2021 NCAA DII Women's Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 2

NEW ORLEANS – The national scene continues to evolve as competition ramps up.
Despite those changes, Grand Valley State will stay at No. 1 in the second installment of the 2021 NCAA Division II Women’s Indoor National TFRI, released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday afternoon. Grand Valley State has pushed its No. 1 ranking to ten-straight weeks, starting with the preseason rankings last year.
[ranking_info_box gender=2]
Minnesota State and Central Missouri traded places from a week ago, as the Mavericks gained a spot to No. 2 to push the Jennies back to No. 3. Southwest Baptist moved up three spots to No. 4, and West Texas A&M jumped up seven spots to No. 5. Minnesota State and Southwest Baptist both achieved program-best rankings in the National TFRI.
Through three weeks of competition, the Lakers boast 18 top-10 nationally ranked marks. Nicole Sreenan remains the pace setter for GVSU with her three national leading marks in the 60 (7.51), 200 (24.01) and 400 (53.47), while Allie Ludge is No. 1 in the 3000 (9:28.96) and No. 2 in the mile (4:50.23). The Lakers saw two athletes turn in marks that sit within the top-8 of their respective events: Carly Livingston is ranked No. 2 in the pole vault at 4.00m (13-1 ½); Angelica Floyd is ranked No. 8 in the long jump at 5.77m (18-11 ¼).
Minnesota State moved to No. 2 thanks to the addition of 10 new marks achieved at the Mark Schuck Dual that rank within the top-10. Leading the way with top-5 marks is Ja’Cey Simmons in the 200 (No. 2, 24.41c/24.79), Denisha Cartwright in the 60H (No. 3, 8.74) and 200 (No. 4, 24.64c/25.02), Mackenzie Woodard in the 400 (No. 5, 56.76c/57.51) and Katie Taylor in the weight throw (No. 5, 18.62m/61-1 ¼). Woodard is also part of the No. 5 4×400 that ran 3:54.03c (3:57.13) this past weekend.
Central Missouri currently has 12 top-10 nationally ranked marks for the NCAA Championships. Of those marks, the Jennies have multiple athletes ranked in the 60H, pole vault, shot put and pentathlon, along with the ninth-fastest 4×400 of the season. Kayla Goodwin and Hannah VanBuskirk combine for seven of them: Goodwin is No. 4 in the pentathlon (3790), No. 6 in the 60H (8.77) and long jump (5.84m/19-2) and No. 7 in the triple jump (11.96m/39-3); VanBuskirk is No. 2 in the pentathlon (3866), No. 4 in the high jump (5-8 ½) and No. 5 in the 60H (8.77).
Southwest Baptist claimed a spot among the top-5 teams with two top-2 national marks. The DMR ran the No. 1 time of 11:50.96 at Washburn, and Meleah Ridenour soared to the No. 2 long jump of the season (5.94m/19-6). Ridenour is also ranked No. 5 in the pentathlon with 3633 points. The Bearcats also have two of the top-3 women in the 60 from performances earlier this season: Tamia Rayford is No. 2 (7.54) and Britney Clark is No. 3 (7.56).
West Texas A&M shined at the Washburn Open and turned in seven top-10 marks. The Lady Buffs have two of the top performers in the triple jump in Flore Gracia (No. 1, 12.70m/41-8) and Taylor Nelloms (No. 2, 12.58/41-3 ¼). Zada Swoopes also turned in a national leading mark in the shot put (15.93m/52-3 ¼). Adding to West Texas A&M’s calculation include a pair of No. 6 marks: Leah Belfield in the 60 (7.60) and Florance Uwajeneza in the 3000 (9:41.44).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 2: No. 6 Lee (Tenn.) (down 1 spot), No. 7 UC-Colorado Springs (down 3 spots), No. 8 Pittsburg State (down 2 spots), No. 9 Winona State (up 15 spots) and No. 10 Hillsdale (up 6 spots).
The 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for March 12-13 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.