A GREAT PAST TWO WEEKS!!!

The past two weeks we have seen some phenomenal times and marks throughout the sport in both the collegiate and high school ranks. In college especially we have already seen athletes automatically qualify.

**MEN**

Zedric Thomas of LSU has already automatically qualified for the NCAA Championship in the men's long jump with a leap of 26-3 or in metric terms 8.00 meters. Thomas is not the only member of his squad already set for nationals, Walter Herring, second in the nation in the men's weight throw reached 71 feet and 4.75 inches at the LSU Tiger Purple Invitational.

Nate Hunter of Northeastern University qualified with his throw 63 feet and 6.75 inches or 19.37 meters in the men's shotput at the Harvard Invitational.

Steffen Nerdal a senior at Memphis University had a throw of 74 feet 10 inches to surpass the mark set by Herring. Nerdal competed at the Arkansas State Invitational.

Luis Rivera-Morales of Arizona will join Thomas at the championship meet after leaping to 25 feet and 10.25 inches at the Lumberjack Invitational.

In the men's pole vault there is already three who are set to compete at the big show. Scott Roth of Washington, Jason Colwick of Rice and Jack Whitt of Oral Roberts. There heights are 18 feet 6.75 inches, 18 feet 5.25 inches and 18 feet and 0.50 inches respectively.

And then there was two. Currently two have qualified for the men's high jump Trent Arrivey of Washington State in 7 feet 4.25 inches and Derek Drouin of Indiana at the same height.

In the sprints Demetrius Pinder of Texas A&M is the lone sprinter to qualify for the NCAA Championships with his personal best and season high of 46.01 in the men's 400. Pinder will be joined by his teammates in the 4x400 relay that include Tabari Henry, Bryan Miller and Kyle Dykhuizen with their top time of 3:05.92. The Florida Gators will join with their time of 3:06.40, the Gators consist of, Tony McQuay, Calvin Smith, Jovon Toppin and Chrisitian Taylor.

Still no automatic qualifier in any other running events for the men. That could all change this weekend with an exciting plethora of great meets, SEC-Big 12- Pac-10 challenge, Rod McCrary Invitational, Lobo Challenge, Clemson Games, Penn State National and the J.D. Martin Invitational.


**WOMEN**

On the women's side two sprinters have already qualified for the NCAA Championship meet and both are from the same university, Texas A&M which is currently ranked number 1. Porscha Lucas in the 200 (23.06) and Jessica Beard in the 400 (52.27).

Joining Lucas and Beard is another duo from the school but this time in the same event the 800. Phoebe Wright ( 2:04.00) and Chanelle Price ( 2:04.72) both from the University of Tennessee. The women's 60 meter hurdles also shares a duo from the same school Virginia Tech. Queen Harrison ( 8.04) and Kristi Catlin ( 8.11).

The High Jump is yet another event with two athletes from the same school, this time Arizona. Senior Elizabeth Patterson leads the nation with a jump of 6 feet 3.25 inches and freshman Brigetta Barrett is not too far behind in fourth with a leap of 6 feet and 0.75 inches. In between the two Arizona stars are Epley Bullock of Nebraska and Amber Kauffman of Hawaii both leaping to 6 feet 1.5 inches. In last time another pair from the same school of Arkansas. Both of ladies are automatic qualifiers in the Pole Vault Tina Sutej (14'2") and Katie Stripling (14' 1.25") they are joined by six other athletes. Alicia Rue of Minnesota ( 14' 4.25"), Melissa Gergel of Oregon (14' 1.25"), Kylie Hutson of Indiana State, Carrie Kayes of Akron, Katerina Stefanidi of Stanford and Shane Weygandt of Texas Tech ( 13' 11.25").

Janet Jesang a senior out of Western Kentucky is the lone qualifier in the women's 3,000 clocking in at 9 minutes and 11.09 seconds.

Senior Blessing Okagbare of UTEP leads the country almost by a full foot with a leap of 21 feet and 7.5 inches.

Two seniors lead the way too the championship meet in the women's triple jump, Sarah Nambawa of Middle Tennessee State ( 44' 3") and Patricia Mamona of Clemson ( 43' 8.5").

Mariam Kevkhisvilli of Florida the defending champion leads the way in the women's shot put already stamping her ticket with a throw of 60 feet 7.25 inches.

D'Ana McCarty and Jeneva McCall carry the flag in the women's weight throw with marks of 71 feet and 11.5 inches and 70 feet and 0.25 inches.

This weekend not only for the men, but the women as well should be exciting. The ranking should shuffle this weekend, my prediction is Florida will gain the men's top spot and LSU will climb in the top three.