NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's and women's indoor track and field teams opened the national rating period with strong showings in the NCAA Division II Track & Field Rating Index (TFRI), released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The CSU Pueblo women's team debuted the rankings at No. 9 nationally with 86.94 points, placing the ThunderWolves among the top 10 programs in Division II at Checkpoint No. 1 of the indoor season. The Pack are one of three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) teams ranked inside the top 10, joining Adams State (No. 4) and Colorado School of Mines (No. 6).

In addition to their national standing, the ThunderWolves also sit sixth in the USTFCCCA South Central Regional rankings, further underscoring their early-season success against some of the strongest competition in the region.

The women's ranking reflects balanced scoring across multiple event groups, with nationally competitive marks in the sprints, distance events, and field disciplines contributing to their position among the nation's elite.

The CSU Pueblo men's team opened the rankings at No. 29 nationally with 26.70 points, placing them just outside the top 25 and among a deep field of nationally competitive programs. The Pack also debuted seventh in the USTFCCCA South Central Regional rankings with 156.81 points, marking their first appearance in the regional poll this season.

The RMAC is well represented in the men's national rankings, with Adams State (No. 5), Colorado School of Mines (No. 7) and UC Colorado Springs (No. 21) all earning spots in the top 25, highlighting the strength and depth of the conference.

Nationally, Pittsburg State leads the women's poll, while Wingate sits atop the men's rankings. Both polls reflect early-season performances across all event groups, with points awarded based on nationally ranked marks in each discipline.

The USTFCCCA Track & Field Rating Index is a data-driven system designed to evaluate team strength by assigning points based on national performance lists across each event, offering a snapshot of overall depth and scoring potential.