1 in the 5000 and No. 3 in the 3000. Out of the Dragons’ eight entries, Marisa Gwinner is the top-seed in the high jump.
The Mavericks have 10 entries and two athletes ranked No. 2 in their respective events – Makayla Jackson (60) and Katie Taylor (weight throw). Jackson is also ranked No. 6 in the long jump and No. 12 in the 200.
West Texas A&M will look towards strong performances from Fatim Affessi and Zada Swoopes. Affessi owns a pair of No. 1 seeds in the long and triple jumps, and Swoopes is ranked second in the shot put.
There are three new teams in the top-25 entering the national championships – No. 23 Augustana (S.D.), No. 24 Central Missouri, and No. 25 Academy of Art.
The 2020 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships will be this Friday and Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama.
