THE SEASON SO FAR

What a interesting season we have had so far in collegiate track and field. There have been so major let downs and wonderful surprises. We are now entering the conference championship season which is for some athletes there last meet with the team or the best shot to qualify in the new regional format. Let's take a look at how some teams have performed thus far.


Florida Men

The Florida Gators had an amazing indoor season. Freshman star Tony McQuay lit up the track in the 200 and 400 along with his senior Calvin Smith. Football phenom Jeff Demps led the team in the 60 meter dash and won the NCAA indoor title. Christian Taylor won the triple jump indoors. With all that the Gators accomplished during the indoor season the outdoor season obviously began with a ton of hype. In the beginning of the season the Gators were able to match the hype. The Gators put on a record setting performance at the Florida Relays, setting school records in both the 4x200 relay and 4x400 relay. Once the Gators arrived at the Penn Relays and lost alot of the fan fare they gained during the beginning of the season. A dropped baton in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays and peforming a full second slower in the 4x200 relay. The past couple of years the Penn Relays have not been kind to the Gators and this year was certainly no different. With the team's below average performance there are doubts if Mike Holloway's Gators can finally win a outdoor title. The SEC Championships in Knoxville will be very telling.

Texas A&M Men

The Aggies were obviously the second best men's team entering the outdoor season. The Aggies have the phenomenal team success that the Gators have but were not given their chance because of the great performances the Gators put on early in the season. Junior Curtis Mitchell is the favorite to win the men's 200 meter title, Mitchell has certainly lived up to expectation after a great indoor season. Mitchell has served as a solid anchor on the 4x100 relay and excellent relay leg on the 4x400 relay. The depth the Aggies have in all the sprints will certainly aid to defending their outdoor title and the reason why they are currently number 1 on everyone lists. The Aggies will show their full fire power for the first time at the Big 12 Championship at the University of Missouri.


Texas A&M Women

Pat Henry seems to be the best win it comes to the sprints. After an extremely successful career at LSU, Henry has brought the succes to Texas A&M. The Lady Aggies have already won the Big 12 conference title three years in a row and have already won the NCAA title last season. This year's team is loaded with talent. Porscha Lucas, Gabby Mayo, Jessica Beard, Jeneba Tarmoh, Dominique Duncan, Natasha Ruddcok, Vashti Thomas and host of other phenoms. The teams wealth of talent and top rated peformers should give the Aggies a huge boost at the NCAA Championship. The Aggies don't have the middle distance strength that Pat Henry's LSU teams had but they are getting their. The ability to score in every sprint event and the ability to dominate the jumps will aide them in winning the outdoor title. The Big 12 Championship held at the University of Missouri should see the women's team raise up the trophy for the fourth time in a row.


Thanks for being readers, our next post we will discuss the Oregon Women, Florida State Men and LSU Men's and Women's program.