Men's Track & Field

WARRIORS TOP-RANKED TEAM IN THE NATION

WARRIORS TOP-RANKED TEAM IN THE NATION
Posted: Jan 24, 2024

USTFCCCA NATIONAL RANKINGS - WEEK 1

Ottumwa, IA – Following a dominant start to the 2024 year, the Indian Hills Men's Track & Field team earned the No. 1 spot in the initial United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Indoor Men's Track & Field rankings.

Announced Wednesday afternoon, the Warriors' No. 1 national ranking is the first in program history, surpassing the program's previous highest rank of No. 2 set in 2021. Indian Hills owns a sizable lead over second-ranked Iowa Western Community College as the Warriors boast 485.98 team points compared to the Reivers' 280.67 points. New Mexico Junior College, Barton Community College (KS), and South Plains College (TX) round out the top-five.

The Warriors have seen a number of top-marks throughout the team's first three meets of the year. As a team, the Warriors have posted seven school records along with 27 top-five marks. On the national scale, the Warriors have posted 30 top-10 marks while a pair of individuals owns two top marks in the NJCAA this year. Sophomore Tyrice Taylor (Linstead, Jamaica/Vere Technical) owns the top times in the 600-yard run with a school record (1:09.34) and the 800-meter run (148.49), second-best in school history. Freshman Triston Miller (Columbus Junction, IA/Columbus Junction) boasts two school records that also serve as the top time mark in the NJCAA in the 60-meter hurdles (7.86) and the heptathlon (4,825 points).

The Warriors' middle-distance group has seen impressive marks through the early stages of the Warriors' season. Along with Taylor's top marks, Keveroy Venson (Linstead, Jamaica/Calabar) owns the top 1,000-meter run time in the nation with a mark of 2:25.30 and most recently set the school record in the mile with a time of 4:05.87 at the Cyclone Open.

Tate Joens (Cedar Rapids, IA/Cedar Rapids Prairie), Ryan Edelman (Mounds View, MN/Mounds View), and Michael Etuma (Iowa City, IA/Iowa City) have powered the Warriors' throwers with three top-15 marks in the weight throw while Joens ranks in the top-15 in the shot put.

The Warriors are back in action this weekend at a pair of events with the Black & Gold Invitational Friday in Iowa City, IA and the Wendy's Pitt State Invitational on Saturday in Pittsburg, KS.

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