Men's team top 10 indoor-- I'll do women later with more time
1. Wayland Baptist: Obvious a huge boost with the XC national champion to grab them some distance points. Scruggs, Howard, simpson, booker, and sutherland are back in the sprints (Joseph's and Dolphus are done for indoor I believe, maybe both?) Banks graduated in the hurdles. 4 x 4 should be strong, look to have a good 800 transfer which should boost their 4 x 8. Northover is a senior and should have a chance for double gold in the jumps. No throws or pole vault expected from them. Any idea on other recruits for track for them? always seem to grab a few juco transfer or internationals that impact right away.
Predicted score: 85 points
2. Indiana Tech Dontaey Paige Graduated and Deshawn Marshall transferred out to Ohio State. Darryl Marlow, Austen Barnes, and Aaron Belcher Graduated. That is a ton of points to graduate! They were deep, but I think just a little behind wayland heading into the season. Edwards and sherbahn were great in the 100 last year and need to get them points in sprints. 400 group of woods, person, and rose will be in a battle with wayland and hester and marrow will need to hold down middle distance events. Very strong long jump group and Herb Gary formal national runner up in back for high jump. 4 x 8 won outdoor and returns 3 of 4. Can they find any other points?
Predicted score: 82
3. OBU- Rumor has is combs is out for the year which would hurt them a lot! Clay is a stud, but if Godwin graduated and combs is out that is a huge drop. Hinton is great as well, but they need to find lots of other points. With it being their last year in NAIA I just think they will find some internationals and get enough points for top 5. This is purely on reputation.
Predicted Score: 51
4. Eastern Oregon: Very diverse, lots of ways to find points here and there. Heptathlete, great thrower, high jump national title contender. Flores and updike, and roell in the distance races. do they DMR?
Predicted score: 49
5. Concordia Portland: Tons of graduates from last year and their coach left after the season so not sure what their recruiting class looks like in their last year of naia. Clowes will get them some distance points, Moore will score 20 by himself again. jumper graduates, loose some throwers, needs lots of new blood to stay in the top 5.
Predicted score: 43
6. OK City: Distance, distance, and more distance. Not well rounded enough to contend for the team title yet, but an excellent chance at top 5. 3 in the 5k, 2 in the 3k, a miler, an 800 runner, and maybe a 600 runner.
Predicted score: 40
7. Dickinson: 2 studs to rack up the points in the short sprints and middle distance events. can they find some points outside the big 2? I think they find enough for top 10.
Predicted score: 38
8. Missouri Baptist: Race walkers and jumps! don't know if they score anywhere else, but big race walk points!
Predicted score: 36
9. Aquinas
10. Olivet
11. Doane
12. Siena
13. St. francis (IL.)
14-on: no idea!