OLLU Men Receive First-Ever NAIA Top 25 Ranking
NEW ORLEANS (March 30, 2023) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men's track and field program received votes as the No. 15-ranked team in the NAIA according to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). This is the first time the program at OLLU has been rated in the top 25.
Southeastern University jumped from second place to first on the rankings that were released yesterday. The University of British Columbia is second, followed by The Master's University, Montreat College and Florida Memorial University.
The Saints recently competed at the Trinity Invitation from March 3-4 and the UTSA Invitational that spanned from March 17-18. Cerrone Thompson currently ranks 14th in the nation at the 400m among all divisions including NCAA D1, NCAA D2, NCAA D3 and the NAIA. Julian Verastegui placed in the top 10 with a 48.55 in the 400m at the Charles Austin Classic that ran from March 24-25. The Saints 4x400 relay team also entered the top 10. Verastegui, Thompson, Richard Davis and Cerrone Thompson tallied a 3:21.23 at the UTSA Invitational. De'Jon Lewis ranks fifth in the long jump with a best of 7.26m.
The next national ranking will be released on April 5.
NAIA
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
USTFCCCA National TFRI: Track & Field Rating Index
2023 Week #1 - March 29
Top 25 Teams
| National Rank |
Team | Points | Conference | Region | 2022 FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOUTHEASTERN (FLA.) | 515.51 | Sun Conference | South | 2 |
| 2 | BRITISH COLUMBIA | 432.42 | Cascade | West | 3 |
| 3 | THE MASTER'S (CALIF.) | 390.93 | GSAC | West | 8 |
| 4 | MONTREAT (N.C.) | 238.19 | AAC | South | 6 |
| 5 | FLORIDA MEMORIAL | 221.17 | Sun Conference | South | --- |
| 6 | KEISER (FLA.) | 221.04 | Sun Conference | South | 7 |
| 7 | LEWIS-CLARK STATE (IDAHO) | 219.42 | Cascade | West | 10 |
| 8 | WESTMONT (CALIF.) | 208.81 | GSAC | West | 13 |
| 9 | DILLARD (LA.) | 191.27 | Gulf Coast | South | 37 |
| 10 | LIFE (GA.) | 154.48 | SSAC | South | 1 |
| 11 | POINT PARK (PA.) | 147.64 | River States | Great Lakes | 49 |
| 12 | INDIANA WESLEYAN | 144.38 | Crossroads | Great Lakes | 9 |
| 13 | CUMBERLANDS (KY.) | 142.54 | Mid-South | Great Lakes | 56 |
| 14 | ST. THOMAS (FLA.) | 137.11 | Sun Conference | South | 37 |
| 15 | OUR LADY OF THE LAKE (TEXAS) | 135.06 | Red River | South Central | --- |
| 16 | SAGU (TEXAS) | 115.72 | SAC | South Central | 56 |
| 17 | GRAND VIEW (IOWA) | 115.36 | The Heart | Midwest | 21 |
| 18 | MILLIGAN (TENN.) | 114.32 | AAC | South | 49 |
| 19 | VANGUARD (CALIF.) | 111.50 | GSAC | West | 69 |
| 20 | MARIAN (IND.) | 103.76 | Crossroads | Great Lakes | 55 |
| 21 | SOUTHERN OREGON | 102.86 | Cascade | West | 75 |
| 22 | MULTNOMAH (ORE.) | 99.52 | Cascade | West | --- |
| 23 | CONCORDIA (NEB.) | 88.24 | GPAC | Midwest | 47 |
| 24 | TALLADEGA (ALA.) | 85.65 | SSAC | South | 67 |
| 25 | DAKOTA STATE (S.D.) | 85.21 | North Star | Midwest | 56 |