Big 12 Men's Track and Field Preview

The men in the conference maybe welcoming the departure of Colorado and Nebraska as they prepare for their new conferences. Nebraska has been a thorn in the side of many great programs in this conference. Nebraska has done a great job with their hurdlers, jumpers and throwers over the years. The bulk of Nebraska's team points at the championship meets come from those three areas. The Cornhuskers are also a threat in the sprints and relays which help in winning . Colorado has been the premier distance in the Conference. The Buffaloes have great alumni that include Dathan Ritzenhein, Jorge Torres, Adam Goucher, Marc Scrutton and Brent Vaughn. With those two programs gone expect for Texas and Texas A&M to be the central figures to replace their presence, Texas in distance and Texas A&M in hurdlers and jumpers. The Buffaloes and Cornhuskers should still have a great final year in the conference.


Sprints and Hurdles

Last season Rakieem Salaam of Oklahoma stunned Gerald Phiri of Texas A&M in the men's 60 meter dash. Salaam clocked in at 6.69 to beat the conference leading Phiri. I expect for Phiri to have a better performance this season and win the event.

Phiri's teammate Curtis Mitchell was not only the talk of the conference but the talk of the nation last season. Although Mitchell was highly touted junior college athlete his performances last season were nothing short of amazing and slightly unexpected. Mitchell won the NACAC U-23 200 meter dash in 19.99 to lead the NCAA last outdoor season. Mitchell is the defending conference champion and national champion and should continue that success throughout the season, there really is not anyone who can challenge him.

In the long sprint Texas A&M again looks to assert its depth and dominance in this event. Although Baylor historically has been the dominant force in the conference in this event, the Aggies are returning a lot of top tier talent. Defending champion Tabarie Henry, Demetrius Pinder, Bryan Miller, Tran Howell and Michael Preble are the athletes Texas A&M will be counting to prove that point. Baylor will look to Marcus Boyd and Zwede Hewitt to challenge the Aggies.

In the hurdles Ronnie Ash was the dominant figure in the conference last season transferring from Bethune Cookman as defending NCAA Outdoor Champion to Oklahoma. Omo Asaghae was the 2009 Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor champion and lost his crown to Ash. With Ash now in the professional ranks, Asaghae is the leading favorite to win the title. Wayne Davis the high school national record holder missed his freshman season due to injury and has already started the season fast with a time of 7.85. Davis who runs for Texas A&M is another candidate to win the conference title along Keiron Stewart of Texas.

Distance

Historically Colorado has been the premier distance program in the conference. However last indoor season did not go well for the Buffaloes. Iowa State was well represented last indoor season with multiple athletes in all the distance events. Oklahoma State the premier cross country program this season will challenge Iowa State for distance supremacy.

In the middle distance events Baylor will join the party with their two returning 800 meter runners James Gilreath and Gavyn Nero. Gilreath is the defending conference champion and will be strongly challenge by Joey Roberts of Texas A&M. Roberts clocked a school record early this season with a time of 1:49.47. Iowa State will look to challenge Baylor in the men's mile with defending Champion Hillary Bor. German Fernandez the phenomenal freshman from 2009 will look to rebound and challenge Bor after a average season.

In the long distance races Colby Lowe of Oklahoma State is defending champion in the 3,000 and favorite to defend his crown, Bor will look to challenge Lowe in the 3,000. David Adams of Nebraska will also challenge Lowe after finishing 2nd last indoor season and is another defending champion in the conference in the 5,000. Thomas Farrell of Oklahoma State and Kevin Schwab of Oklahoma will challenge Lowe in the 5,000.

Jumps

What a great conference the Big 12 has been in the jumping events. There are plenty of NCAA Champions and All-Americans in all the jumping events including another defending champion in Nebraska's Paul Hamilton. Hamilton is the returning champion in the high jump. Eric Kynard of Kansas State is Hamilton toughest challenger. Kynard in 2009 was the nation's top high school athlete in the high jump.

Hamilton's teammate Nicholas Gordon is one of two returning NCAA Champions in the conference. Gordon was the 2009 NCAA Indoor Champion in the Long Jump andMarquise Goodwin of Texas was the NCAA Outdoor Champion last season. Although both return with great NCAA Championship experience neither won the indoor title in the long jump, Bryce Lamb of Texas Tech took the crown last season and will try to defend his title. Lamb is also the favorite to win the triple jump.

In the Pole Vault Hayden Clark of Texas and Nate Polacek of Nebraska are the top two returning competitors in the pole vault after the graduation of Jordan Scott from Kansas. Clark should be the favorite to claim the title.

Throws

What a great conference for throwers, Mason Finley of Kansas is the defending champion in the men's shot put and is currently the high school record holder in that event after a phenomenal 2009 campaign in high school. Another high profile sophomore in Hayden Baillio of Texas was be the biggest challenge to Finley defending his crown.

K.P. Singh of Oklahoma is the defending champion in the men's weight throw. Singh maybe better suited for the hammer throw, but Singh is not only expected to defend his title in the weight throw at the Big 12 Championship but compete to win the NCAA title in the men's weight throw.


Conference Champion: Texas A&M

Runner-Up: Nebraska

*** Our next post will look into everyone favorite conference, the SEC***