NCAA Championship Part 1 Men's Review

(Oregon Ducks Men's National Champs)

This past weekend fans of collegiate track and field were treated to a phenomenal championship meet hosted by the University of Oregon. A packed house was on hand to see if the Oregon men and women could complete a championship sweep. The number 1 ranked men’s team lived up to the height winning with a total of 88 points.

For the Oregon men things began as they always do with their dynamic distance core. Freshman Edward Cheserek was the first NCAA Champion with a time of 28:30.18 in the men’s 10,000 meter race defeating Kennedy Kithuka of Texas Tech. Cheserek would continue his success finishing second in the men’s 5,000 behind Lawi Lalang of Arizona. Cheserek led a 2-3-4 charge for Oregon who scored a total of 34 points between the two events.

The only challenger to Oregon was the University of Florida. Heading into the championship meet the Gators have either won or finished 2^nd at the past 5 NCAA Outdoor Championships dating back to 2009. At their last national championship the Gators did not compete with the same intensity or fire that they normally do. However at this meet they would and competed very well. While Oregon dominated the distance events Florida was strong in the sprints and jumps.

Junior Marquis Dendy has not performed to his usual level the past two outdoor seasons either due to injury or foul trouble. This season he has had to deal with injuries but would not let that hold him back. He began by winning the men’s Long jump in cold windy conditions. Dendy was the only athlete over 26 feet with a winning mark of 26-3 earning him a legal qualifying mark for USATF Nationals. Dendy followed that performance by winning the Triple Jump two days later with a wind-aided mark of 55-11 ¼. His mark in the triple jump was just shy of two feet further than his closes competitor. Dendy added 20 valuable team points to the Gators who finished 2^nd overall with 70 points.

(Marquis Dendy)

In the sprints Dedric Dukes led the way for the Gators. Dukes, the only NCAA athlete to break 20 seconds in the 200 meter dash again broke the 20 second barrier with a time of 19.91 in barely wind-aided race. Dukes also anchored the winning 4x100 relay with a time of 38.73 over Texas A&M. The Gators scored 1 point in the men’s 100 dash with sophomore Antwan Wright finishing 8^th and 5 points in the 400 with Najee Glass in 5^th and Hugh Graham Jr in 8^th. Senior Eddie Lovett added another 4 points in the 110 hurdles.

(Dedric Dukes)

Oregon had some help in the sprints and hurdles from senior Eric Berry who finished 2^nd in the 400 and true freshman Devon Allen who won the 110 high hurdles in school and Pac 12 record time of 13.16. Allen surpassed Aleec Harris ofUSC who set the Pac 12 record earlier in the season with a time of 13.18.  Harris finished 2^nd to Allen with the same time he led with early in the season. Arthur Delaney added the final 2 sprint points in the 200 meter dash running 20.79 for 7^th.

Other notable performances came from freshman Trayvon Bromell of Baylor who clocked in at 9.97 to win the 100 meter dash title and set a World Junior Record. Bromell defeated favorite senior Dentarious Locke of Florida State. Locke clocked in at 10.02 for 2^nd place. Texas A&M junior Deon Lendore did not break 45 seconds but still managed to win the men’s 400 title in a time of 45.02 and anchor the Texas A&M 4x400 relay to number 2 all time with a time of 2:59.60. The men’s high jump was absent James Harris of Florida State who earned the indoor title. However junior Bryan McBride of Arizona State has been solid all outdoor season and continued his success by winning the high with a mark of 7-5 ¾.

(Trayvon Bromell)

In the throwing events none of the events were claimed by seniors. Junior Sam Crouser of Oregon stood out as he was a big part in scoring vital points for the Oregon Ducks. Crouser provided the most he was allowed by earning the championship title on his last throw with a mark of 252-7 to add another 10 points to Oregon’s total.

After all that the Ducks still had not stopped scoring, junior Dakota Keys scored another 6 points by finishing 3^rd in the men’s decathlon with a point total of 8,068. Keys had a strong day 2 after sitting in 7^th place after day 1. Maicel Ubo of Georgia was the winner with a point total of 8,182 after two days of solid performances. 

Overall solid performance by the men of Oregon on their home track. They will be losing some key members to their championship team but have a great group of recruits. Next season should be awesome. 

NCAA Regional Review

NCAA Outdoor Championship Preview Post 1

With regional qualifying nearly 2 weeks ago the field has been set for the athletes who will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. There are plenty of new stars and a few returning champions. The performances this season have been an amazing and it is quite possible than an NCAA record may fall.

SPRINTS/HURDLES

As always in division 1 the sprints are expected to be highly contested. With a bevy of stellar athletes to compete this year just making it to the finals is honorable. In the men’s and women’s 100 and 200 meter dash Texas A&M looks to complete a sweep of the event. The Aggies will be relying on SEC Champions Prezel Hardy and Olivia Ekpone.

Hardy a senior at Texas A&M arrived with much fanfare as the top 100 meter sprinter in high school. He was known for his killer anchor leg at the Texas High School Championship and earning the title of World Youth Champion. He has been a little bit short on individual hardware since arriving in College Station but now he has the perfect opportunity to claim the sprinting double. In the 100 top returnee and favorite, senior Dentarious Locke of Florida State looks to prove that sub 10 second performance last season was no fluke. They both will receive strong competition from true freshman Trayvon Bromell of Baylor who lit up the NCAA circuit and shocked the world with his 9.77 wind-aided performance at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship.

(Prezel Hardy)

Olivia Ekpone also arrived at Texas A&M with notoriety. Ekpone graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt in Maryland which at the time was one of the nation’s premier high school programs. The past two seasons the junior has had two sit behind her teammates. This season she pushed through and marched her way to the top. At the SEC Outdoor Championship she completed a double winning the 100 and 200, and running one of the fastest times in NCAA history in the 200 with a time of 22.23. In the field with her will be hometown favorite Jenny Prandini of Oregon and top ranked sprinter Ramona Burchell of Alabama. Burchell has the top time in the NCAA with a time of 11.03 and claimed the NCAA indoor title in the 60 meter dash.

(Olivia Ekpone)

The 400 an ever growing event has some real international level talent. On the men’s side you have Arman Hall of Florida, Deon Lendore of Texas A&M by way of Trinidad and Tobago, Bralon Taplin of Texas A&M by way of Grenada, Brycen Spratling of Pittsburgh, Hugh Graham of Florida and Mike Berry of Oregon. All men listed have earned the title of NCAA All-American in this event in previous years. This season however Lendore has dominated the event without earning a single loss. Lendore is currently ranked among the top 5 400 runners in the world with his NCAA leading time of 44.36. His top challenger of the past season has Hall of Florida. Hall suffered an injury at the SEC championships and is trying to round himself back into shape. The task may be too tough as Lendore looks at the solid choice for the tile.

On the women’s side Texas has not skipped a beat in this event. Since former coach Beverly Kearney’s arrival she has done an amazing job of making Texas the 400 meter University of the NCAA for women sprinters. This season new women’s sprint coach is Olympic Silver Medalist in the 400 hurdles, Tonja Buford Bailey. She has possibly taken the program to new heights with the recent performances of her athletes. Bailey has three athletes capable of running 50 seconds, defending champion Ashley Spencer, Courtney Okolo and true freshman Kendall Baisden. With the talent Texas has they are certainly capable of a 1-2-3 sweep. 

(Phyllis Francis)

Senior Brianna Nelson also of Texas is no slouch either and proves the solid depth that Texas has. Oregon star Phyllis Francis seems to be the only challenger to this solid group of runners. Francis claimed the indoor title with a NCAA record of 50.46. Francis has yet to run 50 seconds this outdoor season and Okolo has almost broken the 50 second barrier with her NCAA leading time of 50.03. With all the star power in this reason it is clear to claim the title it will require a 49 second performance.

The 110 meter hurdles was once a rivalry event between Wayne Davis of Texas A&M and Eddie Lovett of Florida. Both hurdlers are obvious leaders and catalyst to the rivalry between the two programs over the past few years. Joining the conversation this season is new Pac-12 record holder Aleec Harris of USC and freshman Devon Allen of Oregon. Harris claimed the top time in the country at the Pac-12 meet with a time of 13.18. His time is one of the best in NCAA history and sky-rocketed him to the position of favorite.

(Aleec Harris)

Sharika Nelvis of Arkansas State is the big name in the women’s 100 hurdles. Nelvis claimed the NCAA Indoor title and is top returnee from last outdoor season. Nelvis a nationally ranked 100 meter sprinter is one of the many rising stars in this event. Bridgette Owens of Florida, Jasmin Stowers of LSU and Kendra Harrison of Kentucky will challenge her for the crown.

Harrison of Kentucky will also look to earn a title in the women’s 400 hurdles completing the hurdles double. Harrison is the only athlete in the field to have run 54 seconds. Janeil Bellille of Texas A&M and her teammate freshman Shamier Little will again be a strong challenge to the talented Wildcat. Little one of the nation’s best 400 runners is still learning to transition her amazing speed into great hurdling.

On the men’s side this event has not been as competitive as in years past. None of the top athletes have yet to run 48 seconds in the 400 hurdles this season. Michael Stigler of Kansas is the favorite to win as the top returnee along with Nebraska senior Miles Ukaoma. Ukaoma leads a group of four athletes in this event for the Cornhuskers and looks to continue their tradition of great hurdlers.

Relay Predictions

4x100 Relay Men: Texas A&M   4X100 Relay Women: Texas A&M

4X400 Relay Men: Florida           4x400 Relay Women: Texas

NEXT POST: DISTANCE