Weekend Recap

(Kendell Williams-Georgia)

We are now officially in our second weekend in April. Things are starting to slowly heat up. There were quite a few notable performances from this past weekend. It is perhaps a little stunning as the first weekend of April had so many great performances. This is already shaping up to be a great year.  During this recap I will review the new number one performances.

Women

Aleia Hobbs (LSU)- Hobbs of LSU has had quite the season so far. She is the SEC Indoor 60 meter champion and has already been at the top of the 100 meter field since early in the season. This past weekend she earned the number one ranking with a time of 11.07 on her home track. Although early in the season Hobbs is certainly one of the few threats to the Oregon sprint dynasty.

Kendall Ellis (USC)- Ellis has proven to be one of the 400 runners in the country after having quite the indoor season. Her speed is one of her true advantages. This past weekend she dominated the field at LSU clocking in at 50.98 to win the 400. She nearly a second ahead of the number two ranked athlete and won the race rather convincingly. This is her first time under 51 seconds and will most certainly not be the last.

Shea Collingsworth (BYU)- Collingsworth is perhaps the only athlete that may be capable of beating Raevyn Rogers of Oregon. Collingsworth has consistently performed at a high level and continued her success this past weekend. Her time of 2:01.51 placed her firmly atop the rankings early in the season. Although early Collingsworth’s time proves she is ready to compete.

Amalie Iuel (USC)- Iuel takes over for USC as their top 400 hurdler. She has already proven throughout her career to be quite adept at being near the top. This past weekend she took over the number one ranking from Kymber Payne with a time of 55.38. Iuel also has the number two ranking in the NCAA in the open 400 meter dash.

Kendell Williams (Georgia)- Williams continues her dominance of this event. Williams scored a total of 6,354 points to win the heptathlon on her home track against a quality field. Although she is not the only athlete over 6,000 points she does however have over a 300 point lead.

Logan Boss (Mississippi State)- 6’2 ¼  High Jump

Rougui Sow (South Carolina)- 22’0 ¾ Long Jump

RELAY OF THE WEEK: LSU 4X100 RELAY 42.66

Men

Robert Grant (Texas A&M)- Grant was a part of great weekend for the Texas A&M Aggies. They scored several new number one rankings and have put themselves in great position to take over the number one ranking from Florida. Grant surpassed Florida’s Eric Futch take the lead in the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.40. Grant is now the number one ranked athlete in the event; however it is still early in the season.

Tequan Claitt (Eastern Kentucky)- Claitt has perhaps been left out of the discussion of who will the men’s high jump at the NCAA Championship. This past weekend he proved he most certainly was deserving of being a part of that discussion. Claitt garnered the number one ranking at the Hilltopper Relays with a mark of 7’5 ¾ against a quality field.  Let’s hope that we hear more from Mr. Claitt throughout the season.

*Christian Coleman (Tennessee)- Coleman on the official NCAA list will sit at the number two spot. However he has the current top ranked 100 meter wind legal time. In fact he ran the 100 in a time of 10.03 into a headwind of -.08. Too add to how great of a performance it was, he won the race running away from the field. Coleman looks more than capable of being able to live up to the hype after a sensational indoor season.

*Freddie Crittenden (Syracuse)- Crittenden is in similar situation as Coleman. On the NCAA list he is listed as number two but he officially has the best wind legal time in the nation. This past weekend against a strong field Crittenden clocked in at 13.42. Crittenden was a part of the discussion to win the 60 hurdles indoors and he clearly is carrying that success outdoors.

Audie Wyatt (Texas A&M)- 18’8 ¼ Pole Vault

Oghenakpolo Efekoro (Virginia)- 66’10 ¾ Shot Put

Gleb Dudarev (Kansas) 238’6 Hammer Throw

RELAY OF THE WEEK: ARKANSAS 4X100 RELAY 38.78