NCAA Women's Preview

NCAA Women’s Indoor Preview

(Kyra Jefferson-Florida)

(Defending Indoor Champion 200 Meters)

This coming season is during an Olympic year. An Olympic year seems to usually bring out the best performances in every level of track and field, youth, high school, collegiate, professional and even master. This year I expect it to be no different. Although there are a few who have already left for the professional ranks early there is still plenty of returning talent as well as new talent at the collegiate level.

                                     

SPRINTS

With Jenna Prandini turning professional early to sign with Puma and with the graduation of Remona Burchell that leaves the sprints open to a new star.

 In the 60 meter dash Prandini’s teammate from Oregon Jasmine Todd will take center stage. Todd nearly set the NCAA on fire last outdoor season in the 100 meter dash before missing the finals shocking everyone. This indoor season she’ll be the headlining star in an event with a lot of returning talent and looking to avenge herself.

In the 200 returning champion Kyra Jefferson of Florida will look to defend her title from last season and make up for the loss at the Outdoor Championship. Jefferson is one of the few remaining athletes with the ability to run under 23 seconds.

The 400 also features two familiar faces both NCAA Champions. Courtney Okolo of Texas is looking to rebound from a disappointing outdoor season last year which saw her lose her crown. She is the defending champion and will look to set the tone for a special season. Shamier Little is a 400 hurdling superstar. Little earned a silver medal in the event at the 2015 World Championships. She also won the indoor 400 at the SEC Indoor Championship and is a top returnee this season.

HURDLES

In the 60 meter hurdles there will be crowned a new champion. There are a few contenders for the crown, perhaps the strongest would be Cindy Ofili of Michigan. Although she did not garner All-American honors during the indoor season due to hitting a hurdle. She made up for it during the outdoor season with a time of 12.60 in the 100 meter hurdles and is the top returnee in the outdoor event. Dior Hall of USC is another possible champion after setting an American junior record last season. 

DISTANCE

Raevyn Rogers of Oregon has positioned herself to be the next middle distance star. After running a sensational time of 1:59.71 to win the 800 meter run at the Outdoor Championships, Rogers has stepped into super stardom as the next great runner from Oregon. Entering her sophomore campaign the sky is the limit for Rogers.

Rhianwedd Price of Mississippi State snatched the reigns from Shelby Houlihan as the top miler in the country last outdoor season. Price returns alone at the top in the event and she is a easy favorite pick to win it all.

Both 3,000 and 5,000 meter races will look to add new champions. In the 3,000 top returnee from last season based on performance is Elise Cranny of Stanford. In the 5,000 Erin Finn of Michigan looks to return to the top of long distance running after dealing with severe injuries this past season.

FIELD EVENTS

The High Jump could potentially be a Georgia sweep led by defending Indoor Champion Leontia Kallenou. Kallenou leaped to a mark of 6 feet 4 inches last indoor season and will look to defend her title and improve upon her mark.

In the Long Jump and Triple Jump Georgia will look to strut their field event prowess with the help of rising star Keturah Orji. Orji claimed the NCAA title in the women’s triple jump last outdoor season and finished 2^nd during the indoor season. In the long jump Orji was up and down throughout the season but still earned All-America honors as a freshman. In the long jump she will have to fend off outdoor defending champion Quaneesha Burks of Alabama.

The Pole Vault was one of the best events of the year last season on both men’s and women’s side. The national record was in threat every weekend with a multitude of quality performances showing the growth of the event. Top returnee in the event is star Demi Payne who claimed the outdoor title and also set the NCAA record. The Bowerman Award Finalist will look to continue her sensational collegiate career as a senior with another NCAA title.

Raven Saunders now of Ole Miss did everything right last season in the shot put. Saunders won multiple junior awards as a freshman at Southern Illinois including a gold medal at the Pan American Junior Championships. Along with her junior titles she can add to that a NCAA Indoor and Outdoor crown. Saunders can be expected to add to her already large championship trophy case.

In the weight throw the top returnee is Nicole Chavis of NC State. The weight throw saw the top 5 performers all expire the eligibility at the conclusion of the indoor season. Chavis will look to headline a new group.

The Pentathlon is another opportunity for Georgia to show off their dynamic field event program. Kendell Williams will look to defend her title and remain the headlining diva in the event that she has dominated since her freshman season. Last season she set an NCAA record and is expected to improve upon that record.

RELAY PREDICTIONS

Women’s 4x400- Florida

Women’s DMR- Michigan