STILL THE KING?
(Edward Cheserek)
Oregon
It is finally here, the best event on the track and field
calendar. It is NCAA Outdoor Championship time. I look forward to the day were
I attend this meet as a regular. A lot has happened since our last post. We had
a broken Regional meet that helped determined who attends the national meet and
we had injury updates. I consider the regional meet to be broken because the
format makes the meet pointless. I absolutely love the indoor format and hope
that Outdoors will adopt this same format one day. This weekend has plenty of
things for us to discuss.
Perhaps the biggest story on the women’s side is who will be
absent. Jasmine Todd of Oregon who has consistently battled injuries will be
out in the women’s 100. It’s rad sad considering her level of talent. She will
joined by Kyra Jefferson of Florida who will be out in the women’s 200. Her
absence is a huge loss for Florida and their team title hopes. In the distance
events defending champion Molly Seidel of Notre is out along with Erin Finn of
Michigan.
On the men’s side it’s all about who is ready to shine. Many
of the events do not have a returning champion and there will be plenty of new
champions and stars developed since this is an Olympic year.
Predictions:
WOMEN
100- Morolake Akinosun (Texas) She finished runners-up here
last year by one thousandth of a second. With a personal best of under 11
seconds look for her to claim the title against heavy competition.
200- Felicia Brown (Tennessee) She has been dominant all
year long and has cemented herself as one of the greats in the event with her
stunning performances.
400- Courtney Okolo (Texas) The most decorated 400 runner in
NCAA history and the only in the field with a national title and personal best
under 50 seconds.
800- Raevyn Rogers (Oregon) Rogers is the defending champion
in this event and the only participant to have run under 2 minutes. Rogers has
been up and down this season but she has been more up than she has been down.
In front of a home crowd expect the same type of magic you saw last year from
Rogers.
1,500- Marta Frietas (Mississippi State) Frietas has been
number 1 in the NCAA since the end of April and is currently the only athlete in
the field with a time under 4:10. Frietas will be challenged by a great field
but expect her to win the crown.
3,000 Steeplechase- Courtney Frerichs (New Mexico) Currently
she is ranked number 1 in the NCAA and against a deep field should prevail.
5,000/10,000- Dominique Scott (Arkansas) With Molly Seidel
of Notre Dame and Erin Finn of Michigan both of these events took a major star
hit. However Dominque Scott of Arkansas is still in the field and was on the
early season contenders to win the crown for either of these events. She will
be huge in terms of team points and should have no trouble winning the title
convincingly.
100 Hurdles- Cindy Ofili (Michigan) Ofili has been the
preseason favorite since the end of last season. With a personal best of 12.60
and a season’s best of 12.66. Ofili has been number 1 all season long and it
should continue this weekend.
400 Hurdles- Shamier Little (Texas A&M) She started off
slow to the season running a few pedestrian times. She did not claim the number
1 ranking until the SEC Championships. Her time of 54.72 still stands as the
number 1 time. With Hailey of Arizona out of the picture expect for Little to
win her third straight NCAA title.
4x100- LSU. Without major injuries the Tigers look to add to
their illustrious history in this event. Kentucky and Texas A&M will still
be a challenge.
4x400- Arkansas. Their win at the NCAA West Regional Meet
against Texas with Okolo running a 49 split showed that they have come a long
way. Consistently over the past few years Arkansas has been able to produce
great 400 runners and a solid 4x400 relay.
Long Jump- Quaneesha Burks (Alabama) Undefeated is the
reason. Burks has yet to lose this season and has been consistently ranked
number 1 all year around and beaten her toughest competitors one on one.
Triple Jump- Keturah Orji (Georgia) Orji has had a spectacular
career so far at Georgia. She is on the verge of possibly breaking a NCAA
record as a sophomore. With a personal best of 47 feet, the best is yet to
come.
Shot Put/Discus- Kelsey Card (Wisconsin) Card has been more
consistent with being a top level performer this outdoor season. Defending
Champion Raven Saunders of Ole Miss is in the field but has not had the type of
Outdoor Season that I believe she would have liked. I think Card will be
looking to prove herself and outduel Sanders for the crown. She has also been
the favorite all season long for the discus and that should not change this
weekend.
High Jump- Erica Bougard (Mississippi State) With no Akela
Jones in the field, Bougard has the number 2 mark in the NCAA. This could be an
easy victory for Bougard.
Pole Vault- Alexis Weeks (Arkansas) One of the few freshman
this NCAA season that are favorites to win the NCAA title. Weeks looks to
continue the legacy of great pole vaulters at Arkansas and add another 10
points for the team title hopes.
Hammer Throw- DeAnna Price (Southern Illinois) She has
consistently been the best at this event all year long and it should carry over
to a national title.
Javelin Throw- Hannah Carson (Texas Tech) Carson comes in
ranked number 1 based on season’s best. She has a very competitive field to
compete against including the Malone Sisters of Texas A&M but should still
claim the crown.
Heptathlon- Akela Jones (Kansas State) In perhaps one of the
most competitive competitions this event has seen in years Jones is the
favorite to be a phenomenal field. It is quite possible that the top 3 of this
event will be in Rio for the countries competing at the Olympic Games. Jones is
ranked high in a multitude of events and had it not been for a misstep at the
Indoor Championships she would have likely won the event with a record
performance.
TEAM: ARKANSAS- This might not even be close. The lady Hogs
are absolutely loaded and show they have the ability to score in practically
every area on the track. The future is also bright for them as well with such a
talented group of young women.
MEN
100- Ronnie Baker (TCU) The two time Indoor NCAA Champion at
60 meters was unable to compete last outdoor season due to injury. He enters
this outdoor season with only one goal in mind. Baker will have heavy
competition from Cameron Burrell of Houston and Tevin Hester of Clemson but
just like indoors expect the star to rise to the occasion when the competition
is heaviest.
200- Nethaneel Blake- Mitchell (LSU) After having secured
one of the fast wind legal times in NCAA history with a time of 19.95. Mitchell
will look to continue his successful outdoor campaign and earn his first NCAA
title.
400- Arman Hall (Florida) Hall started his career with
plenty of notoriety. He was an outstanding freshman who made team USA and at a
young age ran under 45 seconds. Add to that he also ran a 43 split later in his
career. However majority of his career he has been plagued by injuries and has
yet to claim the NCAA title that many expected him to earn. I believe now is
the best time for Hall to truly showcase his talent.
800- Brandon McBride (Mississippi State) McBride has returned
back to the top of the 800 podium. After a disappointing 2015 season that saw
him unable to defend his NCAA title he began this outdoor season with a bang
including a personal best of 1:44.63 that placed in the all-time records list. Look
for McBride to reclaim his title against a great field.
1,500- Izaic Yorks (Washington) His season speaks for
itself. He has had some record breaking performances and all time bests. The
only appropriate conclusion to his season is the NCAA title.
3,000 Steeplechase Mason Ferlic (Michigan) He has been at
the top majority of this season and the only athlete in the field with a
personal best under 8:30. After falling in the water, literally, at last year’s
NCAA Championship Ferlic is looking to rebound in a big way.
5,000/10,000 Edward Cheserek (Oregon) I openly admit to
taking the easy road here. Cheserek this outdoor season has not been his usual
self. He has been outkicked against some pretty big competition, and at home no
less. I don’t expect for that continue and neither should you. Cheserek is one
of the most decorated athletes in NCAA history and should use this weekend to
add to his Championship trophy case.
4x100 & 4x400 (LSU) What program has ever been this
consistent in both relays heading into the National Championship? As much as I
love the Florida Gators I cannot recall this level of consistency. LSU is in
great position to break the NCAA record in both events. I truly believe this is
their best assembled team. LSU wins big in both events.
High Jump- Avion Jones (East Carolina) Jones is having quite
the outdoor season and used the American Conference Championship as a signal to
the rest of the nation. He claimed the number 1 ranking with a mark of 7-7. His
mark is 2 inches more than his closest competitor. Jones wins convincingly.
Pole Vault- Devin King (SE Louisiana) King has been number 1
since late March with his win at the Texas Relays. Without Shawn Barber in the
field who left for the pro’s this is perhaps the perfect opportunity for the
talented sophomore to be the next great star in the event. His first assignment
is living up to the expectation.
Long Jump- Jarrion Lawson (Arkansas) Although he is not
currently ranked number 1 in the NCAA we most certainly know what he is capable
of. Lawson has been the bridesmaid at the championships quite often. He got his
first NCAA title this past indoor season and will look to continue this outdoor
season. Arkansas athletes have a habit of showing up big at Championship meets.
Triple Jump- Clive Pullen (Arkansas) Pullen is currently
ranked number 2 right now behind Matthew O’Neal of South Florida. If we have
learned anything and I have already said Arkansas athletes show up at
Championship meets. Pullen earned the Indoor title and like his teammate should
win the outdoor title. It will be a challenge though, O’Neal has proven to be a
real talent.
Shot Put- Nicholas Scarvellis (UCLA) It’s been a while since
we have heard of championship contender in the shot put for UCLA. A school that
has produced some greats in the field events has a new contender. Scarvellis
now a senior has been perhaps the best in the event all season long and is the
obvious favorite to win the event.
Discus- Sam Mattis (Penn) He’s the defending champion and has
been ranked number 1 all season long. Expect for that to continue with Mattis
adding another championship crown to his trophy case.
Hammer Throw- Rudy Winkler (Cornell) It is clear that the
Ivy League has learned how to play with the big boys. Winkler like his Ivy
League brother Mattis has been the top ranked hammer thrower all season long
and in is the best position for him to claim his first NCAA title.
Javelin Throw- Ioannis Kyriazis (Texas A&M) Kyriazis is
being counted on heavily to live up to the top ranking. With Texas A&M in
the middle of an intense team battle 10 points are a must for the sophomore.
His undefeated record this outdoor season proves that he is more than ready to
win his first NCAA title.
Decathlon- Victor Lindon (Texas A&M) Lindon proved his worth
by defeating a talented field at the SEC Championship and not allowing Georgia
to continue their dominance in the event. Lindon is also an athlete being
relied upon to win the NCAA title to help add 10 big points to his the team
battle. Lindon will have heavy competition but has proven he can win against
the best already.
Team- LSU- They are extremely top heavy and expect a lot out
of their competitors. However if everything falls into place they could
potentially walk away with 4 titles which in itself is 40 points and puts them
in great position to win the team battle.
Challenger- Arkansas- They always show up to this meet and
have capable champions in a myriad of different events. They have the ability
to score all over the track. Beware of the Hogs and their championships
pedigree.
