RedTail Track and Field Breaks Top 10 in Season’s First National Rankings
February 1, 2021
WATERLOO–The RedTail Track and Field teams at Hawkeye Community College are ranked among the top 10 in the nation in the new NJCAA rating index released Wednesday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
"It's exciting for both the men's and women's programs to be ranked in the top 10 early in the season," said head coach Tyler Mulder. "It's a huge goal to finish in the top 10 for both programs come nationals!"
The RedTails are ranked sixth in the men's standings and seventh among the women's teams in the first official ratings for 2021. Both teams kicked off the indoor season at Northwest Missouri State University with the Mel Tjeerdsma Classic on January 16, where the women set several new team records and the men's squad secured nationals bids in the 800-meter run (Koby Brackemeyer / Morrison, Ill.) and the 600-yard dash (Connor Belken / Dubuque, Iowa).
At the University of Northern Iowa Jack Jennett Invitational (January 21), the RedTail men placed second, with seven individual top-three finishes, including titles in the 400 (Edgar Tapia / Harris, Iowa), the 600 (Brackemeyer), the 3000 (Sam Mickelson / East Dubuque, Ill.), the 400-meter relay (Jacob Jensen / Estherville, Iowa; Blake Osborn / Newhall, Iowa; Brackemeyer; Belken) and a 1-2 finish in the 200 for Osborn and Belken.
The women also placed second at Jack Jennett, winning the 60-meter hurdles (Kylee Neighbors / Grinnell, Iowa), the 800-meter run (Ryann Portch / Avoca, Iowa), and the 3000 (Mindi Sande / Charles City, Iowa).
The RedTails return to Maryville, Mo., on Saturday, January 30, for the Herschel Neil Invite at Northwest Missouri State. For more information on RedTail Athletics, call 319-296-4430 or visit www.redtailathletics.com.