2021 NCAA DII Women's Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 5

NEW ORLEANS – The results from the first conference championships and final tune-up meets trickled down into the latest installment of the 2021 NCAA Division II Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday afternoon.
No. 1 Grand Valley, No. 2 Minnesota State and No. 3 Central Missouri hold their respective rankings for the fourth straight week. No. 4 West Texas A&M and No. 5 Colorado School of Mines both moved into the top-5 this week to round out our top teams.
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West Texas A&M improved three spots after claiming its eight consecutive Lone Star Conference title. The Lady Buffs notched new or improved top-3 nationally ranked marks en route to their respective event crowns: Taylor Nelloms in the triple jump (No. 1, 12.72m/41-8¾); Zada Swoopes in the shot put (No. 1, 16.31m/53-6¼), Florance Uwajeneza in the 5000 (No. 2, 16:29.00/16:42.18A).
The fifth-ranked Orediggers jumped up seven spots for their first appearance in the top-5 this season. Colorado School of Mines closed out a series of home meets with the Mines Front Range #4 with several new or improved top-5 nationally ranked marks: Aryelle Wright in the 800 (No. 3, 2:10.91c/2:14.04A); Zoe Baker in the 3000 (No. 4, 9:31.56c/9:55.80A); Hannah Miller in the pole vault (No. 5, 3.91m/12-10). The aforementioned Baker and Wright were also part of the quartet that turned in the No. 4 DMR.
No. 7 CSU-Pueblo earned a nine spot improvement following four marks at the Mines Front Range #4 that sit within the top-5 nationally: Lauren Fairchild in the long jump (No. 2, 6.14m/20-1¾); Yasmine Hernandez (No. 3, 4:47.67c/4:59.46A) and Hailey Streff (No. 5, 4:49.42c/5:01.28A) in the mile. Hernandez and Streff were also contributing legs to the DMR that has the No. 2 time on the Descending Order List.
The biggest move in the top-25 came from No. 21 Ashland as the Eagles soared 12 spots. Rachel Miller clocked the No. 4 time in the 400 of 55.89 at the Kent State Tune-Up.
The 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for March 11-13 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.