SEC Preview: Women

(DEFENDING CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS LSU)

The SEC is arguably the most talked about conference in college athletics. A conference that has produced phenomenal athletes in football, baseball, track and field, swimming and a host of other sports. Track and Field stands out among most other women's sports because of the heavy amount of national champions and championships. LSU produced the most dominant stretch of national titles with 11 straight wins. The Tigers of LSU continue to be the most feared team in the conference. Top challengers as usual will be Florida and Arkansas.

Let us start with the sprints. This is usually the most competitive section of the entire conference. The SEC generally fills half of the lanes at the NCAA Championships. This year will definitely will continue that success.

Headlining the conference is LSU star Kimberlyn Duncan. Duncan burst onto the scene last season with her phenomenal 200 meter performances. Duncan is the defending national champion in the 200 and will look to improve on her 60 meter performance from last season. Teammate Takeia Pickney who was the top freshman on LSU's squad in 2010 will look to add to a solid sprint core for LSU. Pickney missed most of last season with an injury. Another teammate in Semoy Hackett will look to challenge Duncan in both sprints and returns as the most consistent 60 meter sprinter.

In the long sprints the depth definitely falls to Arkansas. In recent years Arkansas has made a habit of having three 400 meter runners in the conference finals along with putting together solid 4x400 relay teams. This season is no different. Junior Regina George looks to lead a strong Arkansas contingent and compete for a conference title. Ebony Eutsey of Florida also has a solid shot for the conference crown after a great freshman season.

The hurdles saw a resurgence last season with a strong performance from true freshman Jasmine Stowers. After the graduation of a strong trio of LSU hurdles in 2008 there has been no national threat in the SEC. Stowers last season became that threat. This season Stowers will headline a group still in development.

The SEC is not all about sprints. The distance programs are also very competitive. Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU have represented strong middle distance and long distance programs.

Sophomore Corey McGee of the University of Florida will look to defend her conference title in the mile and contest a strong field of 6 All-SEC returnees. McGee's teammates Mandy Perkins and Stephanie Strasser will look to add to strong core of distance runners for the University of Florida. Arkansas also has a great core of seniors in Kristen Gillepsie, Samantha Learch and Jillian Rosen to challenge the Florida Gators. We must also keep in mind that the University of Florida is replacing their distance coach Todd Morgan.

Tennessee and LSU represent two schools that focus on having a solid core of 800 meter runners. This season LSU will look to Charlene Lipsey to lead a young group of runners against defending champion Chanelle Price of Tennessee and her teammates Kiana Ruff and Nijgia Snapp. Price now a senior has had a up and down career at Tennessee. Price will look to finally claim a NCAA title and possibly break the 2:00 minute barrier.

The Field events in the SEC stand out as well and help to complete a well rounded conference. In events such as the pole vault Arkansas really shows their presence.

Defending NCAA & SEC champion Tina Sutej leads a great group of vaulters. Sutej last season won by a large margin, more than a foot. Sutej also set a met record with her leap of 14-10 3/4.

Colleen Felix of the University of Georgia had a strong 2011 indoor campaign in the long jump and triple jump. Felix is a multi-event athlete and a strong thrower as well. However her 44 foot jump in the triple jump will allow for her to not only compete for the conference crown but the national title as well. With the loss of Jennifer Clayton who transferred to Central Florida University expect for Felix to complete the double. Freshman Cierra Brewer and Sophomore Lorraine Graham will challenge Felix for the title.

The SEC has been the best overall conference in the NCAA for quite a while and will continue to be. Our next post we will discuss the men of this conference.