2021 NAIA Men's Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – The 2021 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season is underway!
Here is the first installment of the 2021 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National TFRI released Wednesday afternoon by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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Indiana Tech headlines the National TFRI for the fourth straight year. The Warriors have amassed 18 national top-10 marks. Indiana Tech is paced by two national leading marks: Jaylen Coleman in the triple jump (15.04/49-4¼) and the 4×800 (7:50.78c). The Warriors also have multiple athletes ranked in the top-10 in the 60, 200, 60H, high jump, and triple jump.
Dordt (Iowa) will start the season at No. 2 for the program’s best national ranking. With 13 top-10 nationally ranked marks, Dordt (Iowa) earned a program’s best ranking, bettering their No. 9 placement in Week 4 of the 2020 season. The Defenders have three No. 1 rankings: Payton Mauldin in the 600 (1:19.09c), Matthew Van Eps in the 800 (1:51.06c) and the 4×400 (3:15.04c).
Doane (Neb.) will come in at No. 3 for the first National TFRI. Out of the 12 national top-10 marks for the Tigers, five of them are in the top-5 in their respective events: Jacob Heitkamp is No. 1 in the high jump (2.17/7-1½); Zach Turner is No. 3 in the 60H (8.10); Connor Floyd is No. 3 in the pole vault (4.78m/15-8¼); Kalen Dockwiler is No. 4 in the 1000 (2:30.98c); Matthew Campbell is No. 4 in the weight throw (18.55m/60-10½).
Concordia (Neb). is the fourth-ranked team to begin the 2021 season with 12 marks that sit within the top-10 nationally. Cody Williams leads the Bulldogs with a No. 1 ranking in the heptathlon (5030) and the 4×400 has the second fastest time this season (3:19.01c). The Bulldogs also have four athletes ranked in the top-8 in the pole vault, including the aforementioned Wiliams.
Friends (Kan.) will round out the top-5 teams with its best billing in program history. The Falcons have shown quality over quantity, as six of their seven top-10 national marks fall within the top-5 in their respective events: Jadon Davis (No. 2, 14:13.94) and Gage Carr (No. 4, 18:25.40) in the 3000 race walk; Brayden Wells in the weight throw (No. 2, 18.71m/61-4¾); Cadin Gustafson in the heptathlon (No. 2, 4935). The Falcons also have the No. 2 4×400 (3:28.34c) and No. 3 DMR (10:10.48c).
Here are the rest of the teams that make up the top-10 in Week 1: No. 6 Saint Mary (Kan.), No. 7 Hastings (Neb.), No. 8 USC Beaufort (S.C.), No. 9 Southeastern (Fla.) and No. 10 Northwestern (Iowa).
The 2021 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for March 3-6 in Yankton, South Dakota.