SPRINT DOUBLE?!!
The Championship meet is finally here!! In this post we are
going to preview what looks to be a fantastic sprint competition. We have seen
some all-time best performances and a national record. Our theme has been
breaking long time decade old records and I expect for that to continue.
Women’s Preview
100 Meter Dash
On the women’s side Twanisha Terry of USC has been one of
the few names mentioned all season long. Terry has been a top tier performer
since her freshman year when she dipped under 11 seconds with a 10.99 performance.
She even claimed the 2019 indoor 60-meter title. What is missing is that
elusive 100-meter title and she is excellent position to get it. With a season
best of 10.89 ran at the western regional qualifying meet, she became the
fourth fastest in NCAA history.
Chasing her will be Alabama’s Tamara Clark who led the 100-meter
rankings for a good portion of the year and impressed with her time of 10.98.
Kemba Nelson of Oregon is also a name we cannot forget after she set an NCAA 60
meter record this past indoor season defeating Terry. Also, there is North
Carolina A&T’s Cambrea Sturgis.
Pick: Twanisha Terry USC
200 Meter Dash
Clark of Alabama has become the favorite to win the event
after news of Abby Steiner’s injury came to light. There was concern about
Steiner of Kentucky after the SEC Championship. She was noticeably absent. Then
she was unable to go under 23 seconds at regionals and she then was unable to
qualify. Clark on the other hand continued her torrid streak with her time of
22.13. Although defending champion Angelerne Annelus of USC has qualified, she
has not been a threat all season. Sturgis of A&T remains the toughest
threat to Clark winning the title with her second ranked time of 22.26. Clark
pulled off the impressive double at the SEC meet, she is certainly capable of
completing the double at nationals.
Pick: Tamara Clark Alabama
400 Meter Dash
This race has been all about Athing Mu. She has gone under
50 seconds twice in one season, something no other collegiate athlete has ever
done. Her NCAA record time of 49.68 gives her more than a second lead on the
entire field and in the sprints that is saying something. Kaelin Roberts was
the last person to defeat Mu, indoors in the 400 for the NCAA title. However, Roberts
has not looked as if she is a threat to Mu at all this outdoor season. She has run
50.83 and that is a solid time, but that pales in comparison to 49.68. USC can however
hang their hat on the fact that they have qualified five athletes individually for
this race, which is an impressive feat and proof of the quality of their
program. Stacey Ann Williams of Texas is carrying their flag and she is
currently ranked 2nd with a time of 50.34.
Pick: Athing Mu Texas A&M
100 Hurdles
Tonea Marshall of LSU has dominated this event since the
start of the outdoor season. She has not relinquished the top ranking not one
time. At regionals she drew closer to the NCAA record with her number one time
of 12.44. 12.39 is the NCAA record and a time I think Marshall could legitimately
beat. Ackera Nugent of Baylor had the second fastest qualifying time with 12.76
but I do not think she has the technique to keep up. Nugent will eventually take
over and give us the same type of performances that Marshall has given.
Pick: Tonea Marshall LSU
400 Hurdles
Anna Cockrell of USC has been the main figure in this event
all season long. Currently Andranette Knight of Virginia is the top qualifier
with a time of 56.07. Cockrell, however, has a season personal best of 54.77.
Knight is certainly capable of pushing Cockrell, but I think with nearly a second
lead on personal best ran this season it is far to say that Cockrell is the
obvious favorite to defend her national title.
Pick: Anna Cockrell USC
Men’s Preview
100 Meter Dash
JoVaughn Martin from 100-meter University also known as
Florida State is the latest 100-meter sprint king to lead the Noles. Since his
eye popping 9.94 ran at the Florida Relays in March, Martin has yet to
relinquish his 100-meter crown. He was the only athlete in either region to dip
under 10 seconds in qualifying with his mark of 9.97. Challenging Martin will
be Micah Williams of Oregon, who will be competing on his home track. There is
also Terrance Laird of LSU who has already gone 9.80 at the SEC Championships
but it was wind aided. Both Laird and Williams clocked 10.0 to qualify and I
think Laird is certainly capable of claiming the title.
Pick: Terrance Laird LSU
200 Meter Dash
Laird of LSU has been on fire all season long. If it isn’t
his eye popping 19.81 performance at the Texas Relays, it would be his ability to
anchor the LSU 4x100 relay. Laird has run under 20 seconds four times already
this season including a 19.94 ran at the eastern regional qualifying meet. Joseph
Fahnbulleh took Laird to the line and clocked a 19.94 as well. Laird however
has been to consistently great and I think will complete an impressive double.
Pick: Terrance Laird LSU
400 Meter Dash
Noah Williams of LSU stunned the country when he won the
indoor title. No one is surprised that he has been number one all outdoor
season with his personal best mark of 44.30. He will face a stiff challenge
from Trevor Stewart and Randolph Ross of North Carolina A&T. Both Stewart
and Ross has gone under 45 seconds with their qualifying marks of 44.59 and
44.86. Stewart has a personal best of 44.25 ran in 2019. There is also Bryce
Deadmon of Texas A&M who was the top qualifier with a time of 44.57. In a
championship race Williams has not been defeated all season and I think that
streak continues.
Pick: Noah Williams LSU
110 Meter Hurdles
Robert Dunning of Alabama took the reigns as the nation’s
top high hurdler at the SEC Championship when he won with a time of 13.15. Damion
Thomas of LSU led early in the season with his time of 13.22 but Dunning has
been on fire. Dunning followed the SEC Championship up with a time of 13.24 to garner
top qualifying honors. Thomas was only able to qualify with a time of 13.60
proving that the title of favorite has shifted from him to Dunning.
Pick: Robert Dunning Alabama
400 Meter Hurdles
The regional meet led to an explosion of great times, a
total of 11 men dipped under 50 seconds, and 4 men dipped un 49 seconds. They
were led by Oklahoma junior Isaiah Levingston. Levingston ran a dominant race at
the western region qualifying meet, clocking a national leading time of 48.58.
Levingston was the Big 12 champion and before the regional meet he was ranked
fourth in the nation. Levingston has strong technique and great endurance, all
the skills of great 400 hurdler. He will face challenges from Leonardo Ledgister
of Texas A&M Corpus Christi (48.79), Moitalel Mpoke of Texas A&M
(48.81) and true freshman Sean Burrell of LSU (48.86).
Pick: Moitalel Mpoke Texas A&M
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