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

NEW ORLEANS – The final weeks of the regular season and the start of conference championships shook up the latest edition of the NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday afternoon.
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The top-5 is made up by No. 1 Grand Valley State, No. 2 Ashland, No. 3 West Texas A&M, No. 4 Colorado School of Mines and No. 5 Central Missouri. The only change that happened among the top tier from a week ago was a swap of the Buffs and the Orediggers.
Following the program’s third Lone Star Conference title, West Texas A&M improved one spot from No. 4 a week ago after earning three improved nationally ranked marks. Benjamin Azamati clocked 21.04c (20.97A) over 200 for the No. 2 time in the event this season and to become the No. 5 performer all-time in NCAA. Arnaud Taki and Jahmaal Wilson improved on season efforts that rank them No. 4 on the Descending Order list: Taki ran 1:50.10c (1:50.41A) in the 800 and Wilson ran 7.95c (7.93A) in the 60H.
Gaining ground in the top-10 are No. 6 Lee (Tenn.) and No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce. The Flames improved their 4×400 standing at the Camel City Elite Meet, getting the baton around the track in 3:11.82c (3:14.88) for the second best time this season. The Lions saw four improved marks at the LSC Championships that sit within the top-7 nationally: Ushan Perera in the high jump (No. 1, 2.25m/8-4½); Lamarion Arnold in the 200 (No. 3, 21.09c/21.02A); Dorian Andrews in the 60H (No. 6, 8.04c/8.02A); Cameron Macon in the 60H (No. 7, 8.09c/8.07A).
Western Colorado improved five spots to No. 14 after turning in two top-3 nationally ranked performances at the Camel City Invitational in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Charlie Sweeney and Taylor Stack improved to No. 2 (7:51.71c/7:57.19) and No. 3 (7:52.25c/7:57.74) in the 3000, respectively.
Nebraska-Kearney made the biggest climb in the National TFRI with a 10 spot improvement to No. 20 for its highest national placement since 2015. The Lopers notched two improved nationally ranked marks at the Loper Tune-Up meet: Brayden Sorensen cleared 2.11m (6-11) in the high jump for the third best clearance of the season; Seth Simonson was clocked at 1:50.47c (1:52.92) over 800, which ranks him No. 6 on the Descending Order List.
The 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for March 11-13 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.