2021 NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – The 2021 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season is back!
Here is the first installment of the 2021 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National TFRI released Wednesday afternoon by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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For the fourth consecutive year, Indiana Tech headlines the first National TFRI of the season. The Warriors have combined for 26 national top-10 marks. Five athletes have national leading marks in their respective events:  Loanie Cellard in the 3000 race walk (15:12.10), Kylin Nichols in the 60H (8.73), Erica Zayarath in the high jump (1.68m/5-6), Carlie Turner in the long jump (5.95m/16-6¼) and Renique Smith in the pentathlon (3350).
Concordia (Neb.) will start the season at No. 2 for the third straight year. The Bulldogs have compiled 23 top-10 nationally ranked marks, including the No. 1 mark in the pole vault by Josie Puelz (3.85/12-7½). The Bulldogs also boast multiple athletes ranked in the top-10 in the 400, 600, pole vault, long jump, shot put, weight throw and pentathlon.
Hastings (Neb.) is slotted at No. 3 for the first National TFRI with 16 national top-10 marks. The Broncos have three athletes ranked in the top-5 in their respective events: Josie Peterson in the pole vault (3.62m/11-10½); Tiersa Darley in the pole vault (3.53m/11-7); MaKenzie Peters in the weight throw (17.42m/57-2).
Dordt (Iowa) is the fourth-ranked team to begin the season. The Defenders have 10 marks ranked in the top-10 nationally. Emma Bakker and Mike Kooistra hold a national lead in their respective events: Bakker in the 400 (56.67c) and Kooistra in the 600 (1:35.36c). Dordt (Iowa) also has the fastest 4×400 of the season at 3:52.86c.
Friends (Kan.) will round out the top-5 teams in Week 1. The Falcons turned in 11 top-10 national marks, with seven of those marks falling in the top-3: Aileen Gurrola and Aubry Donley in the 600; Kayla Allen and Jolene Jenson in the 3000 race walk. Donley also has the third-fastest 800 of the year. The Falcons also have a pair of ranked relays – the top-ranked DMR (12:28.26c) and the No. 2 4×800 (9:34.48c).
Here are the rest of the teams that make up the top-10 in Week 1: No. 6 Southeastern (Fla.), No. 7 Doane (Neb.), No. 8 Huntington (Ind.), No. 9 William Carey (Miss.) and No. 10 Morningside (Iowa).
The 2021 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for March 3-6 in Yankton, South Dakota.