Last weekend is perhaps the last regular season weekend we
see new number one performances. With conference Championship weekend coming at
the end of February it is likely many top tier programs will be holding their
athletes back to prepare for the post season. Regarding this weekend, we were
treated to 11 new number one marks and times. Two of those times were NCAA
records. In this post we will recap the weekend by and look ahead to the post
season.
Sprints/Hurdles
Women
Favour Ofili of LSU was the preseason favorite to win the
200 and so far this season she has done everything needed to cement that
status. This past weekend at the Tyson Invitational the junior clocked a time
of 22.36 to win. She is now the number two performer all time behind Abby
Steiner. Ofili already has a sub 22 performance under her belt all she needs is
a national title and it looks like she will get it.
Men
Tarsis Orogot of Alabama by way of Uganda is having a great
sophomore season. At the Don Kirby Invite he claimed the 200 meter title by
winning it with a time of 20.20. His time ranks his 7th all-time in
NCAA history. What makes that mark standout is not the all-time ranking but the
fact that the mark is his best time ever. Orogot is young and with a time like
that it is clear he is gearing up for a big season post-season and a great
outdoor season. Keep an eye out for him, I doubt this will be the last we hear
of him.
In the hurdles is perhaps one of the biggest stories of the
weekend. Cordell Pinch of Division 2 Pittsburgh State claimed the nation’s
fastest time winning the 60 hurdles on his home track with a time of 7.50. His
mark is the new Division 2 national record and the number one ranking among all
collegians. Pinch was a division 1 athlete competing for Kansas but has found a
new home at Pittsburgh State.
Distance
Women
Roisin Willis of Stanford was a highly touted recruit and
was expected to make major noise her freshman year. I do not think we expected
this though. Willis competed at the Badgers Windy City Invite and claimed the
800 meter title with a time of 1:59.95. Willis is second all-time behind only
Athing Mu. She has been a record breaker for a long time so this certainly will
not be the last time.
Katelyn Touhy has been perhaps the most dominant distance
runner in the NCAA in quite some time. After this weekend she now has the top
time in the mile, 3k and 5k. What will she do, remains to be seen. At the
Millrose Games this past weekend Touhy hopped into the 3,000-meter run and
clocked a NCAA record with a time of 8:35.20 to finish third overall. Competing
against the professionals clearly brought out the best in the talented
sophomore.
Men
Sam Austin of Florida made his name known in a big way. At
the Tyson Invitational he defeated a strong field to claim the 800 meter title
with a time of 1:46.06. Without any conversions he has the top time in the
nation. This was not on anyone’s radar this season, we know he has talent but
clearly the coaching staff at Florida has been developing him well. His time is
special, and I look forward to seeing what more he’ll do later on this season.
At Boston University they put on a show in the men’s mile.
So many heats of the mile was geared to setting a record for the most sub 4 minute
miles in a single competition. The previous record was 27, they smashed that at
Boston with a total of 52 sub 4 minute miles. The most stunning came from sophomore
Anass Essayi of South Carolina. Essayi was the lone Carolinian in the field and
competed in the toughest heat, the first one. In his heat were some top tier
professionals and he beat all of them except one. He finished in a close second
with a time of 3:50.46. His time is number two all-time and puts his squarely
in the driver’s seat for the men’s mile.
JUMPS
Women
Lamara Distin of Texas A&M continues to rearrange the
record books. At the Tiger Paw Invite at Clemson University the senior leaped
to a winning mark of 6 feet 5 ½ inches (1.97m). She is now tied for number
three all-time. Distin has been a consistently high performer since her arrival
at Texas A&M. I do not expect for that slow down, I expect for to continue
to chase the indoor record as well as the outdoor record.
In the long jump Florida junior Jasmine Moore had the NCAA
lead for a moment. Out west at the Don Kirby Invite Alysah Hickey of Oregon
leaped to a new national led and the meet win with a mark of 22 feet 3 ½ inches
(6.79m). Since Coach Robert Johnson left the program, I wondered if Oregon would
be able to keep their jumpers performing at a high level, and here is the
proof.
Men
Jeremiah Davis of Florida State is having a spectacular
year. The junior leaped to a new personal best this weekend at the Don Kirby
Invitational. His mark of 27 feet 2 inches further cements his stranglehold of
the top long jump mark in the country. What perhaps makes the mark even more
impressive is that was on his first and only jump. He jumped once and passed on
every other opportunity. It leaves me wondering what else could he do?
Throws
Women
Jorinde Van Klinken has been mentioned on this blog many
times before and hear she is again. Van Klinken is no stranger to a number one
ranking but a NCAA record to match that number one ranking. Well that is new,
Van Klinken was dominant at the Don Kirby Invitational launching a throw of 64
feet 2 ½ inches (19.57m) to claim the shot put title. Van Klinken’s transfer to
Oregon has clearly been going well and perhaps she will improve on her new NCAA
record later this season.
TEAM TITLE PICTURE
The team battle is starting to clear up. We recognize how
strong Arkansas is with their impressive 400-meter depth. Arkansas has five
athletes in the top 10 nationally. They have so many quality 400 runners they
can run two relays at nationals and both will score. They have a great group of
hurdlers, vaulters and of course distance runners. This team will be hard to beat.
On the men’s side Washington similarly presents strong depth
but, in their case, it is the mile. The Huskies have four in the top 10
nationally. Florida proved this weekend that their team will be formidable and
so has Alabama and USC. The men’s team title picture is less clear but you
cannot ignore the strength of Washington.
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