[Indoor Track and Field] Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Falcons Each Achieve Top ...

NEW ORLEANS – The Friends University Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Falcons each come in ranked fifth in the nation in the debut edition of the 2021 NAIA U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Top 25 rankings.

The ranking is the highest ever for the Falcon men and the second best for the women in school history.

"Congrats to both programs for being ranked fifth in the first national rankings for this indoor season," said Henry Brun, Friends University men's and women's indoor track & field head coach.

"There is much for us to improve upon, but we are showing that our hard work and focus is beginning to pay off!"

Jadon Davis (SO/Baltimore, MD) (second, 14:13.94) and Gage Carr (FR/Bel Aire, Kan. ) (fourth, 18:25.40) have supplied the Falcons with top five national marks in the 3000 Race Walk, with Brayden Wells (JR/Wichita, Kan. ) producing the second best weight throw (18.71m) in the nation and Cadin Gustafson (SR/Derby, Kan.) is second in the heptathlon (4935 points).

The Falcons also have the second ranked time in the 4 X 400 relay (3:28.34) and third best mark in the Distance Medley Relay (10:10.48).

Friends is the highest nationally ranked squad in the KCAC, one spot clear of the sixth-ranked University of Saint Mary Spires.

The Falcon women have recorded the nation's top ranked Distance Medley Relay (12:28.26) and have the second best 4 X 800 relay mark (9:34.48).

Aubry Donley (SO/Lincoln, Kan. ) has a pair of top three nationally ranked times in the 600 and 800 meter run, while Aileen Gurrola (SR/Garden City, Kan.) also has a nationally ranked mark in the 600 meters. In the 3000 Race Walk, Kayla Allen (JR/Lewiston, Maine) and Jolene Jensen (JR/Exira, Iowa) have times that fall within the top three in the nation.

The Falcons are also the highest ranked KCAC team in the rankings.

The Falcons are next scheduled to compete in the Washburn Open on Jan. 29-30 in Topeka, Kan.

"We have to remember that we are not finished!" Brun said. "We still have quite a bit to prove and I look forward to seeing everyone grow in the next three weeks leading into the KCAC conference meet."

Click HERE for the complete USTFCCCA Men's Top 25 and HERE for the complete USTFCCCA women' rankings.