OREGON DUCKS
JOY TO THE WORLD TRACK SEASON HAS COME
‘Tis the season for indoor track and field. The indoor
season has become an important part of the track and field calendar including
more than just the northern schools. There is participation now with nearly
every state in the Union competing during this popular season. Last season as
expected produced some major stars, it was an Olympic year which usually brings
out the best in everyone.
This season there is the World Championships coming
in summer 2017 in London no less and there is still major buzz swirling around
the sport. In the college world we are witnessing the development of new stars
and the return of old ones every season. As we prepare for what should be an
exciting indoor season let us preview of what we expect this season.
SPRINTS
Ariana Washington of Oregon leads a dominant group of Oregon
sprinters. They are reminiscent of the old LSU teams of the 90’s that simply
just dominated the sprint events at the National Championships. This past
outdoor season Washington returned to her rightful place atop of the sprint
thrown winning both the 100 and 200 meter dash. This former California super
star has started to live up to the hype surrounding her. After a year of
injuries she returned to form at the end of the season.
She’ll be joined by teammates Hannah Cunliffe who was the
top sprinter in the NCAA before an injury and Deajah Stevens who went only to
be an Olympian for Team USA in the 200 meter dash. It is quite possible that
Oregon sweeps the 200 and places two girls in the top 3 in the 60 meter dash.
Defending 60 meter champion Teahna Daniels of Texas will
return. Daniels took Cunliffe to the line last indoor season and looks to
return to top form after an injury plagued outdoor season that saw some less
than stellar times. Daniels having already beaten Cunliffe at her best is the
only likely candidate to stop the 1-2 performance Oregon will be hoping for.
In the long sprints there is only one returning All-American
and that is senior Chris-Ann Gordon of Texas by way of Jamaica. The talented
senior from Jamaica looks to be in great position to carry the torch of great
400 runners from Texas. Shakima Wimbley a senior for Miami will look to rebound
after an up and down indoor season 2016 season. The sprinter from South Florida
has also ran under 52 seconds indoors before and will look to end her senior
season on a high note.
DISTANCE
When you think of distance runners Erin Finn of Michigan
should come to mind. She has been on the national scene since she was in high
school setting state and national records. Finn has had to deal with her share
of injuries and after a great cross country campaign and a solid indoor season
last year, Finn looks to finally be ready to garner the one thing missing from
her resume. National Champion. Whether it is in the 3,000 or 5,000 now is the
best time for Finn to claim the top spot.
Finn’s rival and defending champion at both distances Molly
Siedel of Notre Dame is the only challenge to that threat. Siedel too has sat
out considerable time due to injury and missed the 2016 cross country season
and the 2016 Outdoor Championships. Siedel made the smart decision when she
decided to return to Notre Dame and looks to make good on that decision. With
Finn having a cross country season under her belt she may be in slightly better
shape to compete that Siedel. Each event can go either way, no predictions on
the champion here.
In the shorter distances Raeyvn Rogers of Oregon looks to
apart of the continued dominance of the Lady Ducks. Rogers now a junior has
been quite impressive during her time at Oregon having already won 2 NCAA
Outdoor titles and dipped under 2 minutes. Oregon will look to Rogers to
provide them with major team points. Olivia Baker of Stanford finished behind
Rogers most of the season but has the 400 meter speed to potentially outkick
Rogers if it ever comes too it. Expect for Rogers to continue to add winning
hardware to her trophy case.
The women’s mile also returns a defending champion in Kaela
Edwards of Oklahoma State. Edwards had a disappointing finish to her outdoor
campaign finishing 6th. Her indoor performance was quite impressive
and Edwards posses an incredible kick. Edwards will have a class field to
compete against but all eyes should appropriately be on her to make up for the
disappointment for last outdoor season.
HURDLES
Women’s hurdling in the United States has been on fire in
recent years. With so many quality programs at the collegiate level and high
school level it’s no wonder that the world and American record fell last year.
This year expect for more fire power. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Kentucky had an
outstanding freshman campaign. Quinn defeated favorite Cindy Ofili of Michigan
at the Outdoor Championships last season to win. Quinn boasts impressive speed;
she made the finals of the women’s 200 and holds a personal best of 22.93. With
so much room for her to improve she is will ahead of any returning champion in
NCAA History. Dior Hall returns this season from a devastating injury and along
with Pedrya Seymour of Illinois will be the biggest challenge to Quinn.
FIELD EVENTS
The jumping events simply belong to Georgia. Petros
Kyprianou has developed quite the impressive jumps program. Keturah Orji was an
outstanding recruit and has turned out to be the greatest female triple jumper
in American history. She can also perform at a championship level in the long
jump, her teammate Chanel Porter has just simply been better. Both claimed NCAA
titles last outdoor season and Orji returns as the defending champion from last
indoor season.
This indoor season Orji is the lone threat in the women’s
long jump for Georgia. The only thing standing in the way of a jumps double is
defending indoor long jump champion Quaneesha Burks of Alabama. All thought she
did not finish the season the way she planned it, Burks is more than capable of
defending her crown.
In the high jump Georgia could potentially finish 1-2. The
Bulldogs have the top returning indoor performer in Tatiana Gusin and outdoor
performer in Madeline Fagan. This would further cement their program as the
best jumps program in the nation without question.
After a disappointing 2016 indoor season Raven Saunders made
up for it during the outdoor season. The talented shot-putter claimed the
outdoor title for the second year in a row. The junior returns this indoor
season with a plan to reclaim the crown she lost last indoor season. In the
weight throw top returnee Dolly Nyemah of Louisville leads a high quality field
but should win convincingly.
In the pentathlon senior Kendall Williams of Georgia looks
to make it a four peat. A rare feat in the NCAA these days since so many are
willing to turn to the professional ranks immediately following a new record or
championship performance. Williams is well ahead of the field and should win
running away and breaking her record again.
With so many talented athletes moving after the 2016 season
this year there will be no early season preview of the 4x400 relay. But a quick
note expect for Texas to always field a good team.
The overall team battle looks to come down to Oregon, USC
and Georgia. Oregon will likely earn majority of their points in the running
events regardless of distance. With the heavy hitters that they possess I
believe the Lady Ducks will once again claim the NCAA Indoor Championship.
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