In this blog post I will preview the women’s NCAA Outdoor
Championship. It has been an incredible year for women’s track and field in all
divisions, but Division 1 in particular. NCAA records have fallen, and times
are being at level we have only seen at the professional championship level.
Like on the men’s side there are several big-time athletes who are not here but
there is still plenty of star power.
SPRINTS/HURDLES
No race in the sprints interest me more than the 100. Which
is a bit of a change for me as my favorite event is the 400. I am curious to
see what time is ran this weekend. So many athletes have run under 11 seconds
and there has been a nice amount that have run under 10.9. The wind has been a
little too friendly all season long and I am curious to what we will get this
weekend.
With that said the 100-meter dash will come down to three
athletes, Julien Alfred of Texas, Kemba Nelson of Oregon, and Favour Ofili of
LSU. Alfred has been the most consistent this outdoor season. Nelson came on
strong this outdoor season closing impressively well at the Pac-12 championships
and again at the Western Regional. She is the only top tier athlete that has
not run under 11 seconds, but she is closed to doing so and performs well at
Championship meets. Ofili is the NCAA record holder in the 200 and proved herself
by winning both the 100 and 200 at the SEC Championships. She is the best
sprinter with the chance to double.
Prediction: Julien Alfred Texas
As I stated Ofili of LSU is the new record holder in the women’s
200 returning the NCAA record back to LSU. She is also the first official sub
22 second runner in NCAA history. Ofili has defeated Abby Steiner Kentucky at
every turn in the 200 even though Steiner is the indoor record holder and champion.
I still believe that Steiner has more in her tank to prove and will use this as
an opportunity to prove herself. Regardless of who wins if there is good weather,
I think we will see a new NCAA record.
Prediction: Abby Steiner Kentucky
The 400 is led by two incredible Jamaican athletes. Charokee
Young of Texas A&M and Stacey Ann Williams of Texas. Young leads the nation
and has the only sub 50 second time in the nation with 49.87 and Williams has
run 50.21. Britton Wilson of Arkansas technically has the number two time with
50.05 but she will be running the 400 hurdles. Young has defeated Williams at
every turn and will look to continue that trend this weekend.
Prediction: Charokee Young Texas A&M
In the 100 hurdles Grace Stark of Florida who was the indoor
champion fell injured at the SEC Championships and she will require surgery. Disappointing
after what seemed to be a promising outdoor season. Alia Armstrong of LSU who
led the nation with a time of 12.33 is still in the field and is favored to
win. Demisha Rowell of Texas Tech and Kaylah Robinson of Texas A&M.
Robinson went toe to toe with Armstrong at the Texas Relays and will look to
challenge her here again.
Prediction: Alia Armstrong LSU
The 400 hurdles is led by a woman who could challenge for
the 400 meter dash open. Britton Wilson has run 50.05 and is having quite the
year. With speed like that she could certainly challenge Sydney McLaughlin’s
NCAA record. Anna Hall of Florida is the only athlete in the field who has been
close to Wilson. However Hall will be busy competing in the Heptathlon as well.
This field may not be able to challenge Wilson to perform her best time and it
may come at the USATF Championships instead.
Prediction: Britton Wilson Arkansas
DISTANCE
The women’s 800 is an open race. No athlete has dipped under
2 minutes this season yet, but two athletes are well on their way. Katy-Ann McDonald
of LSU and Sarah Hendrick of Kennesaw State are currently tied with the top
time of 2:00.98. McDonald comes from a long line of great 800 runners from LSU
and she will certainly be ready to perform. Hendrick is certainly no slouch having
become the Atlantic Sun Conference Champion in both the 800 and 1,500.
Prediction: Sarah Hendrick Kennesaw State
In the 1,500 to ranked Katelyn Touhy of NC State decided to
focus only on the 5,000. That leaves Sintayehu Vissa f Ole Miss who is
currently ranked number two with a time of 4:08.72 as the new number one. She will
have Emily Mackay of Binghamton in the race with her as well. Mackay led the
women’s mile majority of the indoor season and will look to finish her outdoor
season better. Keep an eye out for Julia Heymach of Stanford as well.
Prediction Sintayehu Vissa Ole Miss
In the 5,000 is where Katelyn Touhy of NC State is looking
to shine. The super sophomore is currently ranked number one in the country
with a time of 15:14.61. Touhy has proven to be quite the talent always near
the top in competition. She will be challenged by Abby Nichols of Colorado. Colorado
like NC State has proven to be exceptional at developing distance talent.
Prediction: Katelyn Touhy NC State
The 10,000 will be ran without the top two ranked runners in
the nation. Most notably Abby Nichols of Colorado who is number chose to run
the 5,000 instead. The remaining top entrants are Emily Covert of Colorado and
Lauren Gregory of Arkansas. Another great race between two strong programs. Both
athletes will also be competing in the 5,000 and a lot is being asked of them. Covert
is a freshman and will have to learn on the fly. Gregory has been here before. Mercy
Chalangat may not be ranked in the top five but she will be among the elite in
this race and could potentially be the champion.
Prediction: Lauren Gregory Arkansas
Courtney Wayment of BYU has had an incredible career for the
Cougars. She has national titles in her trophy case, and this will likely be
another. Wayment leads the nation with a time of 9:26.88. After a phenomenal
race last year between her and three other challengers that saw her finish
fourth victory is clearly on her mind this time around. Ceili McCabe of West Virginia
is the second ranked runner in this field and potentially the only challenge to
Wayment.
Prediction: Courtney Wayment BYU
JUMPS
The High Jump has been dominated by Lamara Distin of Texas
A&M all season long. She leads the NCAA with a mark of 6 feet 5 ½ inches (1.97m).
Distin’s former teammate Tyra Gittens now of Texas is her biggest challenger.
Gittens was formally a heptathlon and jump star, now at Texas she has focused
on being a top tier jumper. Her mark of 6 feet 4 ¾ inches (1.95m) is ranked
number two. Gittens has national titles in her trophy case and knows how to
show up at the National Championship. This will be quite interesting to see.
Prediction: Lamara Distin Texas A&M
Lisa Gunnarson of LSU and Gabriela Leon of Louisville are
currently the only two athletes who have surpassed 15 feet this season in the
Pole Vault. Gunnarson is the defending champion and clearly has a big target on
her back. However, she has already been defeated this outdoor season finishing
2nd at the SEC Championships. Outside of the Texas Relays Leon has
not lost including an impressive ACC Conference title.
Prediction: Gabriela Leon Louisville
Jasmine Moore of Florida claimed the NCAA title in both long
jump and triple jump during the indoor season. She has broken the indoor record
in the triple jump indoors and is currently ranked number one in that event. In
the long jump she has found a much greater challenge courtesy of Monae Nichols
of Texas Tech who leaped to an incredible mark of 22 feet 10 ½ inches (6.97m). Deborah
Acquah of Texas A&M is not to far behind with 22 feet 7 ¼ inches (6.89m).
The only challenge in the triple jump for Moore is her teammate and former
number one Natricia Hooper with 46 feet 6 ¼ inches (14.18m). Moore will have
her hands full and if anyone can complete the double, it’s her.
Long Jump Prediction: Monae Nichols Texas Tech; Triple Jump
Prediction: Jasmine Moore Florida
THROWS
Jorinde Van Klinken of Arizona State is in a similar position
as Moore. Van Klinken at one point was the number one ranked athlete in both
the shot put and discus. In the shot-put Adelaide Aquilla of Ohio State is the
defending champion and is having an impressive outdoor season. Aquilla had a
personal best throw at the Eastern Regional with a mark of 62 feet 7 ¾ inches
(19.09m). Van Klinken is ranked second in the nation with a throw of 61 feet 6 ¼
inches (18.75m) achieved at the Western Regional. Van Klinken already beat
Aquilla indoors to claim the Indoor title. In the discus throw she has been the
overwhelming favorite with a mark of 212 feet 5 inches (64.75m). No other
athlete has thrown over 200 feet this season.
Shot Put & Discus Prediction: Jorinde Van Klinken
Camryn Rogers of California is the returning NCAA Champion
and NCAA record holder. She has continued her impressive performances leading
the way this season with a mark of 250 feet 10 inches (76.46m). Rogers has not
had a challenge since prior to the pandemic. Alyssa Wilson of Texas State is
having an impressive season but defeating Rogers will be a tall order.
Prediction: Camryn Rogers California
The top two javelin throwers in Ashton Riner of BYU and Madison
Wiltrout of North Carolina have been the performance list leaders for majority
of the season. Riner leads the country with a mark of 198 feet even (60.36m).
There is no defending champion in this field leaving it open to outside of
these two outstanding throwers.
Prediction: Ashton Riner BYU
Heptathlon
Anna Hall of Florida has made the most of her transfer from
Georgia. Having a record setting indoor season and now have an equally
impressive outdoor season. Hall currently leads the way with a total of 6,458
points. Kristine Blazevica of Texas is the closest challenge with a total of
6,064 points. Hall will also be challenged by also running the 400 hurdles and
4x400 relay. How much will she have in the tank come the final day.
Prediction: Anna Hall Florida
RELAYS
The 4x100 relay will be a fast race. Texas with their depth
at sprinting has all the makings of a NCAA record quartet. You also cannot
ignore Kentucky or LSU. Texas has been the most consistent all year long. Also,
Oregon is coming on strong and will have the home crowd to support them.
Prediction: Texas
The 4x400 relay is the most likely race to have a new NCAA
record. The 4x400 relay all-time lists took a hit this year indoors and
outdoors. I have never seen so many sub 3:26 teams in a year and we are likely
in for an incredible finale. Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. Four
incredible quartets.
Prediction: Kentucky
TEAM TITLE: In short, Texas. This is reminiscent of Bev
Kearney’s 2004 team, except better. I think Coach Floréal will have his team
sharp and ready. Texas.
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