SPRINTS/HURDLES
Women
100- Julien Alfred of Texas winning here had to be the least
surprising performance of the meet. A meet where there were some upsets, this
event seemed one the least likely. Alfred was on her home track having an
incredible year. Her winning time, although wind-aided was still quite special in
10.72. She dominated from the start and with her speed as well as strength she was able
to pull away from the field.
200- Alfred of Texas was again dominant here with a winning
wind-aided time of 21.73. Ole Miss start McKenize Long was the closest anyone
got to Alfred with her runner-up time of 21.88. This completed Alfred’s first 200-meter
NCAA title and the first double in a while. If this is Alfred’s final season,
she has had an incredible career.
400- Neither the defending champion, Talitha Diggs of
Florida, or the NCAA record holder, Britton Wilson, claimed the NCAA title.
Texas took the title here again proving their sprint dominance. Rhasidat
Adeleke a multi-talented sprinter clocked a meet record 49.20 in the 400. She
almost eclipsed Wilson’s NCAA record of 49.13. It seems for Wilson the 400
meter- 400 hurdle double may have been to much. She finished in second with a
time of 49.64. Cheers to Adeleke for also breaking the Irish National Record
yet again.
100 Hurdles- What an event this has been all season. Ackera
Nugent of Arkansas, Masai Russell of Kentucky and defending champion Alia Armstrong
of LSU. All three were capable of winning and it would come down to who made
the fewest mistakes and followed through with their technique throughout the entire
race. Nugent was the one. Nugent’s race was flawless, using her incredible
speed she powered to a time of 12.25. Her time was wind-aided but it is the
fastest time ever regardless of conditions. Nugent a rising star should be a
name we here more of later this season as she attempts to make the Jamaican
National team.
400 Hurdles- This was supposed to be another race Wilson had
in the bag. Even though the events are 30 minutes from each other, she still
attempted a grueling double. She was clearly out of gas and completing the
double was perhaps too much. The star finished seventh in 55.92. Savannah
Sutherland of Michigan by way of Canada found her way across the line first.
Using not only good technique but strong endurance to claim the title in a
personal best time of 54.45, just ahead of Masai Russell who clocked in at
54.66. I am sure we have not heard the last of any of these ladies but especially
Wilson. She will have a decision to make when it comes to making Team USA.
4x100 Relay- Texas was simply sensational this weekend. The
moved the baton swiftly even without perfect passing. The ran the NCAA record
in the semi-finals with a time of 41.55. Their time in the finals was 41.60. Their
team consisted of Julien Alfred, Ezinne Abba, Rhasidat Adeleke and Kevona Davis
on anchor.
4x400 Relay- Arkansas had the most depth in the 400 in NCAA
history. The won the NCAA title here without Britton Wilson who was likely
still exhausted after that grueling 400-400 hurdle attempt. The Razorbacks ran
a time of 3:24.05 to claim the title. They won the race by more than two
seconds and answered every challenge. Their team consisted of Paris Peoples,
Joanne Reid, Nickisha Pryce, and Rosey Effiong.
Men
100- This race became more open once Terrance Jones of Texas
Tech failed to qualify. PJ Austin of Florida entered the race as the fastest
qualifier after having 9.89 in the semi-final round, his reason was that he was
just trying to qualify. That I understand because these guys were burning up
the track. In the finals Austin would finish fifth with a time of 9.97. It was
Courtney Lindsey of Texas Tech who claimed the title of lane 8 maintaining a
strong finish to 9.89. It was a close race with seven men under 10 seconds.
200- Udodi Onwuzurike of Stanford continued his impressive
season. After running a NCAA leading 19.76 in the semi-finals, he came back to
win the title in 19.84. His time was wind-legal and one of four under 20
seconds. The final here was also close with Lindsey in second with 19.86, his
Texas Tech teammate Terrance Jones with 19.87 and Florida’s Robert Gregory in
fourth with 19.89. Jones made a nice comeback after missing the 100 and to see
all four run not only under 20 seconds but under 19.9.
400- This event ended with a surprise winner as well. Ryan
Willie of Florida entered as the favorite after winning the SEC title and
leading the NCAA with a time of 44.28. In the final he found himself surprisingly
beaten by teammate Emmanuel Bamidele who ran 44.24 to Willie’s 44.25. Running
out lane 8 clearly did not deter him and led to the 1-2 finish in the men’s 400
for the first time since 19.88. Elija Godwin of Georgia was injured during the
4x100 relay and did not compete in the final. The Gators got another two points
from JeVaughn Powell who finished in 7th.
110 Hurdles- Phillip Lemonius of Arkansas got the attention
of everyone with his semi-final performance where he clocked a time of 13.28 to
become the top qualifier. He vaulted to the top of the favorites list and with
Arkansas deep in the team title hunt it was to be expected. Lemonius lived up to
the hype winning the NCAA title in a wind-legal time of 13.24. His time is the
fastest in the NCAA this season and performed at the right time. Lemonius is a
junior by way of Jamaica and he like Nugent will have a tough task making team
Jamaica for the World Championships. I fully expect for Lemonius to return next
season as the heavy favorite.
400 Hurdles- Things began with a bang in the semi-finals.
Top hurdler Ayden Owens did not make the final. This left him out of the final
day all together since he did not compete in the decathlon. This left the field
open. Chris Robinson of Alabama took full advantage. The talented junior ran a
strong race throughout culminating with him leading the last few hurdles coming
down the stretch. He clocked the best time of the NCAA season with 48.12 to
mark himself the undisputed number one. Robinson was apart of Alabama’s 1-2 performance
with Corde Long in second with 48.53.
4x100 Relay- We thought that Texas Tech had pulled off the
upset and joined the sub 38 second club which had become just Florida and LSU.
Their time of 37.93 shined across my screen and I was stunned. Unfortunately,
it was not to be. The Red Raiders were disqualified for a handoff outside the
zone and the LSU Tigers were named national champions with a time of 38.06.
Florida was third in 38.26. LSU’s team had been hot all year long. Brandon
Hicklin, Dorian Camel, De’Marcus Fleming and Godson Oghenebrume rounded out
their strong quartet.
4x400 Relay- Of course it would come down to the 4x400
relay. The Gators and the 4x400 just seem to go together nicely. With it being
the final event their was only five points between the Gators and the Arkansas
Razorbacks. All they needed was to win and for the Razorbacks to finish 5th
or worse. The Gators battled and led Arizona State throughout the race. It came
down to the final leg and Ryan Willie would not be passed. The Gators finished
with an NCAA record time of 2:57.74. The Sun Devils would finish second in
2:57.78. Arkansas finished in a disappointing eighth place with a time of
3:03.66. The Gators would claim their 6th NCAA Outdoor team title.
DISTANCE
Women
800- Indoor champion and true freshman Roisin Willis of
Stanford has been absent from the spotlight. Not for lack of competing but due
to the bright light emitting from LSU’s Michaela Rose. She has run under 2 minutes
3 times this season. Her third time came this past weekend with a winning time
of 1:59.73. She has been consistent all outdoor season and has no losses. With
a personal best of 1:59.08, I am sure the super sophomore will be wowing us more
in this season, and she hopes to make Team USA for the World Championships.
1,500- With Katelyn Touhy of NC State in this race the
headlines and predictions all fell her way. Touhy however did not have a good
championship, she finished seventh here and did not show for the 5,000. A surprise
winner in Maia Ramsden of Harvard took the crown. The sophomore ran a personal
best race of 4:08.60 to claim the title. Ramsden was born in Ethiopia and
competes for New Zealand. Ramsden was apart of the impressive weekend Harvard
had at the NCAA Championships.
5,000/10,000- As I previously stated Touhy did not show here
in the 5,000 leaving Parker Valby of Florida and Everlyn Kemboi of Utah Valley
to focus on each other. Kemboi had a tough weekend and on Thursday night she
claimed the crowned in the 10,000 with a time of 32:39.08. Kemboi came back to
complete the double. Valby’s fresher legs helped to her outrun Kemboi and avoid
a finishing kick. Valby claims her first NCAA title with a time of 15:30.57.
She won by exactly nine seconds with Kemboi clocking in at 15:39.57 to for
second. Two standout performances. I give extra credit to Kemboi for trying
such a tough double especially when she dominated the last few laps of the
10,000 with Mercy Chelangat of Alabama giving chase.
3,000 Steeplechase- Another race where the favorite did not come
out as the victor. It was Olivia Markezich of Notre Dame. She did not enter the
meet as a favorite, but her ACC title proved that she is certainly a gamer. It
took a personal best time of 9:25.03 to outduel Greta Karinauskaite of CBU who the
favorite was going in. Markezich of Notre Dame is another positive example of
the strong program at Notre Dame that has been built. Just a junior, may we see
her come back and do it again, let us hope.
Men
800- Yuzuf Bizimana of Texas was the indoor champion and
entered the meet as the favorite. True freshman Will Sumner of Georgia did not
get the message. Sumner had quite the high school career as not only an 800
runner but also as a 400 runner. His speed is incredible and was on full display.
Sumner led at the break with his first lap timed at 53.12. He ran a final lap
of 51.15 to a winning 800 time of 1:44.26. His time is the second fastest in
meet history and it is clear he has a bright future ahead of him.
1,500- One of the top pre meet favorites was defending
champion Joe Waskom of Washington. Waskom did run a great race but finished in
second to a surprise. His teammate and one of Washington’s talented milers, sophomore
Nathan Green. Green clocked a winning time of 3:42.78. This gave Washington a
1-2 finish. In the field only one senior in the top eight indicating that there
will be more great races like this one for years to come.
5,000/10,000- Ky Robinson of Stanford took over the lead in
the 5k race with two laps to go. The last two laps it was all him and he never
let up. Robinson clocked in at 14:04.77 to win the 5k. Not a superstar time but
still a great time and performance. Robinson is one of the five athletes that
Stanford brought to the meet, and he certainly made his appearance felt winning
his second NCAA title of the weekend completing an impressive double.
The 5k was on Friday night but Wednesday night was when we knew
that he was different animal. He claimed the 10,000-meter run or 10k with a
time of 28:10.96. He pushed towards the front of the pack and was making his
presence known throughout the race. The last two laps is where he properly
timed it and made his move. Finishing second was his teammate Charles Hicks
giving Stanford a 1-2 finish, 18 team points.
3,000 Steeplechase- Defending champion Duncan Hamilton of
Montana State ran a solid race to finish with a time of 8:32.18. Unfortunately,
that was only good enough for second. Kenneth Rooks of BYU took the lead from
Hamilton with a little over 2 laps to go. His finishing kick was too much for
Hamilton who led majority of the race. BYU has become quite the distance power
and Rooks adds to the their growing championship tradition.
JUMPS
Women
High Jump- I thought I would be coming to you to say that
Lamara Distin of Texas A&M has done it again, another NCAA title. That
would not be the case, Distin was only able to achieve a mark of 6 fee t1 ½ inches
(1.87m) for a second-place finish. It was a name not mentioned here before,
Charity Griffith of Ball State University. Griffith used a personal best
performance of 6 feet 4 inches (1.93m) to claim the NCAA title.
Pole Vault- If you are noticing a theme of not only my
predictions being wrong for this meet but all pre meet favorites struggled you
would be right to notice. Nastassja Campbell of Washington was another favorite
who finished second with her mark of 14 feet 7 ¼ inches (4.45m). She loss the competition
due to the number of attempts due to the number of attempts it took to complete
a height. Julia Fixsen of Virginia Tech took less attempts to clear the same height
to win the NCAA title. It took Campbell three and Fixsen one.
Long Jump- The favorites struggling continued here in the
long jump. Defending Champion Jasmine Moore did not have her best performance
here. After jumping 23 feet indoors she finished her with a jump of 21 feet 10 ¼
inches (6.66m) for third overall. Ackelia Smith of Texas refused to lose on her
home track. The talented sophomore by way of Jamaica leaped to a mark of 22
feet 7 inches (6.88m). Smith has been in the shadow a little to Moore but this
outdoor season she has held the top mark all year long and an NCAA title is
just the icing on the cake.
Triple Jump- Moore would rebound her in a big way. On her
second attempt Moore would break the NCAA Meet and Collegiate record with her
winning mark of 48 feet 6 inches (14.78m). Smith was a close second with a mark
of 47 feet 8 ½ inches (14.54m). Moore has won every championship meet as a
Gator in the Triple Jump. She still has another year of eligibility. Will she
return is the big question, especially after we all expect her to make Team USA
this summer.
Men
High Jump- Vernon Turner of Oklahoma was another pre-meet
favorite where things did not go his way. Turner finished second with a jump of
7 feet 5 ¼ inches (2.27m). It took him three attempts to clear the previous
height of 7 feet 4 ¼ inches (2.24m). Romaine Beckford of South Florida by way
of Jamaica cleared the same height but only took two attempts to clear the
previous height.
Pole Vault- Yet again another pre-meet favorite faulters.
Sondre Guttormsen of Princeton has been having quite the career. To my shock
and more than likely to the many of you the dominant vaulter finished in 6th
with a mark of 18 feet 4 ½ inches (5.60m). It was a junior from South Alabama,
Kyle Rademeyer who leaped to 18 feet 8 ¼ inches (5.70m) to claim the NCAA
title.
Long Jump- Carey McLeod seems to no one when show up. The
star from Arkansas again claimed the NCAA title. His winning mark was 27 feet 1
¼ inches (8.26m), performed on his first jump. He took the lead from the start
and never relinquished it. Wayne Pinnock his younger superstar teammate did
enter as the favorite and finished in second with a mark of 26 feet 9 inches
(8.15m).
Triple Jump- Jaydon Hibbert of Arkansas is having a true sensational
season, not just as a freshman but period. Hibbert leaped to a mark of 57 feet
7 ½ inches (17.56m). He hit that mark on his first attempt. He only jumped once
more after that and did not attempt for the rest of the meet. He ended a truly
remarkable season and big way.
THROWS
Hammer- Jordan Geist of Arizona was the pre-meet favorite
and threw a personal best mark of 249 feet 3 inches (75.97m). It was however not
enough as he to left as a favorite with no title. It was Harvard sophomore
Kenneth Ikeji with his winning mark of 255 feet 8 inches (77.92m) that claimed
the title. His mark was also a collegiate best.
Javelin- Tzuriel Pedigo was the champion in this event in
2021 but he finished third last outdoor season and has not been a list of
preseason or pre-meet favorites. Shame on me as he proved to still have that
Championship spark. The junior launched the javelin to a personal best mark of
261 feet 9 inches (79.79m). He was 10 big team points for the Tigers and a
second national title in his trophy case. It is time he gets more recognition
after a performance like that.
Shot Put- Geist shook off that third place finish in the
hammer and delivered in the Shot Put. The favorite entering the meet was able
to add a much-needed national title to his trophy case. His winning throw of 69
feet 1 ¼ inches (21.06m) was completed on his final throw securing his victory.
Turner Washington who won the event in 2021 finished in second with a throw of 69
feet ½ inch, a season’s best mark.
Discus- Washington came back from Wednesday’s showing where
he finished second to claim the Discus title with a celebration that nearly got
him disqualified. I do not think it should have come to that his celebration is
what the sport needs as he was clearly relieved and excited especially after
having been second or third in a lot of champion meets recently. His winning
throw was 217 feet 3 inches (66.22m), a season’s best.
MULTI-
Heptathlon- In the heptathlon it was true freshman Pippi
Lotta Enok of Oklahoma was one four athletes over 6,000 points. She claimed
victory in 2 of 7 events and score enough points, 6165, to win the heptathlon
as freshman. Her very first NCAA Championships in the Heptathlon results in a
national title. Only place to go from here is up.
Decathlon- In the men’s decathlon it was a 1-2 battle all
the way. Pre-meet favorite and defending champion Kyle Garland of Georgia
versus home track favorite Leo Neugebauer of Texas who has been chasing Garland
his whole career. Garland has broken the NCAA record been at the top of the
list for so long it is hard to fathom that he was defeated this weekend by Neugebauer
who not only beat him to win the NCAA title but to also break the Collegiate/NCAA
meet record that Garland once held. Neugebauer scored a total of 8,836 points!
He claimed victory in 3 of 10 events but finished in the top 3 in 6 other
events. Only in the 1,500 is where he finished outside of the top 3 by
finishing 17th. What a performance!
TEAM TITLE
Women- Arkansas had a few things not go their way. Seeing Wilson
faulter in two events she was favored to win hurt their chances. They still
claimed two championship wins with the 100 hurdles with Ackera Nugent and the
4x400 relay. However, Texas just had way too much this weekend. They scored 83
points without their 4x400 relay which was disqualified in the finals. To be
fair it is likely they would have won it with their full team. Winning the 100,
200, 400, Long Jump and 400 relay was 50 points just with those performances.
Four athletes qualified into the finals in the 100 and three in the 200. What
an explosive group that never let up.
Men- What a meet. Florida was the defending champion but did
not seem to have enough pieces to win the NCAA title. It felt as if it was Arkansas’s
meet to lose. The Razorbacks first mishap came when Ayden Owens-Delereme did
not qualify to the finals nor did their 4x100 meter relay squad. They did get
big performances from their jumpers.
On the final day Florida just seem to fight for every point.
Going 1-2 in the 400 was totally not expected and along with a 7th
place finish they scored 20 points alone in one event. There was a
disqualification in the 4x100 relay moving them from third to second. They also
refused to relinquish their hold on the 4x400 relay and found a way to break
their NCAA record again and maintain their hold on it nationally. 57 Points was
enough to crown the Gators champions again. Back-to-Back!
