NEW ORLEANS - The Carthage women's track & field team has been ranked 23rd in week one of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Ratings Index presented by AthleticNET, the USTFCCCA announced Tuesday. The ratings are determined using a point system that values the national rankings of individual student-athletes in each program. 

The Firebirds scored 74.30 points this week and are the third highest ranked team from the CCIW (Elmhurst (8), North Central (19)). Additionally, Carthage is ranked first in the North region.

Nicole Tarpley leads the Firebirds in the rating index with marks in the discus throw and hammer throw. Tarpley collected marks of 45.10 meters in the discus throw, ranking sixth, and 49.70 meters in the hammer throw, ranking 12th. Alexis Mattox is currently ranked seventh in the hammer throw (51.39m) and 17th in the shot put (12.75m). Jackie Tuzil is ranked 18th in the shot put (12.70m) and 23rd in the discus throw (41.08m). Madison Payne is currently ranked 22nd in the shot put (12.59m). Also in the shot put, Mikayla Wright is ranked 28th (12.46m). In the long jump, Christina Hall and Teagan Johnston are ranked 13th and 37th. Hall collected a mark of 5.62 meters and Johnston recorded 5.35. 

Women's track & field is back in action on Saturday, April 5 in Milwaukee Wis. at the Wisconsin Private College Championships. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.