NEW ORLEANS, La. – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released their first Division II Indoor Track & Field National Rankings on Tuesday afternoon with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's and women's track & field teams each earning a spot in the top-25. The Mountain Lion men receive their highest ranking in program history at No. 8 (95.01 points) while the UCCS women's team checks in at No. 11 (86.77 points).
 
Grand Valley State University landed the top ranked spot on the men's side with 161.50 points, while Azusa Pacific University took the No. 1 ranking for the women at 165.11 points.
 
The UCCS men's track & field squad has seen 14 different student-athletes post provisional marks across nine events for a total of 17 national qualifying marks through the first four meets of the 2021-2022 indoor season. The Mountain Lions currently have seven student-athletes that rank in the top-10 for their event on the national scale. 

• Dakota Abbott – Long Jump – 7.27m/23' 10.25" (16th)
• Dakota Abbott – Triple Jump – 15.15m/49' 8.5" (8th)
• Peterson Bohannon – Long Jump – 7.20m/23' 7.5" (20th)
• Skye Ciccarelli – High Jump – 2.10m/6' 10.75" (T5th)
• Gavin Harden – 3000m – 8:17.48* (12th)
• Thorben Hast – Long Jump – 7.13m/23' 4.75" (27th)
• Thorben Hast – Heptathlon – 5,275 points (5th)
• Dawson Hopkinson – Pole Vault – 4.98m/16' 4" (T8th)
• Chris Hudnall – 60m Hurdles – 8.21s* (T27th)
• Justyn Loper – Weight Throw – 17.94m/58' 10.25" (37th)
• Brian Mosley Jr. – 60m – 6.77s* (T7th)
• Richard Safoh – Long Jump – 7.18m/23' 6.75" (T22nd)
• Kymani Sterling – 60m – 6.86s* (T31st)
• Peyton Turnage – Long Jump – 7.50m/24' 7.25" (5th)
• Peyton Turnage – Triple Jump – 14.60m/47' 11" (23rd)
• Tanner Walsh – High Jump – 2.04m/6' 8.25" (T16th)
• Daryon Wilson – Long Jump – 7.38m/24' 2.5" (9th)

 
The Mountain Lion women have also had a strong start to the season as 11 student-athletes have combined to compile 13 national qualifying marks over the first four competitions, along with five marks that rank top-10 in NCAA Division II. 

• Layla Almasri – 3000m – 9:44.03* (12th)
• Emily Arseneau – Shot Put – 13.79m/45' 3" (20th)
• Christine Bailey – Long Jump – 5.77m/18' 11.25" (T13th)
• Christine Bailey – Triple Jump – 11.79m/38' 8.25" (24th)
• Audrey Bloomquist – Triple Jump – 11.90m/39' 0.5" (17th)
• Margaret Gardella – 60m – 7.62s* (T15th)
• Sydney Marr – Weight Throw – 17.46m/57' 3.5" (20th)
• Hannah Meek – Long Jump – 6.37m/20' 10.75" (1st)
• Hannah Meek – Triple Jump – 12.30m/40' 4.25" (6th)
• Melissa Moreni – 60m Hurdles – 8.65s* (T7th)
• Faith Novess – High Jump – 1.73m/5' 8" (T7th)
• Lydia Pavlenko – Triple Jump – 11.96m/39' 3" (15th)
• Kayla Zink – 60m – 7.46s* (2nd)

*Converted for altitude/track size
 
The Mountain Lion's next meet will come this weekend as UCCS will host the Colorado Running Company Mountain Lion Open while also competing at the CU Boulder Colorado Invitational on Friday, Jan. 28 and Saturday, Jan. 29.