246'11!!!!!
We have finally arrived in May. Expect for not only the
weather to heat up but the track as well. As if the times and marks have not
been hot enough. Again, this season we have another NCAA record to have fallen
and the team title picture still coming into view. With this being a World
Championship year so many talented athletes have sat in wait and have delayed
their outdoor seasons. This makes things even more interesting as the performances
have already been spectacular. This post I will as usual, review the new number
one rankings, which there were only six and discuss the post season which is
now here.
SPRINTS
Women
Julien Alfred of Texas is having a most remarkable year.
Keep in mind this is after an impressive career before this season even
started. She has broken the NCAA records in the short sprints’ multiple times
this past indoor season and started the outdoor season with a bang. On her home
track this past weekend at the Texas Invitational Alfred blasted off to a time
of 10.95 to win the 100-meter dash. Her time is the fastest wind-legal time in
the country. This gives her number one marks in both 100 and 200.
Men
The lone sprint performance comes from a junior college
athlete. James Dadzie of Western Texas College decided to go up against top
sprint talent at Texas Tech’s Corky Crofoot Shootout. Dadzie a freshman from
Ghana blazed the track with a time of 19.79. Although at altitude the time is
impressive and his introduction to the track scene. We will likely not be
hearing the last of him. Cortney Lindsay of Texas Tech finished second in that
race and now has the top wind-legal time in Division 1 with a time of 19.94.
JUMPS
Defending champion in the men’s pole vault Sondre Guttormsen
of Princeton competed for just the second time this weekend at the Texas Invitational.
The star vaulter improved upon his season’s best to leap to a new national
leading mark of 19 feet 4 ¼ inches (5.90m). Guttormsen appears to clearly
rounding into championship shape right before the post season. Expect more
number one marks from him.
In the triple jump true freshman Jaydon Hibbert of Arkansas
by way of Jamaica has continues to have an impressive season. Hibbert competed
at the LSU Invitational this past weekend against a strong field of jumpers. He
seemed to be unphased by their great marks by producing a top one of his own.
The true freshman leaped to a mark of 56 feet 4 inches (17.17m). Every chance
he gets he steps up to the challenge. I predict he will join the top 10 list later
this outdoor season.
THROWS
Mykolas Alekna of California by way of Lithuania had perhaps
the remarkable weekend in NCAA history. He completely rewrote the NCAA all time
Top 10 list. In one weekend he had four of the farthest throws in Discus NCAA
history. That would include the new NCAA record through of 232 feet 11 inches
(71.00m). Alekna is only a sophomore and has now broken the NCAA record two years
in a row. This event is his.
Kostas Zaltos of Minnesota led a strong 1-2 finish in the
Hammer Throw at the Drake Relays this past weekend with a winning mark of 246
feet 11 inches (75.27m). Zaltos is having a strong outdoor season. He has
collected a solid number of wins and this win is particular important because
it dethrones Jordan Geist of Arizona from the top of the list. Zaltos will have
to see Geist but with this mark he knows that he can.
UPCOMING POST SEASON
The regular season for majority of the Division 1 programs
have come to an end. The next major weekend will be the Conference Championship
weekend where we should see a change to the national performance list as well
as get a clearer view of the team title picture. I see the rankings but it is
clear to me that so many teams have refused to show their hand, or their
athletes compete enough to draw out a solid conclusion. Conference Championship
weekend should force a few of them to show their hand. Also keep in mind that
there will be smaller conferences starting the post season this week. Things
are about to get interesting.
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