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

NEW ORLEANS – Grand Valley State came ready to go when the season started.
The Lakers sit at No. 1 in the first edition of the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor National TFRI released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday afternoon. This is the first time since Week 2 of the 2016 season that GVSU is perched atop the rankings.
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Ashland starts the season at No. 2, followed by No. 3 Lee (Tenn.), No. 4 Central Missouri and No. 5 Northwest Missouri. Both Lee (Tenn.) and Northwest Missouri have set program-best rankings in the National TFRI.
The Lakers have shown depth across all event disciplines early on this season and boast 16 marks that rank in the top-10 nationally. The strength for GVSU comes in its distance squad, which includes three of the top-5 spots in the mile and 3000. Isaac Harding leads the way in the mile (No. 2, 4:03.14), with Tanner Chada (No. 3, 4:03.74) and Caleb Futter (No. 4, 4:06.26) shortly behind. In the 3000, Futter is ranked second in 8:10.72, followed by Harding (No. 3, 8:11.09) and Chada (8:14.57). Joining the distance crew with a top-5 mark is Justin Scavarda in the shot put (No. 4, 18.55m/60-10 ½).
The second-ranked Eagles own 10 marks that sit within the top-10 on the national list. Leading the way is Trevor Bassitt with highly ranked marks across three events: 60H (No. 1, 7.70), 200 (20.85) and 60 (No. 2, 6.73). Joining Bassitt as top performers include Tim Rumas in the 60 (No. 4, 6.76), Channing Phillips in the 200 (No. 4, 21.66c), Ian Johnson in the mile (No. 5, 4:07.26c) and Brent Fairbanks in the weight throw (No. 5, 20.47m/67-2). The Eagles’ 4×400 relay is also ranked No. 2 (3:13.50c).
Out of eight top-10 performances, the Flames are the proud owners of four No. 1 marks – Christian Noble in the mile (4:00.60) and 5000 (13:37.39), Wynand Du Toit in the 400 (47.18) and as a member of the 4×400 (3:13.15). Three additional top performances come from Siphosethu Boya in the 400 (No. 3, 48.05), Caleb Eagleson in the 5000 (No. 4, 14:30.81), and Titus Lagat in the 800 (No. 5, 1:51.97).
The fourth-ranked Mules have 11 top-10 performances within the field events, including multiple athletes highly ranked in the pole vault and heptathlon. The pole vault features the top-2 performers in Vincent Hobbie (No. 1, 5.23m/17-1¾) and Reagan Ulrich (No. 2, 5.13m/16-10). Central Missouri also boasts four of the seven top performers in the heptathlon: Trey Miller is No. 1 (5517), Garrett Francis is No. 3 (5164), Calaway McQueeny is No. 5 (4607) and Trent Davis is No. 7 (4607).
Northwest Missouri reached a program-best ranking with the help of 11 national marks that sit within the top-10 of their respective events. The top athletes for Northwest Missouri include Gavyn Monday in the 200 (No. 3, 21.65) and 60 (No. 8, 6.88), Caelon Harkey in the 400 (No. 4, 48.29), and Blake Morgan in the high jump (No. 5, 2.07m/6-9 ½). The Bearcats also boast the top-ranked DMR (9:49.43) and the third fastest 4×400 (3:14.04).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 1: No. 6 West Texas A&M, No. 7 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 8 Findlay, No. 9 UC-Colorado Springs and No. 10 Tiffin.
The 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for March 12-13 at the Crossplex in Birmingham, Alabama.