Texas A&M Women's Preview

Texas A&M Women’s Conference Challenge SEC VS BIG 12

Sprints & Hurdles

Let’s be honest, this is the reason why most, including myself, will be watching the live broadcast online. There is no question that sprinters and hurdlers will be the headline for both men and women. Texas A&M is coming a dominate performance against LSU. In this meet the only team that can challenge the Lady Aggies are the Gamecocks from South Carolina and conference mate Oklahoma, maybe.

LaKya Brookins of South Carolina will enter this meet as the defending challenge champion and current facility record holder. Brookins set the facility record back in 2009 to win the indoor national title in 7.13. Brookins is currently ranked 3rd in the NCAA this season with a seaon’s best of 7.24. Brookins will face strong opposition from Jeneba Tarmoh of Texas A&M and her teammate Gabby Mayo. Brookins teammate Shayla Mahan should be in the mix as well.

The 200 will be Jessica Beard’s to lose. Beard who is currently ranked number one in the NCAA and is the only athlete competing with a season’s best under 23 seconds. It is hard to believe Beard can pull off back to back sub 23 performances but she should win over Candyce McGrone of Oklahoma.

With Beard solely focusing on the 200, the 400 is left open. Ebony Eutsey a true freshman from Florida and her teammate Lanie Whitaker can be considered as favorites. Eutsey is coming off a strong anchor at the Nittany Lion Challenge two weeks ago. Taylor Evans of Texas Tech and Nadonnia Rodrigues can challenge for the victory as well. Rodrigues has an indoor personal record of 52.86.

In the hurdles senior Natasha Ruddock of A&M is the favorite to defend her title. Ruddock has the meet record in 8.16 and will look to lower her season best of 8.25 against a strong field that includes teammate Gabby Mayo and Latoya Greaves of Oklahoma.

Jumps

The triple jump, also known as Georgia versus Texas A&M. This event includes a strong group of triple jumpers from both Georgia and Texas A&M whose names will be mentioned come national championship time. Leading the way for Georgia is Colleen Felix and Maria Augustis who currently enter the challenge with the top two entries. Sasha-Kay Mathias and true freshman Jordan Wilson will lead the way for Texas A&M. This is a loaded field with five athletes with entries surpassing 42 feet including Kay of A&M, Felix and Augusts and their teammate LaTroya Darrell of Georgia and Oklahoma senior Jasmine Simmons. Felix is the expected winner with a entry of 44-9.50 could possibly surpass 45 feet.

Texas A&M may get outdone in the triple jump but may have better luck in the long jump, another true freshman Lisa Steinkamp of Texas A&M has the top entry in 21-0.50, Nina Kokot of Kansas State, Felix of Georgia and Brittany Bozeman of Ole Miss will challenge her for the crown.

Georgia will also have a very strong presence in the high jump. Saniel Atkinson and Carin Walker will look to lead the Bulldogs with a 1-2 finish. Walker currently has the best season performance reaching a height of 5-8.75 but will have to beat Atkinson to claim the title who is lthe ead entry into the meet.

Shade Weygandt is all alone at the top in the pole vault. The only vaulter in the field with a personal best over 14 feet. Weygandt is the clear favorite but will have to fight off three South Carolina vaulters in true freshman, Petra Olsen and Angela Rummans and junior Allie Nicosia.

Throws

In the shot put it's all about Oklahoma. Karen Shump and Tia Brooks finished 1-2 at the Big 12 Championships last season and Shump earned All-American honors with a 2nd place finish at the national meet last outdoor season. Bailey Wagner a teammate of Brooks and Shump will also contribute to a solid showing from Oklahoma. Kelly Closse of Texas Tech is the best chance to ruin the hopes of a sweep for Oklahoma. Closse is also the favorite to win the women's weight throw and will be challenge by Juliana Smith of Ole Miss and Alesha Asijie of Georgia.

Distance

The distance events will be all about Texas Tech. One could argue that Texas Tech has the premier distance program of the south excluding Tennessee. In the 800 Purity Biwott will look to lead the way Caroline Karunde and Caroline Jepleting will represent in the women's mile. Karunde's sister Winrose and teammate Rose Tanui will aide Caroline Karunde in a possible sweep in the 3,000. The only distance event were a Red Raider is not favored to win is the 5,000. Tara Upshaw of Texas A&M will lead a small group an earn possibly the only distance victory for the Aggies.

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