NCAA Championship Review (Women)

The Women put on quite a show at the NCAA Championships this past Saturday. We witnessed some amazing performances from every level, sprints, jumps, throws and distance. What made the meet better was the awesome team race. As each event went by the story continued to change.


SPRINTS

The day begin very positively for the Florida Gators and rough for the Oregon Ducks. The Lady Gators displayed excellence in moving the baton around with great precision in the 4x100 relay. They were the only team to run sub 43 at meet with a winning time of 42.95 on a great anchor by Kyra Jefferson.

In that very race Jenna Prandini's Oregon squad was disqualified. Not a good start for a team trying to win the team title. Prandini stepped up for her team in the women's 100 meter dash. Prandini overcame the fast starting Morolae Akinosun in the last few meters to win with a wind-aided 10.96. Akinosun of Texas finished 2nd with a time 10.97.

Prandini attempted to complete a double by winning the 200 meter dash. This was an equally close race. The pre-race favorite was the 200 meter indoor champion Kyra Jefferson of  Florida. Jefferson had been number 1 all year and left no doubt in the minds of many after running a 22.26 prelim. However to the surprise of everyone but herself Dezerea Bryant of Kentucky scorched the track with one of the fastest wind-legal times in history and amongst the top 5 in the world this year. Her winning time of 22.18 proved that her 2014 indoor title in the event was no fluke. Prandini finished in a close 2nd with a time of 22.21. Another impressive stat about this race all women ran under 23 seconds.

The 400 was absent its big time star in Courtney Okolo from Texas. That left the event wide open. Texas did have two studs in the race in 2013 NCAA Champion Ashley Spencer and 2014 World Junior Champion Kendall Baisden. Spencer coming off an injury from last season was slowly getting into form this season.

Like the men's race the women seemed to be slightly affected by the wind. Baisden seemed to be in prime position to win the title and continue the Texas legacy. However it was Kala Funderburk of Florida State who fought her way to victory with a time of 51.67.


HURDLES

The 100 hurdles has been a battle between two former Clemson teammates. Kendra Harrison of Kentucky and Bridgette Owens of Florida. Harrison has gotten the better of her teammate and has been a phenomenal dual threat running both high and low hurdles at a world class level.

Early in the race Owens hits a hurdle which seemed to knock her off her rhythm. Harrison remained strong clearly each hurdle with precision. Harrison was strongly challenged by Michigan Wolverine Cindy Ofili who finished 2nd with a time of 12.60. However Harrison was just too good clocking in at 12.55 for the win.

Harrison attempted to complete the rare double of winning the 100 and 400 hurdles. The only person standing in her way, Shamier Little of Texas A&M. Little quite possibly was the best 400 meter runner remaining with Okolo out. Both Little and Harrison ran fantastic races. Little the less technical of the two looked her best in this race. Little executed with good technique an great speed and endurance. Little out gained Harrison to win the event with a time of 53.74. Her time places amongst the 10 greatest female 400 hurdlers in NCAA history. The time also vaulted her to number 1 in the world this year. Harrison's runner up time of 54.09 was equally impressive.


DISTANCE

In the 800 we were introduced to a new star in Raevyn Rogers of Oregon. All year we have witnessed the greatness that is Natoya Goule of Clemson. The indoor champion and 2013 Outdoor Champion has been solid. She has great speed and tenacity for an 800 runner. She may have gone out a little too hard runner 26 seconds in the 200 meters which I believe was too fast. In the end it cost her as she fell further back into 6th place and the young freshman vaulted to the front and dipped under 2 minutes with a time of 1:59.71.

In the 5,000 long distance star Emily Sisson of Providence continued to have a great year. Sisson set an NCAA record this past indoor season in the event and looked to add another title to her trophy case. She did just that in domineering fashion winning her event by more than 5 seconds with a time of 15:34.10. Sisson did not try the 10,000 and event she was highly ranked in. Molly Seidel of Notre Dame surprised the field by claiming the event in a time of 33:18.37 surpassing Dominique Scott of Arkansas who finished runners-up in both long distance events.

In the 1,500 it seemed to be the year of the seniors. This event had a total of 12 participants with 7 seniors. All 7 seniors earned first team All-America in the event finishing 2nd through 8th. It was a underclassmen sophomore Rhianwedd Price of Mississippi State who take the title with a time of 4:09.56.

The steeplechase was the event indoor mile champion Leah O'Connor of Michigan State choose to compete in. O'Connor entered the meet as the obvious favorite and during the race it seemed as if that would be the case. However Collen Quigley of Florida State would surpass the senior on her way to victory clocking in at 9:29.32.


FIELD EVENT CHAMPIONS

Long Jump- Quanesha Burks Alabama 22-8
Triple Jump- Keturah Orji Georgia 46-5.25. Orji is the first freshman to ever win this event. Defending champion Ciarra Brewer of Florida fouled out.
High Jump-Jeannelle Scheper South Carolina 6-2.75
Pole Vault-Demi Payne Stephen F. Austin 15-5. Payne out dueled Morris of Arkansas to claim the title. All three Arkansas athletes scored in the event.
Shot Put- Raven Saunders Southern Illinois 60-2.50. Saunders is another talented freshman to win an NCAA title. Saunders was also the only athlete to throw 60 feet.
Discus Throw-Shelbi Vaughan Texas A&M 201-5. Vaughan defends her title and was the only athlete to surpass 200 feet.
Hammer Throw-DeAnna Price Southern Illinois 234-6.
Javelin Throw- Irena Sediva Virginia Tech 192-9.
Heptathlon- Akela Jones Kansas State 6,371


Team Result- Oregon 59 points. The Gators had a few things go wrong, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M just simply did not have enough. Oregon returns quite a few great athletes and will likely return next season as early favorites.