2021 NCAA DII Men's Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 2
NEW ORLEANS – Changes are abound in the latest NCAA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday. All 25 teams that make up the National TFRI moved in Week 2.
Angelo State climbed three spots to take over the top spot., knocking No. 2 Grand Valley State, No. 3 West Texas A&M and No. 4 Ashland each down one spot. No. 5 Pittsburg State gained nine spots from a week ago to round out the top-5 teams.
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The David Noble Relays treated Angelo State well, as the Rams saw nine new or improved top-10 nationally ranked performances. The decathlon was a particularly big event for them as they had four performances that rank in the top-10: Trpimir Siroki (No. 1, 7515), Elvis Kryukov (No. 3, 7037), Jakob Porter (No. 6, 6868) and Kyle Lumpkins (No. 10, 6653). The event that helped Siroki notch the national lead in the decathlon was the long jump, where he soared 7.56m (24-9¾) for the No. 4 performance on the Descending Order List. Other top performers for Angelo State are Nicholas Ellisor in the 400 (No. 3, 47.06) and Trivett Jones in the pole vault at (No. 3, 5.21m/17-1). Ellisor also anchored the top-ranked 4×400 (3:12.22).
Grand Valley State competed at the WKU Hilltopper Relays and picked up several top marks, bringing their season total to 13 top-10 nationally ranked efforts. The Lakers now have two of the top-3 hurdlers in the nation in Jackson Blanchard (No. 2, 51.16) and Daniel Walker (No. 3, 51.27). Those two were also part of the 4×400 that clocked the No. 8 time this season (3:15.93).
West Texas A&M turned in a national lead during its weekend hosting the Joe Meaker Classic and Multi. Benjamin Azamati scorched the track to the tune of 20.59c (20.52A) for the top time among NCAA DII athletes this season. Remember: Azamati broke the NCAA DII record in the 100 after his 9.97 a week ago at the Texas Relays, which is still the collegiate leading time. Azamati’s effort gives the Buffs four No. 1s and 10 top-10 nationally ranked performances.
The fourth-ranked Eagles mainly rested this weekend and are expected to compete at the Walsh Invitational on Friday, April 9. Ashland has nine top-10 nationally ranked performances, including three national leaders. Trevor Bassitt has a hand in all three: the 110H (13.59), 400H (49.34) and anchored the 4×100 (40.08).
Pittsburg State is back in the top-5 for the first time since 2018 thanks to eight top-10 nationally ranked performances from the SBU Invite. The Gorillas have three in the top-6 in the javelin: Brett Thompson (No. 1, 73.87m/242-4), Jerod Toogood (No. 2, 68.59m/225-1) and Joshua Hudiburg (No. 6, 67.23m/220-7). In the decathlon, Trey Mooney (No. 2, 7268) and Hunter Jones (No. 7, 6826) registered strong scores in their first multi of the outdoor season. On the track, Louis Rollins is ranked in the 110H (No. 4, 14.04) and Bryce Grahn in the steeple (No. 5, 9:05.15).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 2: No. 6 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 7 UC-Colorado Springs, No. 8 Missouri Southern, No. 9 Central Missouri and No. 10 Adams State.
The 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships are set for May 27-29 in Allendale, Michigan, hosted by Grand Valley State.
