2021 NCAA DII Men's Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 3

NEW ORLEANS – Following a competitive weekend of competition, there is a new No. 1 in the third installment of the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor Track & Field National TFRI released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday afternoon.
The entire top-25 continues to evolve as we get deeper into the indoor season.  Seven teams have jumped multiple spots throughout the National TFRI, including a new look to the top teams.
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Colorado School of Mines returns to No. 1 for the first time since the 2018 season. Chasing down the Orediggers is No. 2 Grand Valley State, No. 3 Ashland, No. 4 West Texas A&M and No. 5 Northwest Missouri.
The Orediggers jumped seven spots to the top of the National TFRI thanks to numerous top-10 marks from their outing at the Mines Front Range #2. Three of their top-5 performances come in the distance events: Luke Julian in the mile (No. 1, 3:58.94c/4:10.12A), Kyle Moran in the 5000 (No. 2, 13:46.54/14:27.16A) and Dylan Ko in the 5000 (No. 3, 13:53.72c/14:34.69A). Colorado School of Mines now has 13 top-10 marks.
Grand Valley State improved one spot from a week ago. Boosting the Lakers were Isaac Harding and Tanner Chada with their performances in the 3000: Harding is ranked No. 2 (7:53.77) and Chada is right behind at No. 3 (7:56.09). The Lakers are right behind the Orediggers with a total of 11 top-10 marks.
Although Ashland fell one to No. 3, Trevor Bassitt continued to turn in big marks at the American Track League to boost the Eagles. In his first 400 of the season, Bassitt set the NCAA DII record in 45.27. He also lowered his national-leading time in the 60H to 7.68 to become the No. 2 performer all-time in divisional history.
The fourth-ranked Buffalos hold onto 10 nationally ranked marks. Adding to their total was the DMR that clocked the fourth fastest time in the year of 9:53.16c (10:19.37A) at the Adams State Grizzlies Open.
Northwest Missouri is back in the top-5 for the second time this season after an impressive outing at the Bearcat Open. Adding to the Bearcats’ top-performances are Omar Austin in the 400 (No. 3, 47.24), Blake Morgan in the high jump (No. 3, 2.09m/6-10 ¼) and Abdelrahim Mahgoub in the 800 (No. 6, 1:51.27). The aforementioned Austin also anchored the top-ranked 4×400 that clocked 3:10.37.
Here are the remaining top-10 teams in Week 3: No. 6 Lee (Tenn.), No. 7 Tiffin, No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 9 Central Missouri and No. 10 Pittsburgh State. The Dragons gained four spots with a boost from Lloyd Mccurdy‘s top triple jump of 15.32m (50-3 ¼). For Pittsburg State, the Gorillas climbed six spots thanks to No. 2 performances by Trey Mooney in the heptathlon (5528) and the 4×400 (3:13.02).
The 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for March 11-13 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.