Weekly Recap

7:42.62!

(Grant Fisher)

What a weekend! This weekend’s marks have changed the landscape of team predictions as expected. The team battle was altered and different discussions are being had. There were quite a few number one performances this weekend and a world record continuing or record breaking theme over the years. As we wind down the regular season and head into the post season the performances keep getting better. It's only a matter of time before we have another NCAA record. 

SPRINTS

The women’s 200 has been largely dominated by freshman. This is no surprise since they had a strong presence last season.  Senior Kayla White of North Carolina A&T decided to change that. White who is also quite the hurdler blazed the track at the Tyson Invitational to a NCAA number one time of 22.82. She beat a slew of top 200 runners to claim the event title and is also nationally ranked in the 60-meter hurdles. Look for more from this talented senior later this season.

Obi Igbokwe of Houston was the story on the men’s side. The transfer from Arkansas was one of the preseason favorites and this past weekend he certainly proved why. The senior outlasted a strong field at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational to win with a time of 45.35. His time is not only number one in the NCAA but also the world. Igbokwe has now firmly cemented himself as the favorite.

DISTANCE

The Millrose Games produced a bevy of number one times this weekend. On the women’s side Dane Rivers of Penn State stepped up to the mile and competed in a professional field. Although she finished 8^th in the race her time of 4:29.47 is tops in the NCAA. She is the only athlete under 4:30 in the women’s mile and she is also top three in the 800 meters as well. Rivers has given us a glimpse in her potential to double and clearly, she makes a strong case for it.

Alicia Monson of Wisconsin likewise stepped up to compete against professional athletes, but her result was much better. She also earned the number one ranking in the 3,000-meter run but also won her race against the pros in the field with a spectacular time of 8:45.97. Monson finished 4^th at the Cross-Country national meet and has made her case to be listed as the favorite in a event that she now has almost a eight second lead.

Oliver Hoare of Wisconsin joined his teammate Monson at the Millrose Games. The talented junior competed against quite the professional field that included a few Olympians and former NCAA Champions. Hoare finished 7^th in the race with a time of 3:54.83 and was the only collegian in the field. His time gives him almost a two second lead on the number two ranked athlete. As stated previously he won the NCAA Championship outdoors last season in the 1,500 is proving to be quite the miler. He has now had consecutive performances cementing his number one status.

It seems the 3,000 was the event for collegians at the Millrose Games. Junior Grant Fisher of Stanford claimed the event with a time of 7:42.62. What is perhaps more impressive of his win is that not only did he defeat a professional field but that he also beat the Cross-Country NCAA Champion Morgan McDonald of Wisconsin who beat him to the line at the Cross-Country Championship. Fisher has consistently been a favorite all season long but beating McDonald at the Millrose Games had to give him a boost of confidence.

HURDLES

Chanel Brissett picked up were she left off. Brisett improved upon her number one ranking at the Tyson Invitational this weekend. The talented sophomore beat a strong field with a winning time of 7.90. Her time is the second fastest time in USC history and keeps her in the driver’s seat as the nation’s best hurdler. Brissett is a key piece in USC team title hopes and this weekend she proved why. Look for more from this talented young lady later this season.

Grant Holloway of Florida continued his dominance this season. He bolted down the track at the Tyson Invitational with a time of 7.43. He improved upon his number one ranking and almost broke his own NCAA record. He will be at the same track for the SEC Championships and he should improve upon that time giving us another NCAA Championship record.

FIELD

Tahar Triki of Texas A&M won the triple jump last outdoor season and was the favorite this indoor season. The super junior dominated a quality field and his performance help to vault Texas A&M team’s expectations. His mark of 55 feet 9 ¼ inches was a new overall personal record in the event indoors or out. Florida has been jumps university for the past few years but with the performances this season it looks as if there will be a change.

The weight throwers this weekend was on fire. Sade Olatoye of Ohio State reclaimed her number one ranking and has proven to be the most consistent top thrower this season. At the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson Olatoye took down fellow preseason favorite Stamatia Scarvelis of Tennessee with a winning throw of 77-1 ¾. Olatoye’s performance made a big statement.

Payton Otterdahl of North Dakota State continued his dominance of weight throw this season. At the South Dakota State Indoor Classic the senior further clamped down on the number one ranking with a throw of 78-11 ¼. Otterdahl currently ranks number one in the shot put as well and is the best candidate to double this coming Indoor Championships.

RELAY OF THE WEEK

The Tiger Paw Invitational takes the cake as the top meet of the weekend. Both number one 4x400 relays came from this weekend. The Houston men set a world record defeating Texas A&M with a time of 3:01.51 thanks to two 44 second splits.

Texas A&M women became the first sub 3:30 team of the season with a mark of 3:29.96 thanks to a 51 second anchor from Syaria Richardson an Ohio State transfer. South Carolina was a close second with 3:30.67.

This coming weekend is the final weekend of the regular season. This weekend we will likely see plenty of great times for the Distance Medley Relay. Very few teams stock their top Medley relays teams at the Conference Championships. Many big-name athletes will potentially rest in preparation for the post season. However, we still complete a weekend recap that will still include some exciting performances.