NCAA MEN'S INDOOR PREVIEW

(Edward Cheserek-Oregon)

Men’s Preview

SPRINTS

Cameron Burrell was one of the top recruits coming out of high school. He ran a barely wind aided 10.0 performance in the 100 meter dash and clearly displayed all of the skill set that his world record setting father had. He now enters his junior season absent NCAA Championship hardware. He’s had some major competition recently from Trayvon Bromell, Andre DeGrasse and Ronnie Baker. His time of 6.48 is the fastest returning time in NCAA history and put him in the record books, had it not been for Baker’s 6.47 he would’ve won the title.

Burrell has the luxury of being a student of Carl Lewis and his father Leroy Burrell. Both men have owned the 100 meter world record at one point. Last outdoor season Burrell finished a closely ran race finishing 4th. As a junior he now has the perfect opportunity to put all that behind him and claim the title that has eluded him the past two seasons. Christian Coleman of Tennessee and Senoj-Jay Givans of Texas will be strong challengers but it should be Burrell’s race to lose.

Coleman is a defending champion to keep an eye on for a potential double. Coleman claimed the men’s 200 title last indoor season with a time of 20.55. Coleman also boasts some impressive short speed. Nethaneel  Mitchell-Blake of LSU will also be a threat in the 200. Blake has personal best of 19.95 and was the talk of the sprinting world last outdoor season before his injury anchoring the 4x100 relay. Since Coleman beat a healthy Blake last season he enters the indoor season as the favorite.

The 400 meter dash Michael Cherry of LSU is the top returnee from last season. Although he did not earn individual All-American honors last indoor season he has the top returning time running 44.81 from last outdoor season at the Olympic Trials. Cherry who has large tall frame will likely struggle some with the tight turns of an Indoor track but his speed and strength should be enough to power him to victory.

DISTANCE

Edward Cheserek of Oregon returns to dominate in his senior year. The past year has been a difficult one for Cheserek; he has gone from invincible to beatable. This past cross country season Patrick Tiernan of Villanova claimed the Cross Country NCAA title and Justyn Knight of Syracuse finished 2nd, Cheserek crossed the line in a disappointing 3rd place finish. Although he was unable to four-peat there are still other opportunities for him to make history his senior year.

Cheserek returns at the defending champion of both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter races. Knight and Tiernan will likely be there to challenge him. However Cheserek will want revenge and want to add to his already very large trophy case.

In the mile defending champion Henry Wynne of Virginia returns to defend his title against a great returning field. Oregon returns both All-Americans from last season in Blake Haney and Sam Prakel. Wynne was one of the surprises of the Indoor season but will have to run this season with a target sign on his back against quality competition.

The 800 should be a battle between Shaquille Walker of BYU and Andres Arroyo of Florida. Arroyo a Puerto Rican Olympian is now a senior looking for redemption. After an impressive indoor campaign Arroyo missed the finals at the championship meet and was unable to aide his Florida Gators with much needed team points. Arroyo has solid speed and a strong kick and many have been waiting for him to make the major leap.

Walker on the other hand has made the major leap and earned All-American honors joining a special group of distance runners at BYU. Walker is the early favorite because of his NCAA Championship performance history and his outdoor personal best of sub 1:45.

HURDLES

Freddie Crittenden of Syracuse is the top returnee from last indoor season. Two way sports star Devon Allen of Oregon decided to turn pro this past November after suffering a knee injury during football. Crittenden is a solid technician who has proven that he pays attention detail. Crittenden looks to join another indoor great from Syracuse in Jarrett Eaton. He’ll have great competition in Aaron Mallett of Iowa and Nick Anderson of Kentucky to block him from earning the title.

FIELD EVENTS

Keandre Bates had perhaps his best outdoor season as a Florida Gator last season. He especially performed well when his team needed him too. Bates finished 2nd in the triple jump and third in the long jump and is in the top 3 for returnees for each event. Bates returns as the top triple jumper and will look to continue the championship success established at the University of Florida. Bates will face great challenge in Clive Pullen of Arkansas in the triple jump and Kemonie Briggs of Long Beach State and Roelf Pienaar of Arkansas State in the long jump. Bates will be counted on to provide major team points for Florida to win or have a chance at winning team title.

Trey Culver of Texas Tech prematurely took over the reins last season as the next great high jumper from Texas Tech. Bradley Adkins who returned as the top returnee was no match for his younger teammate who returns as a junior this season. Culver is the top returnee in the event based on marks. However Randall Cunningham of USC lived up to his name and claimed the Outdoor title and will head into the indoor season with some serious confidence. Both are juniors and should put up high quality marks throughout the season.

Filip Mihaljevic of Virginia Tech has been a main stay in the throwing events since his arrival. The Croatian national had quite the impressive season last year and did everything right except win the men’s shot put indoors. However he does have the outdoor hardware and will look to continue that success indoors along with being a part of the great tradition of throwers from Virginia Tech. With the hardware and impressive marks Mihaljevic is an easy preseason favorite to win the title.

Vinny Gjokaj of Michigan State is the top returnee from last indoor season after finishing 9th at the Indoor Championship. This season there will be a new champion along with a new set of All-Americans since the entire top 8 of the field were seniors and none return.

The men’s multi-events has been dominated by Georgia in recent years but last season was different. Zach Ziemek of Wisconsin claimed the indoor title and last outdoor season Lindon Victor claimed the decathlon outdoor title. Lindon returns this season as the early favorite over Devon Williams of Georgia and Harrison Wlliams of Stanford. Williams has had injuries in their past and even with a healthy season Lindon maybe too much to overcome and is the preseason favorite to win the Indoor hepathlon.

The team race will conclude our preview here. This year there is no preseason favorite, with a bevy of returnees and high school super stars expect for this to be a close race. Right now I will lean on Arkansas because of the well rounded talent and the depth that they are returning.