Preview Razorback Invitational

MEET PREVIEW OF WHAT TO WATCH FOR

(Arman Hall-Florida)

This weekend the University of Arkansas is hosting one of the best regular season meets between top ranked programs. The University also has one of the fastest indoor tracks in the world. Couple that with the news that SEC Network/ESPN will have the meet televised live, a collegiate track and field first for a regular season meet. Top programs such as Florida, Oregon, LSU, Texas A&M, Florida State, Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Georgia along with the host themselves Arkansas. With this being the final weekend in January and we are now only a month away form Conference Championship weekend things are going to get hot. Here are 6 events to keep an eye on.

WOMEN’S 60 METER DASH

It is very rare that you have both the number 1 and number 2 compete this early in the season. Well that will happen this weekend in the women’s 60 meter dash when Jasmine Todd of Oregon and Shayla Sanders of Florida square off against each other. Todd entered the season as the favorite to win the event at the Indoor National Championships as the top returnee. Todd cemented her status as preseason favorite two weeks ago at the Washington Preview when she debuted at number 1 with a time of 7.24. Sanders debuted last weekend with a time of 7.25 at the Kentucky Invitational. Advantage Todd, Todd has shown to have stronger top end speed and has had a week to rest.

WOMEN’S LONG JUMP

This event is simply loaded with star studded talent. Headlining the group is dual jumping star Keturah Orji of Georgia. Orji has been well recognized for her amazing triple jump talents, including claiming a national title but her Long jump talents haven’t reached that level yet. This event Orji will be pushed by plenty of conference foes such as Darrielle McQueen of Florida, Yanis David of Florida, Nataliyah Friar of LSU, Todd of Oregon and her Georgia teammate Chanice Porter. David defeated Orji in high school in the triple jump and has shown proven skill in the long jump. The event will be competitive all year long between this great group of young women. No favorite here.

WOMEN’S 800 METER RUN

Raevyn Rogers of Oregon seems to be the next great runner in a long line of successful Oregon Ducks. Rogers performed amazingly well last outdoor season culminating in winning the NCAA title outdoors running under 2 minutes. Rogers has yet to run an open 800 this indoor season but has already caught the attention of competitors after running an NCAA leading 600. The event is not contested on the championship level but is an excellent test of speed and endurance for 400 and 800 runners. Expect for Rogers to overtake the number 1 spot with a solid showing against good competition.

MEN’S 400 METER DASH INVITATIONAL

This track has seen many great performances in this event. Perhaps the most memorable would be Florida’s Kerron Clement setting a Indoor World Record of 44.57 in 2005. That time surpassed the great MJ (Michael Johnson), causing many to wonder whether or not Clement should run the 400 open instead of the 400 hurdles. Florida is counting another talented pair performing up to that capability this indoor season. Arman (Gino) Hall is back healthy and has his teammate Najee Glass to push him. They are joined by a class field including LSU’S Michael Cherry and Texas A&M’s Fred Kerley. Hall has already shown his speed this season by running a 6.63 last weekend at the Kentucky Invitational. Hall is likely ready to finally claim the top spot that many though he would already have by now. Hall is the favorite this weekend but his teammate Glass could also put up a good time.

MEN’S 1 MILE INVITATIONAL

Oregon’s Edward Cheserek the king of distance running will be making his indoor debut in the men’s mile. It is still quite possible for Cheserek to try for the triple crown at the Indoor National Championships but for now this a great opportunity for him to set the tone in the men’s mile. He’ll be joined by number 2 ranked 800 meter specialist Andres Arroyo of Florida and Oklahoma State’s Vegard Oelstad. Expect for Cheserek to use this as an opportunity to make a statement.

MEN’S LONG JUMP

This event like the women is loaded with All-American talent. Headlining favorite would be Arkansas’s own senior Jarrion Lawson. Lawson played the bridesmaid during the latter parts of Marquis Dendy of Florida’s career. Lawson’s performances have been great but not enough to win. This final season is all about winning a national title. The field will included Keandre Bates of Florida, Keniel Grant of Florida State and Latario Collie of Texas A&M. Bates is expected to be the next great jumper for Florida and if he is he must improve upon last week’s mark. Competing against Lawson this early in the season is the perfect opportunity to see what he is made of. For Lawson now starts the national championship push against high level competition. 

Weekly Recap

Weekend 3 Recap

(Akela Jones-Kansas State)

It was another great weekend in college track and field. There were many high level performances over this past weekend. The many competitive meets help to facilitate performances that garnered national attention. Let’s take a look at our top 5 performances from this past weekend.

5. CINDY OFILI (MICHIGAN) - Ofili entered this season as the top returning hurdler from the Outdoor season. Ofili was not able to finish her indoor season on a high note last year after falling during the semi-final round. This season Ofili got things started early. Ofili raced to a time of 8.04 in the women’s 60 hurdle at the Notre Dame Invitational. She is currently ranked number 1 in the nation and served notice that pre-season expectations of her were warranted.

4. WILLIAM KINCAID (PORTLAND) - You probably forgot about Mr. Kincaid spending so much time in awe of Edward Cheserek. Kincaid has quietly put together an outstanding start to his indoor season. Kincaid is currently ranked number 1 in both 3,000 and 5,000 meter races. This past weekend he became one of only two athletes under 8 minutes in the 3,000 meter race winning the House of Track Invitational with a time of 7:48.89. Which event he competes in at nationals is not known yet but for now he is the star of the show for both of them.

3. FELICIA BROWN (TENNESSEE) - Brown has been the story of the season in the women’s 200 early this season. She has been ranked number 1 in the county since the first weekend and proved her ranking was right by racing to a time of 22.88. Her time is the top time in the world and she is currently the only athlete under 23 seconds. Being coached by Tim Hall Brown has already positioned herself to be a real challenge to defending NCAA Champion Kyra Jefferson of Florida.

2. NETHANEEL MITCHELL-BLAKE (LSU) - Nethaneel has been a main stay at LSU the past two seasons being a part of both sprint relays. This past weekend he proved that he could a threat individually as well. He blasted off to a time of 20.57 in the men’s 200 to claim the title at the Power 5 Conference invitational in Birmingham. Nethaneel is just another top tier sprinter in a long line of greats from LSU. His time puts him in the driver’s seat as an early favorite to win the NCAA title.

1. AKELA JONES (KANSAS STATE) - Yes she is in fact on this list yet again. Jones has been a mainstay on my weekend recaps since the year began. Jones continues to be the talk of the season as a multi-talented athlete. In her first pentathlon of the season she nearly broke the NCAA record set let season by defending champion Kendall Williams of Georgia. If Williams was not aware of Jones then she is certainly aware now. Jones 4,643 point performance was 35 points shy of the national record Williams set last year with 4,678. Jones and Williams should provide a great competitive dual at the Indoor Championships.

HONORABLE MENTION-

*JORDAN MOORE (LSU)- 60 HURDLES NUMBER 1 RANKED TIME OF 7.69

* ANDRES ARROYO (FLORIDA)- 1:47.43 IN THE 800, CURRENTLY RANKED NUMBER 2

* ERIN FINN (MICHIGAN)- 4:40.38 IN THE WOMEN’S MILE CURRENTLY RANKED 4

* FLORIDA’S 4X4 RELAYS- BOTH MEN (3:05.57) AND WOMEN (3:30.51) EARNED NUMBER 1 RANKINGS

MLK Weekend Recap

This past weekend was the second major weekend of the indoor season. Many athletes have shaken off the holiday rust and either improved from week 1 or introduced themselves in a big way. Let’s take a look back at 5 major performances.

(Donovan Brazier-Texas A&M)

5. CAMERON BURRELL LIFTS OFF- Cameron Burrell of Houston has had to deal with injuries the past few seasons and one could be concerned to see if he would ever live up to the hype of an incredible high school career. If this weekend's performance is indication, he could be the favorite to winning the NCAA title and taking over as the new sprint king. Burrell blasted off to a time of 6.55 in the men's 60 meter dash at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational. Burrell currently has the number 1 spot slightly over Christian Coleman of Tennessee and will be a factor coming championship time. 

4. RAVEN SAUNDERS IS A BEAST- Raven Saunders followed her coach Connie Smith to Ole Miss. That seems to be about the only thing that has changed for the amazing thrower. Saunders didn't waste anytime making a statement in the Shot Put. Saunders threw for a season best 61'3". Saunders is currently the only woman in the shot put with a mark beyond 60 feet and also ranks her number 1 in the world so far. It is early in the season but Saunders looks poised to claim the title again. 

3. AKELA JONES CAN DO IT ALL- Akela Jones of Kansas State was apart of my weekend report last week, but that was for 60 hurdles. This week it's for the long jump. It's incredibly rare that an athlete can be ranked in at the top of several different events but Jones is one of them. Not only is she a dangerous threat in several individual events she is also slowly becoming the favorite to win the Pentathlon at the NCAA Championships over defending champion Kendall Williams of Georgia. Jones leaped to a mark of 21-4, her mark currently ranks her number 2 in the country and is the third event were she is either number 1 or number 2. 

2. JASMINE TODD AND EVERYONE ELSE- Jasmine Todd of Oregon is turning into quite the sensational sprinter. With her teammate Jenna Prandini leaving for the professional ranks it is up to her to continue the amazing success of short sprinters at Oregon developed by Robert Johnson. Todd started this season off with a bang running the 60 meter dash in an impressive time of 7.24 at the UW Preview at the University of Washington. Todd is already living up to the hype of pre-season favorite for the 60 meter crown. 

1. DONOVAN BRAZIER IS THE NEXT BIG THING- Many of us in the state of Michigan are not truly shocked at how well Donovan Brazier at Texas A&M is doing. He had an amazing high school career and is translating well at Texas A&M. Just a freshman Brazier blasted off to the 8th best indoor American performance in the 800 meter history. Brazier's time of 1:45.93 set a school record and broke a American junior record that stood since 1982. His time is also the fastest non-championship race time in NCAA history and the fastest since 2001. He did all that in just his first meet, indoors no less. Brazier is big time and is on the path to being a great runner for Team USA in the future. 

TRACK IS BACK

HAPPY NEW YEAR

WEEKEND 1 RECAP

(ERIN FINN-MICHIGAN)

TOP 4 PERFORMERS FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND

4.  CHUKWUEBUKA ENEKWECHI (PURDUE)- Enekwechi is the top returning weight thrower in the NCAA. The senior wasted no time establishing himself as a dominant thrower early. This past weekend at the Gene Edmonds Invitational at his university he threw two great marks in the weight and in the shot put.

His top mark in the weight throw reach a distance 78-0 3/4. He also throw the shot put 63’4.25 inches, both marks place him at the top in the NCAA so far this season. Enekwechi’s shot put mark is his best since 2014.

3. AKELA JONES (KANSAS STATE)- Jones is already a big name to watch. She enters this season as the defending Heptathlon Champion from last season’s outdoor championship. Jones has gotten this season off to a solid start. Jones blazed a 8.17 60 meter hurdle time at the Kansas State Wildcat Invite. Her performance places her number 1 in the NCAA. She has also already surpassed 6 feet in the high jump. She’ll look to use both of those solid performances competing against Kendall Williams of Georgia for the pentathlon title.

(BRYCE ROBINSON-TULSA)

2. BRYCE ROBINSON (TULSA)- Robinson blasted off to the top time in the NCAA in the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.62 against a quality field at the Bill Easton Classic. Robinson’s time is still shy of his personal best of 6.59 set last season. Robinson has started early discussion to be the next sprint king in the NCAA

1    1. ERIN FINN (MICHIGAN)- Finn has already established a decorated track and field career at Michigan. This weekend she decided to get a big start to the season. Finn was dominant at the Hillsdale Winter Opener. Finn won the 3,000 meter run in a time of 9:13.41. Finn won the race by more than 30 seconds. Finn primarily a long distance runner will use that performance to fuel what should be a great season.

This upcoming weekend there are plenty of big meets so expect another weekend of great performances and a fuller weekend recap.