Weekend Recap 3

(Tyler Day-Northern Arizona)

We have made it to the end of January and only have about four weeks until Conference Championship weekend which is the start of the post season. This weekend’s bevy of new number one performances indicate that many athletes and coaches are also aware of the timeline as many are stepping up their performances.

Blazing Speed

In the sprints there were several new number one performances on the women’s side and just one new number one on the men’s side. Micaiah Harris of Texas was that guy. Competing at the MLK Invitational in New Mexico he dominated the 200 with a time of 20.53. That time has since been adjusted to 20.60 because of the altitude. This was his seasonal debut and quite an impressive one. With the field wide open we certainly should consider Harris a contender for the title.

Julien Alfred was the other half of the impressive weekend that the University of Texas had. The super sophomore blazed the track to a time of 7.10 to win the 60-meter dash at the MLK Invitational. It is the fastest time ran in January by a collegiate athlete in history. Her time was converted to 7.12 which is still an all-time great performance and the leader of the 60-meter dash this season.

Perhaps no program had a better weekend than the women of Kentucky. Abby Steiner garnered the number one ranking in the 200 with a time of 23.06, Alexis Holmes garnered the number one ranking in the 400 with a time of 52.27. Their high jumping teammate Ellen Ekholm reclaimed the number one mark in the high jump with 6 feet 1 ¼ inches. Steiner would link up with Holmes in the 4x400 relay and they would clock a time of 3:31.29. Four new number one marks in one weekend should tell you the type of team that Kentucky has. Their ranking is for real.

Throwers Delight

The throwers this weekend was on fire. On the men’s side Gleb Dudarev of Kanasas proved why there should be little doubt about him as the primary contender in the men’s weight throw. He joined the All-time collegiate list with his winning throw of 80 feet even. He has over a 6-foot lead and has firmly planted himself as the top ranked contender. The shot put again changed hands this weekend. Jonathan Thraldsen of Minnesota took over the number one spot with his mark of 67’3 ¼. How long he remains number one, remains to be seen.

On the women’s side Ole Miss treated us to quite the impressive weekend in the women’s weight throw. True freshman Jasmine Mitchell on her first throw temporarily had the NCAA lead with a mark of 72’11 ¼. On the next round throw her teammate Shay Taiwo launched a throw of 73’8 ¼ to take over the NCAA lead. Neither would improve upon their marks but would finish 1-2 in the NCAA.

Dominant Half-Milers

The 800-meter run saw both men and women produce new NCAA leading marks. On the men’s side Iowa state has another great Kenyan runner in Festus Lagat. Lagat blazed his home track to the time of 1:47.55. His teammate Roshon Roomes was close behind with his time of 1:47.74 to finish second in the race and the NCAA. Lagat is no stranger to competitive marks let see what he provides us later this season.

Carley Thomas of Washington took over the top spot of the women’s side with her time of 2:03.06 at the Dr. Sanders Columbia Challenge. The true freshman took down the top two competitors in the NCAA in Nia Akins of Penn and Danae Rivers of Penn State. Thomas is only a freshman but that was an impressive performance.

True Runners

Whittni Orton of BYU is the latest star coming out of the Mormon school. Orton ran an impressive time of 4:29.76 to finish second in the mile at Dr. Sanders Columbia. She was only beaten by professional Nikki Hiltz of Adidas. Orton is the first sub 4:30 miler of the season and we can expect more from her later in the season.

Ryan Adams of Furman was another number one performance at the Dr. Sanders Columbia Challenge competing in the 3,000. He ran an impressive ran to finish race to finish second overall only losing to professional Jordan Gusman. His time was 7:49.45.

Tyler Day is perhaps the highlight of the weekend after he ran the third fastest time in the NCAA history in the 5,000 with a time of 13:16.95. Day ran a solid race only to finish second to Paul Tanui of Nike. Day’s performance vaulted him into the driver’s seat as the contender for the title. Day has nearly an eight second lead on his closest competitor. Could he perhaps improve upon his time, it remains to be seen.

Big Jumps

Besides Ellen Ekholm and her High Jump leading performance. Ruth Usoro of Texas Tech took over the lead in the triple jump. Her mark of 44’3 ¼ leaped her pass an impressive field of talent. She has certainly made herself a contender but there are still big jumps expected this weekend at the Tyson Invitational. How long will she hold on to the number one spot is the story.

KC Lightfoot of Baylor again improves his stranglehold on the number one ranking in the Pole Vault. He leads the NCAA with a mark of 19’0 ¼ after this past weekend. He is the first 19-foot jumper of the season and is firmly in the driver’s seat.

Multi-Talented

Madeline Holmberg of Penn State is the new number one in the Pentathlon with her score of 4,171 points. Holmberg is a bit of a new name, but the event is wide open.  

Weekend Recap 2

(Darryl Sullivan)

Another week and another record gone. The indoor season is now in full swing and we were treated to a bevy of good performances this MLK weekend. The rankings still are unclear with regard to the team battle. I would also like to apologize since no podcast came last week. I am in recovery from the FLU and was out Tuesday through Saturday last week and was unable to do so. This week is a different story and we will discuss the team rankings.

Record Holders

Darryl Sullivan of Tennessee had such a special performance this weekend that Athletic Director Philip Fulmer even made mention of his weekend on social media. Sullivan leaped to a mark of 7 feet 7 ¾ inches to claim the High Jump at Virginia Tech Invitational. His performance is fourth all-time by a collegiate athlete, but it is a new SEC Indoor record as well as school record.

Tonea Marshall of LSU is one of the top returnees from last season and although she was only considered a dark horse to win the 60-meter hurdle title. This past weekend she marked herself a true contender. Dominating the field at Texas Tech she launched to a time of 7.86. Her time is a school and SEC Indoor record. Her time maybe rounded down because of the altitude at which you compete at Texas Tech.

True Freshman

In the men’s sprints there will be new champions crowned in the 60 and 200 because Grant Holloway and Divine Oduduru turning professional early. Several freshmen can put their name in a hat for 200-meter consideration starting with Ashton O’Conner of Texas Tech. O’Conner blazed the track at Texas Tech with a time of 20.76. He moves into the number one spot in the nation and is joined by fellow freshman contenders, Cameron Miller of Florida with a time of 20.81 and Joseph Fahnbulleh also of Florida with 20.86. is currently ranked number one in the nation and will have plenty of future opportunities to improve upon that.

Stanford Duo

The women of Stanford now boast two of the best distance runners in the NCAA. In the mile at the UW Preview Jessica Lawson earned the top collegiate time in the race and the nation’s number one time with a clocking of 4:37.64, she finished fourth overall. At the same meet her teammate Ella Donaghu earned top collegiate honors in the 3,000 with her time of 8:58.31. Donaghu finished second overall at the UW Preview and is the only athlete in the NCAA with a time under 9 minutes.

Scorching Number One’s

Raheem Chambers of Miami is not a name we have heard in a while. He is an outstanding 100-meter sprinter and perhaps the next great sprinter from the country of Jamaica. He transferred from Auburn last season and this past weekend sent a reminder to everyone with his time of 6.57. His time of course ranks him as number one in the NCAA and now perhaps a new threat to win the title.

Waleed Suliman of Ole Miss is certainly one of the contenders for the NCAA title in the mile. He garnered the number one ranking with a blazing time of 3:57:03 to win the mile at the Vanderbilt Invitational. A sub four-minute mile this early in the season is a positive sign for Suliman.

Amazing Jumps

Olivia Gruver of Washington became our first 15-foot performance in the pole vault this season. The star senior leaped to a mark of 15-3 ½. She set the outdoor record last season and will look to add another record to her collection this indoor season.

Deborah Acquah of Texas A&M jumped into the school record book with a great leap of 21’6 ¾ to win the Long Jump on her home track. Acquah broke a 22-year-old record. At the same meet Ellen Ekholm of Kentucky took the national lead in the high jump leaping to a win of 6-0 ¾.

New number 1’s

KC Lightfoot of Baylor is now the national leader in the men’s pole vault. He leaped to a mark of 18 -8 ¼. Khayla Dawson of Indiana is the new number one in the women’s shot put with her leading mark of 57-3 ¾ that she hit this weekend at Vanderbilt Invitational.

Weekend Recap 1

7.15!

(Cambrea Sturgis- North Carolina A&T)

In this seasons first weekly review we had a few special performances but no NCAA records to start the season. We have the debate for over sized track versus a traditional 200-meter track banked or flat. We even have a special freshman debut. With this only being week one of the 2020 season we are off to a great start.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES

Jaylan Mitchell of North Carolina A&T garnered immediate attention after his impressive 60-meter time so early in the season. The senior blasted off a time of 6.61. He is a returning Indoor-All American and someone to keep an eye on along with his teammates.

Cambrea Sturgis made sure that North Carolina A&T had dominated the 60 after her blazing the track with a time 7.15. Sturgis time although an early season number one is an impressive mark, since the winning national time last season was 7.14. Throughout this season there should many more that surpass that time. Sturgis is only a sophomore but had a great freshman campaign. Her and Twanisha Terry of USC should give us great performances throughout the indoor season. 

Nothing is more special than when you run a personal best in your first race of the year. Dan Schaffer of Binghamton did just that running a time of 4:01.51 in the mile to claim the first number one ranking in the mile on the season.

The jumpers lifted off this weekend and two very notable performances were special and impressive. Rayvon Grey of LSU leaped to a mark of 26 feet 4 ½ in the long jump, Clayton Brown of Florida triple jumped to a mark of 54 feet even and Darryl Sullivan of Tennessee jumped to a mark of 7-4 ½ in the high jump. All three are from the SEC Conference and will be favorites to not only compete for a conference title but national as well.

Our next pole vault star is at LSU again this year with junior Lisa Gunnarson who vaulted to a personal best in her season debut with a mark of 14-7. With majority of last season’s All-Americans gone the competition for the title is open and Gunnarson gave a definitive reason why she should be considered.

Our final special performance will come in the weight throw on the women’s side. Avi Bulai who transferred to Ole Miss from Cloud County Community College. Ole Miss has been great in the throws under Connie Smith. Bulai seems to be her next great thrower, her winning mark of 70-7 ¾ is almost a personal record by a foot.

SUPER FRESHMAN

The top freshman of the weekend will go to Langston Jackson of Kentucky. The young star claimed the number one ranking on his home track in the 200 with a time of 20.84. Jackson was overshadowed by the showdown between Taylor Banks of Florida State and Matthew Boling of Georgia. Banks defeated Boling in the 60-meter dash 6.67 to 6.68 but Jackson also competed in the 60 clocking in at 6.63 highlighting his stellar debut as a freshman. Randolph Ross of North Carolina A&T clocked the number one ranking in the nation in the 400 debuting under 46 seconds winning with a time of 45.85.

On the women’s side Jasmine Moore of Georgia is already showing great promise in the jumps. The young star leaped to a mark of 20-11 ¾ in the long jump. Expect more from Moore later this season not only in the long jump but perhaps in her premiere event the Triple Jump.

THE SPECIAL DEBATE

Banked versus over sized. On the official IAAF list, they do not recognize the marks performed on an over sized track. This effects every running event except the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles. The only challenge with that is the over sized track are often a personal favorite of athletes. The 200-meter track whether banked or flat has tight curves which are not kind to taller sprinters or even distance runners. The bank is designed to alleviate that, but you cannot ignore that for a part of the race the sprinters are going up hill and the turns are still tighter than an over sized track. Personally, I do not see the problem with an over sized track. The distance ran is the same and the size of the track should not matter simply the outcome.

Next: A podcast will debut this week, we will do our first post on the transfers that took place this season and what it means.

NCAA Indoor Preview 4: Field Events

(Samantha Noennig-Arizona State)

Completing our preview with a combination of posts including all field events. We will also briefly discuss the relay events with predictions based solely on team depth. I apologize I meant to give the field events a separate preview but was unable to post yesterday so they are combined for today but I think you all will enjoy it just the same. 

JUMPS

Florida took a hit last indoor season and did not live up to the title they have developed as Jumps U. LSU took over the title last season with national titles from Mondo Duplantis and Rayvon Grey and All-American performance from JuVaughn Harrison. Grey returns as the defending champion in the long jump while Harrison returns as the top returning High Jumper based on championship performance and mark. Harrison also won the long jump last outdoor season setting LSU up for a dynamic 1-2 punch.

Duplantis ended his NCAA career early and has turned pro leaving the pole vault to Chris Nilsen of South Dakota as the obvious favorite. Nilsen won the outdoor title and has broken 19 feet over five times. 

In the triple jump another defending champion return in Jordan Scott of Virginia. Chengetayi Mapaya of TCU was third last indoor season but turned the tables on Scott winning the outdoor title. Scott still has proven to be a more consistent high-level performer and had a strong 2019 campaign leading him to be the favorite going into this season.

Jasmyn Steals of Northwestern State is the lone returning champion on the women’s side in the jumping events. There were quite a few graduating seniors who left after strong 2019 seasons signaling the chance for a talented group to come in. Steals will have to deal with Deborah Acquah of Texas A&M who is number two behind her.

The triple jump maybe the best chance we have at seeing a freshman win a NCAA title. The top performance last outdoor season that carries to this season will be from Jasmine Moore at Georgia. The stud freshman had a star-studded outdoor season and high school career that included a national record. Under the tutelage of Petros Kyprianou we may have another four-peat champion in the triple jump from Georgia. Bria Matthews of rival Georgia Tech is the top returnee from last indoor season.

The high jump will have Nicole Greene of North Carolina as the top returnee she is a former NCAA champion from 2018 and will look to reclaim the top spot after finishing 2^nd last outdoor season and missing the podium last indoor season. Keep an eye of Sanaa Barnes of Villanova to challenge her.

The Pole Vault will have a significant change with Arkansas losing its national champion and two other All-Americans in the event that they dominated over the years. Rachel Baxter of Virginia Tech is the top returnee. However there have been a few transfers to Arkansas making this season more intriguing.

THROWS

Both the shot put and weight throw will be crowning new champions. The shot put will still have a defending outdoor champion in Adrian Piperi of Texas. He defeated indoor champion and meet favorite Payton Otterdahl. Jordan Geist of Arizona has been a big name since he arrived at College this may finally be his time to claim the number one ranking.

The top returnee in the weight throw is AJ McFarland of Florida. The Gators are in a rebuild mode with so many athletes either having graduated or turned professionally early. McFarland is one of their few returning All-Americans who is expected to contribute in a big way. McFarland is the clear early favorite.

Samantha Noennig of Arizona State has kept the great throwing tradition of Arizona State alive. After winning the NCAA title in the shot put both indoors and outdoors, Noennig is looking to take her performance to the next level by breaking records. Noebning who is a redshirt junior is the obvious favorite to defend her title.

The weight throw’s top returning athlete is Alyssa Wilson of UCLA. The UCLA Bruins have a strong history of championship throwers. In the past few years the program has been down and has not had the same success they had during the 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s. Expect for Wilson to carry the weight of great expectations well and deliver a NCAA title back to UCLA.

Relays

4x400- Men: Texas A&M, Florida, USC. Women: USC, Texas A&M, Kentucky

DMR- Men: Ole Miss, Wisconsin. Women: Villanova, Michigan, Wisconsin.

It is clear we are headed towards another great NCAA season. All of track and field performs at a higher level because of the Olympic year, look for great performances and new records to fall again.

NCAA Indoor Preview 3: Hurdles/Multi-Events

(Trey Cunningham-Florida State)

Continuing with our indoor preview, this post is about the hurdlers and multi-event athletes. For the indoor season the men will compete in a heptathlon and the women in a pentathlon. There a few returning champions in these events but do not forget it is an Olympic Year, upsets are bound to happen.

Grant Holloway set the world on fire last season. He broke the NCAA record and at the end of a successful season went pro and won the world title. No one will be able to replace that level of success or production. The top returnee is from the other Florida school, Florida State in junior Trey Cunningham. Cunningham broke Holloway’s high school records and will look to perform at the same high level. After finishing third last indoor season and missing the championship meet outdoors Cunningham is finally ready to step into the spotlight.

In the indoor heptathlon we will look to last outdoor season to tell the story. Johannes Erm of Georgia looks to continue the strong multi-event tradition of Georgia, he won the decathlon last outdoor season and earned All-American honors in the indoor season. Erm is looking to garner another national title for his trophy case.

Chanel Brissett of USC is the defending champion in the 60-meter- hurdles and the top returnee from the 100 hurdles last outdoor season. The speedy hurdler will be relied upon to win the Indoor title to help with the team battle between Arkansas and USC. Teammates Anna Cockrell and Mecca McGlaston return to be a challenge along with Tonea Marshall of LSU.

Two names come to mind win considering the Pentathlon. With defending champion out of eligibility the battle will be between Aliyah Whisby of Georgia and Tyra Gittens of Texas A&M. Whisby is the top returnee from last indoor season and Gittens was runner up outdoors in the heptathlon. Whisby is the latest to pick up the multi-event mantle for the women of Georgia. The Bulldogs will look to make a sweep of the multi-events and continue their storied success. Gittens has proven to be quite the field athlete herself performing well in the jumps and throws.

NCAA Indoor Preview 2: Distance

(Weini Kelati-New Mexico)

Here is the second segment of our indoor preview, distance. It will be tough going this indoor season with so many big names and high level talent competing. Expect some great performances and races this season. 

DISTANCE

In the 800 there is major turnover from last season. Bryce Hoppel of Kansas and Marco Arop of Mississippi State have both turned pro in preparation for the Summer Olympics. Devin Dixon who was the star majority of the season. He ran a American collegiate record time of 1:45.27 as a season debut in 2019 and was able to defend his SEC title later in the indoor season. He has fallen short at the championship meet and that is the only piece of hardware he is missing. Expect for Dixon to have learned from last season and convincingly win the NCAA title.

The mile will see the return of a surprise champion in Geordie Beamish of Northern Arizona. The all world distance program specializes at preparing its athlete for championship meets. Beamish stunned the field and favorite Olive Hoare of Wisconsin. Hoare will look to finally add a title to his illustrious career. Yared Nuguse of Notre Dame won the outdoor metric mile and will be a strong factor this indoor season.

The top 3,000 and 5,000 returnee is Joe Klecker of Colorado. Klecker finished 3^rd in the 3k and 2^nd in the 5k last indoor season. He also finished second at the NCAA Cross Country championship this past November. Edwin Kurgat of Iowa State is the man who beat him and will be a threat in either event. It remains to be seen if Klecker will focus on one event or two but after a strong attempt last indoor season we should not be surprised to see him attempt a repeat.

In the women’s 800 Danae Rivers of Penn State returns as defending champion. Rivers had a disappointing showing last outdoor season and did not make the finals. Rivers will likely be eager to defend her title to prove that she has not fallen off. Nia Akins of Penn will be a strong challenger after having a strong 2019 campaign that saw her almost win the outdoor title.

The mile on the women’s side is a wide-open race. With several big names turning to the professional ranks and the previous indoor champion graduating it remains to be seen who would even be competing in the mile come championship time. The top returnee from last indoor season is Carina Viljoen of Arkansas who will be relied upon to continue their dominant team title streak. Also keep an eye on Lotte Black of Rhode Island and Dillon McClintock of Michigan State.

The 3,000- and 5,000-meter races have a bevy of big names. The 3k’s top returnee Taylor Werner of Arkansas will be challenged by the dynamic Champion from New Mexico in Weini Kelati. Kelati competed in both the 3k and 5k last indoor season earning All-American honors in both. Kelati had a better result outdoors where she claimed the 10,000-meter title.  

Both brought home silver medals last indoor season Werner in the 3k and Kelati in the 5k. Alicia Monson of Wisconsin is the returning champion in the 5,000. Monson also competed in both races having clearly better success in the 5k. Dani Jones of Colorado enters the discussion after having won the 5,000 at the Outdoor meet. Now as you can see, a bevy of names to compete for the titles. All with the ability to win.

2020 NCAA Indoor Preview: Sprints

(Trevor Stewart- North Carolina A&T)

Welcome back. We are now in year 2020 a Olympic Year and that means we are in for an exciting season. We have developed a theme of breaking long held NCAA records. Dawn Sowell the legendary sprinter from LSU no longer holds any NCAA records and lost 100-meter school record that had stood since the late 80’s. 

This year I am splitting the preview into parts starting with sprints as to not produce a large post for you to read. This season brings a lot of newness so I will join in and create a new process. With so many stars having graduated or turning to the professional ranks this is a year for new stars. 

With two Florida Gators turning pro early in Grant Holloway and Hakim Sani Brown. Along with super star Divine Oduduru of Texas Tech also turn pro early, a new star sprint star will be born this season. Kasaun James of Florida State is the top returnee in both the 60- and 200-meter dash based on time with personal bests of 6.55 and 20.49. Along with teammate Bryand Rincher Florida State looks to return to their glory days of short sprint domination.

In the 400 Trevor Stewart of North Carolina A&T has a big target on his back. After leading the NCAA for majority of the 2019 outdoor season along with finishing in a close second, he returns as the top guy. The top threat will 400 hurdle star Quincy Hall of South Carolina. Hall is the top returnee from the indoor season with a time of 45.25. A dark horse for this race will be Johnathan Jones of Texas.

On the women’s side the defending 60-meter Indoor Champion in Twanisha Terry of USC returns. She stunned the field with her winning time of 7.14. Her teammate Anglerne Annelus defended her outdoor 200-meter title with a time of 22.16. Annelus did not have a good indoor season and will look to rebound and prove she can dominate indoors as well as out.

The 400 will have another USC defending champion returning in Kaelin Roberts. Roberts missed last outdoor season with an injury and will look to use the indoor season as a reminder to everyone of who she is. Chloe Abbot of Kentucky will be a strong challenger to Roberts reign and is the top returnee from last outdoor season.

The 4x400 relay battle will require more of the season to play out. However for the men expect for the usual cast of characters to come to the front in Texas A&M and Florida. For women, Texas A&M and USC should battle it out with Arkansas as a dark horse.

Our next post will be all about the distance runners.