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.