(Isaiah Young- OLE MISS)
This past weekend was the preliminary round of the NCAA Championship still referred to as regional. In my personal opinion I hope they get rid of the regional track meet and let the outdoor season match the indoor season. Alas, we are stuck with the regional system until changes are made. This past weekend we learned who is ready for the NCAA Championship and who is not.
Lesson 1: Florida does not have the depth of the past
This pains me to say so, I admit every time I get the chance. I am a huge Florida Gator fan and hopeful alumni. The past four seasons The Florida Gators have finished the championship meet in the top three each season including a National Title last season, two 2nd place finish and a third place finish. Each of the four teams seem to face major adversity at each championship meet or during the season with a key injury, however Florida had amazing depth. This year that does not seem to be the case. Each top performer is vital to Florida's hopes in defending the national title. Marquis Dendy a talented sophomore jumper who claimed the Indoor Long Jump title and looked to be the next jumper in line of great Florida jumpers, failed to qualify. Dendy was expected to provide anywhere from 6 to 10 points, now he provide none. This loss caused the Gators their number 1 ranking and they are now 4th. With all that being said still do not count out the Gators.
Lesson 2: The women's 400 Hurdles will have the best field in years
The past couple of years this event has somewhat lost its luster. Before Arizona's Georganne Moline none of the recent champions made a name for themselves on the International Circuit as professionals and the times have been less than impressive. This season that is not the case. Moline the 2012 Olympian returned as the expected champion of the season. That was until Kori Carter of Stanford came through and shocked everyone at the Pac-12 meet not with her win but with her time of 54.21. Carter now ranks number 3 all time and is only a junior. Let's not leave out Turqouise Thompson of UCLA who has a personal best of 55.18 just shy of 54 seconds. This field will also include Ugonna Ndu of Florida (56.12), Sparkle McKnight of Arkansas (55.71), Kendra Harrison of Clemson (55.77) and Danielle Dowie of Texas (56.10). Carter is the new favorite this season, but don't count out Moline yet expect for a very competitive race.
Lesson 3: ISAIAH YOUNG has officially arrived
Isaiah Young of Ole Miss is another returning 2012 Olympian. Young did not perform as expected at the Olympic Games bowing out in the early rounds likely due to fatigue from a long season. Young had not done anything spectacular this indoor season, this outdoor season was a different story. Running solid times throughout the season finally paid off at the SEC Outdoor Championship where he won the 200 in a NCAA leading time 20.20. Although he did not claim the 100 title he proved why he may still be the best this past weekend. Young clocked in at 9.99 in the very first round, the time was legal and moved Young to the top. Young currently is the only athlete to have legally gone under 10 seconds this season and is peaking at the right time.
Lesson 4: Arkansas is simply ARKANSAS!
It seems to not matter who is coaching the Arkansas Razorbacks they always seem to be at the top of pedestal at the major Championships. This season is no different, although many expected, including myself, for Florida to dominate throughout the season that has not happened. Arkansas dominated the SEC Indoors and Outdoors. They had an greater performance during the Indoor Championships, this weekend they proved why they can never be counted out. In the 800 alone they qualified four athletes to the National Championship meet. They have an athlete in the top 5 of every distance event except the 1,500. In the sprints Akheem Gauntlett will lead the way along with hurdler Caleb Cross. Both athletes are a huge part of their relays which both are expected to score. Let us not forget their bread and butter the jumping events where they have a strong a deep ground in each jumping event, long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault. This Arkansas team is really good.
Lesson 5: Pat Henry is the BEST EVER!
Pat Henry is synonymous with collegiate track and field. Henry is the winningest women's track and field coach in NCAA history. During his years at LSU he produced 12 NCAA titles and at one a streak of 10 straight from 1988-1997. The signature of all his programs have been great sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and throwers along with great relay teams. He has coached collegiate legends such as Dawn Sowell (still the NCAA 100 meter record holder), Tanajalyn Staley, Muna Lee and LoLo Jones. Now at Texas A&M he is repeating the same success. After having one three in a row (2009-2011) his Lady Aggies are back at the top and are lead by a powerful sprint, hurdle and relay group as expected from most of his teams. The best part of this team is most of the top athletes are either juniors or sophomores. Runners such as Ashton Purvis, Kamaria Brown, Ashley Collier, Jennifer Madu and Ibukun Mayungbe are just a few of the athletes that are likely setting up for another streak of dominance in track and field of their own.
Our next post will be an event by event preview of the NCAA Outdoor Championship, with all the great performances this year I expect for many track starved fans to eat a full meal of a great meet.
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