NEW ORLEANS - After a strong start to the season, the Fort Hays State indoor track and field teams made an impressive debut in the 2022 USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Indoor National Rating Index, released Tuesday. The men are ranked fifth in the first poll of the year, its highest ranking all-time, while the women open the year ranked 12th in the country.
The men's team earned 106.37 points from 14 marks that rank in the top 30 nationally, including six marks in the top-10 and five in the top five. The pole vault crew, led by coach Randy Stanley, have three individuals ranked in the top eight in DII this year, including national-leader Ryan Stanley, Jacob Clark in fifth and Mark Faber in eighth. Sprinter Philip Landrum ranks second nationally in the 200m dash and is third in the 60m dash. Nolan Churchman also ranks third in the heptathlon.
The women's team has 10 marks ranked in the top 30 nationally, including six that are among the top 10 in DII this season. Lyric Holman ranks in the top 10 in three events, including fifth in the 60m dash, ninth in the 200m dash and 10th in the 4x400m relay alongside Mattie Rossi, Taylor Savolt and Chloe Stanley. Rossi is also ranked in the top 10 in two other events, including third in the pentathlon and fifth in the 60m hurdles.
Fort Hays State is the second-highest ranked MIAA team on the men's side behind No. 3 Pittsburg State. The women are the third-highest ranked conference team behind No. 4 PSU and No. 8 Lincoln. The Tigers are ranked third in the initial central region men's rankings and fourth in the first central region women's rankings of the year.
The Tigers are scheduled to continue the indoor season at a pair of meets this weekend, including the Washburn Open in Topeka, Kan. and the Charlie Foster Classic in Kearney, Neb.
FHSU Athletics