NEW ORLEANS, La. – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the first release of the NCAA Division II Men's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index (TFRI) on Tuesday afternoon, featuring Black Hills State who is No. 26 in the nation.
The Yellow Jackets strong start to the season has seen three individuals from the men's squad post NCAA Provisional marks as
Evan Smith's time of 1:49.89 currently ranks eighth nationally in the 800m run,
Chase Maher's mark of 5.01m (16' 5.25") ranks 19
th in the nation in the pole vault, and
Drew Lehman's mark of 14.69m (48' 2.5") ranks 30
th in the nation in the triple jump. All three marks broke BHSU school records and are amongst a total of 11 top-10 all-time performances in program history this season.
Smith is one of just eight individuals nationally and two in the RMAC to clock a sub-1:50 time in the 800m run, Maher ranks first in the RMAC in the pole vault and is the only individual to clear 16' or higher this season, and Lehman ranks fourth in the RMAC in the triple jump and is one of just five individuals to record a mark of 48' or better.
The pair of
Trennan Pearson (high jump) and
Ryan Baker (weight throw) also rank top-5 in the RMAC this season. Pearson ranks fourth in the league with a career-best jump of 1.98m (6' 6") and is tied for eighth in school history, while Baker ranks fourth in the conference with a career-best throw of 17.75m (58' 3") and is seventh in school history.
Black Hills State is one of five RMAC schools within the top-30 of the national rankings, joining No. 5 Adams State, No. 7 Colorado School of Mines, No. 21 UCCS, and No. 29 CSU Pueblo.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Saturday, January 31, as they visit Chadron, Nebraska, for the Don Holst Open at the Nelson Physical Activity Center.
