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

NEW ORLEANS – The outdoor season is underway!
Here is the first edition of the NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index for the 2021 season, as released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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Southeastern (Fla.) will kick off the season at No. 1 having 10 national top-10 marks. Joseph Taylor and Kyle Manuel each have two efforts in the top-5: Taylor is No. 2 in the 200 (21.43w) and No. 5 in the 100 (10.59); Manuel is ranked No. 3 in both the shot put (17.73m/58-2) and discus (47.77m/156-9). The Fire also has the top ranked 4×100 (40.89).
Milligan (Tenn.) will come in at No. 2 to start the season. The Buffalos have 10 top-10 nationally ranked efforts, including two national leaders. Nathan Baker has three top-2 marks: No. 1 in the 1500 (3:53.79) and 10,000 (30:39.95); No. 2 in the 5000 (14:30.60). Tim Thacker adds two performances in the 1500 (No. 2, 3:54.68) and 5000 (No. 3, 14:33.20), while Aaron Jones is ranked well in the 10,000 (30:50.20).
Montreat (N.C.) starts the season at No. 3. Of the seven top-10 national marks it has, three rank in the top-5: Moses Dirane in the steeple (No. 2, 9:33.05); Dustin Blevins in the long jump (No. 2, 7.40m/24-3½); Dylan Branch in the 1500 (No. 5, 3:58.97). The Cavaliers also have three athletes in the decathlon ranked in the top-10.
Indiana Tech is ranked No. 4 in Week 1. The Warriors have seven top-10 nationally ranked performances, including the national leading mark in the 400 thanks to Jordan Highsmith’s 47.51 and the third best triple jumper in Neville Smith (14.86m/48-9). This past weekend, the Warriors added three top-7 relays – the 4×800 (No. 3), 4×400 (No. 5) and 4×100 (No. 7).
Westmont (Calif.) will round out the top-5 with 7 national top-10 marks. The Warriors gained two No. 2 efforts this past weekend: Seth Wilmoth in the pole vault (4.85m/15-11) and the 4×800 (7:45.08). Senzo Sokhela also added a pair of top-5 efforts in the 1500 (No. 3, 3:56.32) and 800 (No. 5, 1:53.28).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 1: No. 6 Concordia (Neb.), No. 7 Baker (Kan.), No. 8 Dickinson State (N.D.), No. 9 Doane (Neb.) and No. 10 Midland (Neb.).