NEW ORLEANS – The Friends University Falcons have climbed to the ninth spot in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Outdoor Track & Field Ratings Index (TFRI), the organization released today (Apr. 7). Friends is also the top ranked KCAC team in the ratings.
The Falcons are off to a strong start to the outdoor season, bolstered by multiple national qualifying standards and currently have 161.69 points.
Aneesa Sheppard got the ball rolling with an NAIA B Standard in the Triple Jump (11.74m) at the Nelson Invitational at the first outdoor event of the season for the Falcons.
Tiyna Ridge then hit the NAIA A Standard in the 100 Meters at the ORU Invitational, coming within .01 seconds of a PR. Fien Molenberg also hit a qualifying mark at the ORU event, recording an NAIA B Standard and PR in the 800 meter run (2:13.17). That same weekend, Abby Green hit the NAIA B Standard in the Hammer Throw with a mark of 52.32m at the ESU Spring Open.
The Falcons really broke through at this past weekend's home Friends Spring Invite, powered by Ridge's NAIA A Standard time in the 200 meters.
Ridge also teamed with Aneesa Sheppard, Naomi Vagher and Liliana Robinson to achieve the NAIA B Standard in the Women's 4 X 100 relay with a mark of 47.24.
Green then hit another standard in the Hammer Throw, this time a PR and NAIA A mark of 54.54 meters.
In the Women's Pole Vault, Aaliyah Ramirez hit a NAIA B Standard and a PR with a mark of 3.78m.
Overall, the Falcon Women have already posted five times/marks that rank in the NAIA's top 10 this outdoor season and 18 within the top 50.
The Track & Field Falcons will next compete at the Tabor College Invitational on Saturday (Apr. 11) in Hillsboro, Kan. Friends will also have a group competing at the Butler CC meet and the University of Arkansas meet this upcoming weekend.
