2021 NCAA DII Women's Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 4

NEW ORLEANS – Competition continues to heat up across the nation as we inch closer to the postseason.
This past weekend of action is reflected in the the fourth 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. Twenty teams in the top-25 have shifted spots, while the top-3 continue to make their case as the teams to beat.
No. 1 Grand Valley State, No. 2 Minnesota State and No. 3 Central Missouri maintain rank for the third consecutive week. No. 4 UC-Colorado Springs climbed five spots and No. 5 Pittsburg State improved one spot from a week ago.
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Grand Valley State is showing no signs of slowing down. The Lakers notched 11 new or improved top-10 nationally ranked marks over the course of the two-day GVSU Big Meet, with three of those marks being national leaders: Nicole Sreenan in the 400 (53.35); Ellianne Kimes in the pole vault (4.17m/13-8¼); the Distance Medley Relay (11:21.12).
The second-ranked Mavericks added six marks that were new or improved at the MSU Triangular, including three that rank within the top-3 of their respective events: Denisha Cartwright improved upon her No. 1 time in the 60H from 8.62 to 8.50 and Makayla Jackson in the 60 (No. 2, 7.48). Cartwright was also a contributing leg of the 4×400 with the No. 3 time (3:48.05c/3:51.07).
Central Missouri saw two athletes improve upon nationally ranked marks at the 6th Annual Indoor Gorilla Classic: Madi Wulfekotter‘s No. 1 clearance in the pole vault (4.17m/13-8¼); Kayla Goodwin with the No. 6 mark in the triple jump (12.18m/39-11½). The Jennies’ 4×400 also clocked the No. 9 time of the season (3:52.09).
UC-Colorado Springs are back in the top-5 for the second time this season. The Mountain Lions saw several top-10 nationally ranked marks to boost them in the National TFRI: Hannah Meek with a national leading mark in the long jump (6.17m/20-3); Kayla Zink in the 60 (No. 3, 7.51c/7.47A); Hannah Ellis in the 5000 (No. 6, 16:57.17/17:46.20A); Lydia Pavlenko in the high jump (No. 8, 1.72m/5-7¾). UCCS also saw its DMR clock the fifth fastest time of the year (11:46.48/12:10.04A).
Pittsburg State squeaked ahead of Southwest Baptist for the fifth spot in this week’s rankings, bumping the Bearcats out of the top-5. Haven Lander improved on her national leading mark in the pole vault with a height of 4.17m (13-8¼). The Gorillas also saw a pair of No. 6 marks to move them up in the rankings: Christine Williams in the 200 (24.48) and the 4×400 relay (3:51.29).
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 4: No. 6 Southwest Baptist, No. 7 West Texas A&M, No. 8 Saginaw Valley State, No. 9 Indianapolis and No. 10 Tiffin. The Greyhounds made the biggest jump in the top-10, vaulting 16 spots from No. 25 a week ago. UIndy notched two national leading marks at the GVSU Big Meet: Berenice Cleyet-Merle in the 800 (2:07.36) and Lauren Bailey in the 5000 (16:27.30).
The 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for March 11-13 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.