2021 NCAA DIII Women's Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – Let’s check out the first installment of the 2021 NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index, as released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
To wit: We’re only using marks from the current season, which gives a true look at which teams are performing the best at the current moment. That means the National TFRI will continue to evolve throughout the season and gives you more reason to keep checking back!
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George Fox opens the season at No. 1, the same place it was from Week 1 to Week 6 in 2019. The Bruins have a staggering 19 national top-10 marks, including each of the top-4 spots in the heptathlon alone: Brecken Vandenhoek is No. 1 with 4320 points, followed by Kalina Buhler at 3759, Elisabeth Jensen at 3730 and Bella Dean at 3554. George Fox also has a No. 1 ranking from Bethany Gingerich in the 400H at 1:02.21.
UW-La Crosse comes into the season at No. 2 thanks to a bevy of national top-10 marks. The Eagles received national-leading efforts from Skye Digman in the discus of 42.74m (140-3) and Emma Malooly in the steeplechase at 10:53.86. Digman, who is also ranked second in the shot put at 13.41m (44-0), owns two of UW-La Crosse’s 13 national top-10 efforts.
Washington (Mo.) turned in a strong showing this past weekend and is ranked No. 3. The Bears, owners of eight national top-10 marks, see Eka Jose at the top of the Descending Order List again – this time in the triple jump with a mark of 11.71m (38-5). WashU also has three of the top-4 spots in the 800 with Aoife Dunne (No. 2, 2:15.59), Emma Kelley (No. 3, 2:15.76) and Elessia Sarussi (No. 4, 2:15.89) in those respective places.
John Carroll is building off a solid indoor season and is ranked No. 4 outdoors. The Blue Streaks have 10 national top-10 marks, including a chart-topper from the 4×100 relay (47.89). Lucia Cannata, who is part of that 4×100 relay, is also ranked second nationally in the 100 at 12.15 and eighth nationally in the 200 at 25.38.
Mount Union and its 11 national top-10 marks rounds out the top-5. The Purple Raiders have two athletes ranked in the top-5 nationally in the 400 with Cortni Arp (No. 4, 58.37) and Madison Miles (No. 5, 58.41) in their respective spots and even more impressive is that their fifth-ranked 4×400 relay at 4:06.36 doesn’t have either athlete on it, showing their depth.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 1: No. 6 Pacific Lutheran, No. 7 Lynchburg, No. 8 Ithaca, No. 9 Hardin-Simmons and No. 10 Dubuque.