OUTDOOR SEASON IS HERE

This is the time of the year were track and field fans are glued to the internet checking on all the results throughout the weekend. Unlike football, basketball and baseball, ESPN does not provide a consistent analysis of each weekend's meet. The track and field fan must scout the internet for themselves. This weekend however should provide some headlines in a multitude of events for the college track and field fan. Two major competitions this week include the Texas Relays and the Florida Relays. These two meets don't just provide speed, but great distance and field marks as well.


TEXAS RELAYS 83rd edition

The Texas Relays does not have alot of individual events however it does include two intense sprint events, the 100 meter dash and 100/110 meter high hurdles along with the low 400 hurdles event.

On the women's side in the 100 meter dash should be a race that will produce the national leader. Indoor champion Blessing Okagbare of UTEP will look to claim the title but she must be weary of Jeneba Tarmoh of Texas A&M, Takeia Pinckney of LSU and Porscha Lucas of Texas A&M.

In the 100 meter hurdles Natasha Ruddock of Texas A&M is the main headliner in the event. Ruddock will receive competition from Latoya Greaves of Oklahoma. Ruddock will not have teammate Gabby Mayo in this event so Ruddock is a solid favorite.

The Relays should be the main story at the end of the meet. Pat Henry Texas A&M program is now at the level of LSU program he had winning multiple champions and the relays are a primary reason for his success. The Aggies will be favorites in both the 400 meter relay and 800 meter relay. The Aggies 400 relay of Jeneba Tarmoh, Porscha Lucas, Dominqiue Duncan and Gabby Mayo should challenge the meet record set by Pat Henry's LSU squad in 2003 with a time of 42.63. They will have a strong challenge from LSU now coached by Dennis Shaver. In the 1,600 meter relay the women of Texas look to return to the top, after a strong performance last year in their efforts to rebuild the program back to prominence.

In the women's long jump Okagbare of UTEP is the clear leader after winning the indoor title by almost a whole foot. Okagbare will get a great challenge coming from Chantel Malone a junior from Texas.

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On the men's side sophomore D'Angelo Cherry of Mississippi State is the main story in the men's 100 meter dash. Cherry coming off a 10.0 performance as a freshman last season should stun the crowd with his amazing start. Teddy Williams of UTSA a senior will be great competition after a stellar indoor season.

In the hurdles junior Ronnie Ash of Oklahoma will look to continue his dominance over collegiate track and field in the 100 highs. Ash will see strong competition from Omo Osaghae a senior from Texas Tech and junior Oscar Spurlock of USC. Jeshua Anderson should amaze the crowd with a solid performance in the men's 400 meter hurdles, the two-time defending outdoor champion look for a sub 49 second effort.

In the relay's Texas A&M is a favorite in all sprints relays, 400 relay, 800 relay and 1,600 relay. The Aggies will be headlines by indoor Champion Curtis Mitchell and Gerald Phiri. The Aggies main competition are the Florida State Seminoles, TCU Horned Frogs and the Trojans of USC.

The distance relays look to have solid performances from both Arkansas and Texas. Arkansas will be featuring senior star Dorian Ulrey. LSU looks as though they would be solid favorites for the men's 3,200 meter relay with a team Richard Jones, Jamaal James, Sadiki White and Garrek Thompson.

Alain Bailey of Arkanasas a senior who is coming off a indoor title should break the 27 foot barrier and will received heavy competition from LSU star Zedric Thomas and Ngonidzashe Makusha a junior from Florida State.

Next blog: Florida Relays preview Men.