New Orleans, La. - The Central Methodist indoor track & field programs are making noise on the national stage in the early season, as the women are ranked 17th and the men 21st in the first edition of the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

On the women's side, Indiana Tech leads the pack at No. 1 with 500.42 points, followed by Concordia (Neb.) with 320.97 points and William Carey (Miss.) with 196.03 points. Illinois' St. Francis and Hastings (Neb.) round out the top five programs. As a conference, the Heart is represented by No. 16 Grand View and No. 22 MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Indiana Tech also sits atop the men's standings with 250.47 points while Dordt (Iowa) is ranked second and Heart member Grand View third. Doane (Neb.) and Grace (Ind.) are ranked fourth and fifth to round out the Top five teams. 

So far this season, Central has qualified seven athletes in 10 different events for the NAIA National Championship including; Kailey Johnson (60m hurdles & 60m), Dayana Montenegro (600m run and 400m run), Carter Hawkins (Pole Vault), Taylor Bottomley (Weight Throw & Shot Put), Brennan Moots (60m hurdles), Parker (Pole Vault), and Ethan Smith (Heptathlon). In addition, the CMU women are No. 1 in the USTFCCCA South Central Regional rankings, while the men are No. 5. 

Montenegro has shined for the Central women, as she posted a conference-best 1:37.30 in the 600-meter run. On the men's side, Yager posted a conference-best mark of 4.65 meters in the pole vault, which is Top-5 in the NAIA. Bottomley has reached new heights in the throws, as he currently has the eighth-best mark in the shot put, and is No. 1 in the weight throw with a school-best 20.21 meters. Both marks are good enough to hit the 'A' standard for national qualification. 

Both programs are set to compete at the UCM Mule Relays beginning Friday, Jan. 28 at 3:00 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo. 

To view the NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, please click here. 

To view the NAIA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, please click here. 

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