(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 2nd 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.
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