Weekly Recap

(Fred Kerley-Texas A&M)

The 2017 season has been one of the best in recent memory. Here we have yet another week with a bevy of new number one performances and some that have caught our attention. This recap will be about the top five performances from this past weekend, majority of which are new number one rankings.

WOMEN

5. Kellion Knibb- Florida State (Discus): Senior Kellion Knibb of Florida State and an Olympian this past weekend became the first athlete in the discus to surpass 200 feet. Her throw of 202’1 was the first throw over 200 feet this season and placed her in the top spot in the NCAA. She almost has a five foot lead on her closest competitor and is in great position to avenge her defeat at the NCAA Championships from last outdoor season were she was runner up.

4. Quanesha Burks- Alabama (Long Jump): Burks already has NCAA Championship hardware to her credit. She has unfortunately been dethroned as the queen of the Long Jump. Her lost last outdoor season and this past indoor season has certainly proved that she is human. This weekend however is indication that she hasn’t gone anywhere and will be ready to reclaim her title when the time comes. She climbed to the top of the NCAA with her jump of 22-0 ¾ and became only the second athlete this outdoor season to surpass 22 feet.

3. Elise Cranny – Stanford (1,500): Stanford and their distance success is nothing new, in fact we have become expectant of a new star from the highly esteemed university every couple of years. Elise Cranny has stepped in to fill that role in the 1,500. This past weekend she zoomed to the top of the NCAA with her time of 4:11.46 to win the Cardinal Classic on her home track. After finishing 2^nd last season she is making a great case to claim the title this time around.

2. Emily Grove- South Dakota (Pole Vault): South Dakota has the rare distinction of having the top male and female pole vaulter in the NCAA. Grove has become the latest standout from South Dakota when this past weekend she leaped to 15-1 at the Sioux City Relays. Grove became the first athlete this outdoor season to surpass 15 feet and placed herself firmly in the driver’s seat against the Weeks sisters of Arkansas.

1. Chrisann Gordon- Texas (400): Texas and the 400 is nothing new. From great champions such as Suzainn Reid, Sanya Richards and Courtney Okolo Texas has proven to be 400 meter university. Chrisann Gordon is next in line for the 400 crown at Texas and this past weekend proved she was ready for it. Gordon clocked in at 50.64 to win the LSU Alumni Gold meet and defeat Olympian Jessica Beard. Gordon who is from Jamaica will also be a threat to make the Jamaican team for this summer’s World Championships.

MEN

5. Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake- LSU (200): Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake was the only athlete last season to run under 20 seconds in the 200 meter dash in the entire NCAA. He unfortunately was unable to earn a National title in the event after getting injured during the 4x100 relay. He however has been slowly returning back to form. This past weekend on his home track he rocketed to a time of 20.15. That mark won the meet and moved him to the number two time in the nation.

4. Nicholas Percy- Nebraska (Discus): Nebraska has always been synonymous with great field event athletes. Percy just seems to be the next in line to represent the Cornhuskers on the national stage in a field event. Percy won this event last season and looks to be in top shape mid season. His throw this past weekend of 204’8 moved him into the number one ranking where he should remain throughout the season.

3. Isaiah Harris- Penn State (800): Harris is the latest in a long line of successful middle distance runners from Penn State. After finishing 4^th in this event last outdoor season and this indoor season Harris looks to improve upon his national ranking. At the Virginia Challenge this weekend against top five competition, Harris proved himself ready to take the next step. His time of 1:45.12 moved him to the number one ranking in the NCAA and in good position to possibly win his first NCAA title.

2. Odean Skeen- Auburn (100): Odean Skeen became the latest Jamaican this past weekend to dip under the 10 second barrier. His time of 9.98 moved him to the number one ranking in the NCAA and slightly ahead of Kendall Williams of Georgia. Skeen is one of three athletes to have run under the 10 second barrier and the only one to have a wind legal time. Perhaps what was more impressive was how well he defeated his competition. The closest competitor clocked a 10.21 in his heat, that is a just a little over two tenths of a second which is stating a lot in the sport of track and field.

1. Fred Kerley- Texas A&M (400): We have been waiting for several weeks for Kerley to make his season debut in his premier event. Kerley was quite dominant this past weekend at the Michael Johnson invitational clocking in at 44.60 to win the 400 meter dash. He was part of a great weekend for this event that saw three competitors dip under 45 seconds. However Kerley’s performance was perhaps the most impressive. He won the race by more than a second which still held a quality field. His time also allowed for him to remain at the number one performer in the event. Although it was his debut no one outdoors had previously surpassed his indoor championship time until this weekend.

RELAY OF THE WEEK: LSU Women’s 4x400 Relay clocking in at 3:29.10.