New Orleans, La. - The Central Methodist women's track & field program opened the 2026 indoor season atop the national rankings, earning the No. 1 spot in the first NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field National TFRI checkpoint, which was announced by the USTFCCCA on Tuesday.
It is the first time the Eagles have earned a No. 1 ranking in program history.
The Eagles accumulated a nation-leading total score of 209.68, powered by 185.53 individual points and 24.15 relay points across 35 nationally ranked performances. They currently sit more than 42 points ahead of No. 2 ranked Doane (Neb.), which has 167.21 points.
Central has produced two nationally leading performances so far during the indoor season. The 4x400-meter relay of Diane Ondobo, Allena Rowland, Aroa Carballo, and Bailey Arceneaux earned the No. 1 ranking with a time of 3:48.17 at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational this past weekend.
Senior Haley Bellamy also claimed a No. 1 national ranking in the pentathlon after scoring 3,711 points at the Saluki Fast Start back on Dec. 6
Bellamy has emerged as one of the nation's most versatile athletes, adding a No. 2 national ranking in the high jump with a clearance of 1.71 meters, a No. 5 ranking in the long jump at 5.83 meters, and a nationally ranked time in the 60-meter hurdles (No. 13 - 8.82)
In addition to being a key member of the nation's top 4x400m relay team, Rowland has anchored the Eagles' sprint and middle-distance events with multiple top-five national rankings.
The senior currently sits No. 3 nationally in the 400 meters with a time of 56.15, No. 4 in the 600 meters at 1:34.03, and No. 14 in the 800 meters.
Ondobo earned national rankings in the 600-yard run (No. 7 - 1:24.59), 400 meters (No. 12 - 57.80), and 800 meters (No. 31 - 2:20.65), while also contributing to the top-ranked relay.
Joana Vakasobuduru posted a No. 4 national ranking in the pentathlon (3,362 points) and added a nationally ranked mark in the shot put (No. 24 - 12.74). Shannon O'Neil is ranked No. 7 in the pentathlon with 3,351 total points
Annemarie Koerner added multiple nationally ranked performances in the pentathlon (No. 6 - 3,353), long jump (No. 19 - 5.62m), and high jump (No. 29 - 1.60m)
Akeelah Knox is ranked No. 7 in the 60m hurdles at 8.74 seconds, and Zakiya Porter is No. 7 in the 60m dash (7.57) and No. 9 in the 200m dash (25.28).
Altogether, the CMU women have 24 athletes who are ranked No. 20 or better nationally in their respective events, including 13 ranked No. 10 or higher.
The Eagles will continue indoor action at the Principia Relays beginning Friday, Jan. 30, in Elsah, Illinois.
To view the release by the USTFCCCA on the first indoor rankings of 2026, please click here.
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