(Grant Holloway-Florida)
Our first weekend of the 2018 Indoor Season has been completed. There were quite a few notable performances from this past weekend including one young freshman who set his country’s national record in his event. It appears that the record breaking season of 2017 will likely continue in 2018. In this post, we look at the top performances form a busy first weekend.
WOMEN
3.) KATE HALL (GEORGIA)- Hall as mentioned on my podcast is
having a bit of a resurgence at Georgia. Her freshman year at Iowa State did not
go as planned and she transferred to Georgia. Last season she won the outdoor
NCAA long jump title and this past weekend she began this season with a bang. A
mark of 21-9 ½ is a special performance to begin the season with. Let us also
mention she won the 60-meter dash as well with a time of 7.32. We cannot forget
her sprint prowess from high school as well. It is clear the move to Georgia
was the right decision.
2.) SADE OLATOYE (OHIO STATE)- This Buckeye pulled double
duty early in the season for the Lady Buckeyes. On home track Olatoye competed
in both the Shot Put and Weight throw winning both events. Her mark in the Shot
Put was 56-10 ¾ and her mark in the weight throw was 69-11 ½. Both marks
currently rank her number two in the country in those respective events.
1.) ALEIA HOBBS (LSU)- Hobbs is the fastest returning
sprinter in NCAA history. Having run a 10.85 last season Hobbs was a sure-fire
favorite to win the 60-meter dash this indoor season. Hobbs began the season on
her home track with quite an impressive time. Her time of 7.24 ran in the
preliminaries vaulted her to the top time in the NCAA. What is perhaps even
more impressive is the fact that she did not have anyone challenging her in the
preliminary race.
MEN
3.) GRANT HOLLOWAY (FLORIDA)- The defending national
champion in the 60-meter hurdles began his season the right way. Holloway
dominated the competition at the Orange and Purple classic at Clemson. His time
of 7.69 currently ranks him number two in the NCAA behind Chad Zallow of Youngstown
State. Holloway will enter every season with an “X” marked on his back since he
is the defending champion. His performance served everyone noticed that it will
be very difficult to beat him.
2.) KEENON LAINE (GEORGIA)- Georgia is just simply unstoppable
with the development of their jumpers. Keenon Laine is the next jumper in line
to star for Georgia. Laine jumped to an early number one ranking with his jump
of 7-5 ¼. Setting a personal record this early in the season is a very positive
sign for this Georgia Bulldog.
1.) MUSTAQEEM WILLIAMS (TENNESSEE)- Williams clearly seems
to ready to be the next sprint star from the University of Tennessee. He had to
sit behind Christian Coleman for the past two seasons and watched him set an
NCAA record last season. Williams began this season with a bang winning the 60-meter
and 200-meter dash in a dual meet with Indiana. His time of 6.70 in the 60-meter
dash ranks him number eight in the NCAA but his time of 20.99 in the 200-meter
dash currently ranks him as number one. His time 200-meter time is quite
impressive this early in the season as he is the first and only athlete to have
gone under 21 seconds.
SUPER FRESHMAN
Lynna Irby of Georgia and Benjamin Vedel of Florida were
both high level 400 runners as high school athletes. Both began their season
running in a non-traditional event the 300-meter run. Irby blew past NCAA
outdoor record holder Kyra Jefferson to win with a time of 36.73 at the Orange
and Purple Classic. Benjamin Vedel broke his countries national record in the
event with a time of 32.80 to tie Grant Holloway’s mark from last season. It
seems very clear that the Gators should have a very competitive 4x400 relay.
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