Big 12 Women's Track and Field Preview

It is sad to say this is the last of the Big 12 Women's track and field preview. After this season the Big 12 will lose Colorado and Nebraska to the Pac-10 and Big Ten respectively. The new name of the conference has yet to be determined. Nebraska has long had a presence in the conference with there great depth in middle distance and field events. Colorado has been a great distance program producing the likes of Jenny Barringer who owns the American and collegiate record in the women's steeplechase. Those two programs will be missed in the conference.

The Sprints however have dominated the talk of this conference for years. Under Bev Kearney the University of Texas women's track and field program was the dominant program in the conference from 1998-2007. Kearney has coached stars such as Sanya Richards, Raasin McIntosh, Ashlee Williams, Moushami Robinson, Suzainn Reid, Lakiesha Backus, Nichole Denby, Angie Vaughn and other greats. In 2004 Texas A&M decided to change all that by hiring former LSU Head Coach Pat Henry. Henry had won 25 National Championships and has been known as one of the best recruiters of all time for excellence in getting a quantity of great athletes. The past few seasons have been dominated by the sprint core from Texas A&M including 4 straight Big 12 titles, but with Kearney's 2nd ranked recruiting class things may change for the Longhorns.

Sprints & Hurdles

Jeneba Tarmoh of Texas A&M did not really impress last indoor season coming back from a 1 year transfer lay off. The outdoor season was a different story, Tarmoh had a excellent outdoor season with personal bests of 11.19 and 22.65. Tarmoh is a serious threat to win the 60 and 200 meter title and currently has the conference lead with a time of 7.34 ran at the Reville Invitational. Teammate Gabby Mayo will provide a great challenge to Tarmoh in the 60 and will look to defend her double by winning the 60 hurdles as well. Mayo won both events last indoor season with a time of 7.30 in the 60 meter dash and 8.05 in the 60 meter hurdles. Natasha Ruddock and Vashti Thomas also from A&M are to be noticed in the hurdles for the conference crown as well.

In the long sprints Jessica Beard is alone at the top. Beard has been the premier 400 meter runner in the conference her entire career at A&M. I don't expect for that to change. Texas has a deep crop of 400 runners to challenge Beard with Angele Cooper, Stacey Ann Smith, Chantel Malone, Alicia Peterson, Kendra Chambers and true freshman Briana Nelson and Danielle Dowie. Yes all of these young ladies are capable of qualifying for the finals in either the 400 meter or 600 yard races. Cooper, Smith and Peterson are returning All-Conference performers and will be Beard's strongest competition.

Jumps

The high jump has important team points up for grabs. Senior Audrey Svane of Nebraska is the top returning high jumper and will be counted for points for Nebraska who looks to use there strength in the field events to combat the sprint power of Texas A&M and Texas. Texas and Texas A&M have strong competitors in the high jump from Victoria Lucas for Texas and Daphne Fitzpatrick from A&M. Lucas is best challenger to Svane to win the conference title.

In the horizantal jumps senior Chantel Malone of Texas plans to complete the long jump, triple jump double. Malone is the defending champion in the long jump and one of the top returnees in the triple jump. The Longhorns also have true freshman A'Lexus Brannon. Brannon was the nation's best high school athlete in the triple jump and runner up in the long jump. Vashti Thomas of A&M will look to challenge the two Longhorns.

In the pole vault Nebraska looks to earn big team points here. The Cornhuskers return 3 All-Conference athletes in the event including senior Natalie Willer. Shade Weygandt of Texas Tech is the returning champion and should have no trouble winning but Nebraska will earn big team points.

Distance

Lisa Koll of Iowa State was the queen of distance last season after Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech had graduated two seasons ago. Caroline Karunde is the next great distance runner from Texas Tech as the defending champion in the mile and top returnee in the 3,000. Betsy Saina also looks to be the next distance runner from Iowa State as the top returning athlete in the 5,000. Another Karunde, Winrose sister of Caroline looks to challenge Saina for the conference title.

Throws

The Shot Put will likely be a repeat of last season. The Oklahoma Sooners had two freshman finish 1-2 in the conference last season in defending champion Karen Shump and Tia Brooks. Skylar White of Baylor also a sophomore will look to challenge the two Sooners.

The Weight Throw also has a defending champion in Alena Krechyk of Kansas. Chelsie Bonds will be Krechyk biggest threat to repeat as champion.

This looks to be another great year for the Big 12, unfortunately it will the conference's last run. Hopefully it ends with a bang.


Conference Champion: Texas A&M

Next Post: Men's Big 12 Preview.

Big Ten Track and Field Women's Preview

Similar to the men this conference has been a phenomenal distance conference for women. Unlike the men there have been solid sprinters and hurdlers in the past, such as Savetheda Fynes, Perdita Felicien, Tiffany Ofili, Tonja Buford-Bailey, Danielle Carruthers, Rachelle Boone and others. The Big Ten has always traditionally been of the top 2 hurdle conferences with plenty of NCAA Champions, most recently a three peat from Tiffany Ofili from 2007-2009. This season is no different.


Sprints/Hurdles

Shavon Greaves Penn State's one woman wrecking crew may not have to carry so much of a load this year. Redshirt freshman Mahogany Jones is healthy and back to take some of the load away from Greaves and take over after Greaves graduates this season. Greaves is not only a Big Ten favorite but a potential favorite to win the NCAA title as well. Last season Greaves lead the NCAA with a time of 22.98 in the women's 200, the only sub 23 performance last indoor season. Greaves had sub-par outdoor season but will look to continue her success as the dominant Big Ten sprinter. Kylie Peterson of Minnesota and Christina Manning of Ohio State will look to challenge Greaves.

In the women's 400 Shaniqua McGinnis is all that really matters. McGinnis burst onto the scene with a time of 52.65 indoors to win the conference title. McGinnis is definitely the easy favorite to win and defend her conference title. Ashley Kelly of Illinois will be a strong challenger to McGinnins.

The hurdles this season are very difficult to predict. Aleesha Barber has graduated and Charnee Lumbus of Michigan is not going to use her final year of eligibility. Tamika Robinson of Illinois, Manning of Ohio State, Letecia Wright of Ohio State and Julian Purvis are all challengers to win the conference title. Like last season the champion will represent the Big Ten well at the NCAA Championship meet.


Distance

After a lack luster outdoor season Danielle Tauro will look to rebound and put herself individually in the University of Michigan record books. After a stellar high school career many would have expected for Tauro to have earned a individual Big Ten title and All-American honors, but she has not. Tauro has been a great leg on the Distance Medley Relay teams for Michigan and many indoor All-American honors in that event. Tauro had her best championship effort finishing 2nd last indoor season in the women's mile. Tauro is my favorite to win the women's mile and get the no championship monkey off her back. Betsy Flood of Iowa should be Tauro's greatest competition.

Also from Michigan Jillian Smith and Rebecca Addison look to aide the Michigan distance core in the women's 800. Smith is the defending conference champion indoors and missed outdoors due to injury. Expect for the two to try and pull off a 1-2 finish. Kaitlyn Peale of Michigan will be looked upon for points for the Wolverines too, Peale is the top returning 5k runner for the Big Ten and can be considered and early favorite to win. Peale missed the outdoor season due to injury.

Throws

The Pendleton sisters of Michigan look to lead the way in both the weight throw and shot put. In order for them to do that they have to take favorite Faith Sherill of Indiana in the Shot Put and Weight throw down. The Pendleton's had great success last outdoor season winning the women's discus throw, although that event is not done indoors the Pendleton's will look to improve upon their indoor throwing slump of a year ago and show their great talent. Allison Liske of Michigan will also help Michigan in challenging Sherill in the women's shot put.

Jumps

In the women's long jump Todea-Kay Willis of Minnesota and Leah Uber of Purdue should battle for the conference title. Willis won the conference title last outdoor season and Uber finished 2nd. However Kelsey McKinney of Ohio State will look to claim the title herself and add big time points for the Buckeyes. Tofunmi Akeredolu and true freshman and Ohio State record holder Erin Busbee of Michigan can also be considered challengers for the title crown. Akeredolu missed last season due to injury.

McKinney of Ohio State is the top returning performer in the women's triple jump from last season, however the event is still up for grabs with no clear cut favorite Jordan Holgren of Wisconsin and Tanaya Lloyd of Penn State will strongly contest McKinney for the conference crown.

Michigan State's Rebecca Bucholtz is the favorite to win the women's high jump after claiming the conference title last outdoor season. Emily Breslin of Purdue will also look to win the title as well after finishing tied for 3rd last outdoor season.

After the graduation of Alicia Rue Minnesota will look to senior Samantha Sonnenberg to continue Minnesota's winning way in the Pole Vault. Teammate Becca Pilkerton will look to assist Sonnenberg in team points.

Pentathlon

Dorcas Akinniyi of Wisconsin is the defending champion in the event after having scored 3,979 points. Akinniyi now a junior should only improve upon those points and win the conference title. Bucholz of Michigan State will try and challenge Akinniyi for the crown but will have a hard time challenging the defending champ.


CONFERENCE CHAMPION: PENN STATE
CONFERENCE RUNNER UP: MINNESOTA/MICHIGAN

Next Post Big 12 Conference Preview, Women

Big Ten Men's Conference Preview

The Big Ten has been a great conference for decades. Perennial powers Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State have remained in the championship picture consistently. Starting fall of 2011 Nebraska will become apart of the Big Ten. Nebraska's mutli-talented program which can excel at every level in track and field will add to the Big Ten's great depth. However this season has its own big story, Wisconsin, they just keep on rolling.

Distance

Distance is what the Big Ten is all about. The conference of the Midwest has many great distance programs in Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State and Minnesota.

Penn State is definitely a contender in the distance events. The Nittany Lions return four athletes who all ran under 1:50 in the men's 800. Seniors Owen Dawson, Lionel Williams and Ryan Foster will look to challenge Casimir Loxsom. Loxsom as a true freshman last season won the big ten outdoor title in the 800. Foster the 2009 800 champion may look to reclaim his title and earn a new title in men's 1,600. Ben Blankenship will be a strong challenger from Minnesota along with Rob Finerty from Wisconsin. The Badgers also look for Mohammed Ahmed to lead a 1-2 finish in the men's 5,000, sophomore standout Maverick Darling will join Ahmed in that effort.

Sprints and Hurdles

The Big Ten has grown by a grand margin in the men's sprints. In the 90's Ohio State dominated the sprints with Chris Nelloms the 1993 NCAA Champion at 200 meters. Ohio State was sprints in the Big Ten during the 90's. Long thought to be just a distance conference the sprint programs in the conference have stepped up to compete on a national level.

This season two Riley's plan to walk away as double champions. Andrew Riley of Illinois stunned everyone by beating Ronnie Ash last season to win the NCAA Outdoor title. Riley completed the double last outdoor season in the 100 meter dash and 110 hurdles at the Big Ten championships. Last indoor season Riley fell short in the men's 60. Expect for Riley to obtain the double by winning the 60 meter dash and 60 meter hurdles with his superior speed. Josh Hembrough of Purdue should be a great challenge.

Steven Wiley of Iowa, no relation to Andrew, hopes to complete the tough double by winning the 400 and 200. Riley claimed the outdoor title in the men's 400 with a 46.12 performance. Riley came up short in the men's 200 to Stephen Robinson of Ohio State. With Robinson gone Riley is clear favorite to claim the title. Thomas Murdaugh of Ohio State is the biggest threat to Riley winning the men's 400 title after having won the event in 2009. Murdaugh also split 44.65 last season to carry the Ohio State 4x400 relay to All-American honors and will be looking to rebound this season.

Jumps

Derek Drouin of Indiana will remain alone at the top in the men's high jump. Drouin had a spectacular season which culminated in a NCAA Championship both indoors and outdoors. Drouin is the easy pick for NCAA Field Athlete of the Year.

Korbin Smith of Ohio State is also a defending Big Ten champion, although not as successful as Drouin, Smith hopes to gain more national recognition this season. Smith won the outdoor title last season with a jump of 24-7. Ironically Robert Peddlar of Michigan was the indoor champion and hopes to defend his indoor title and maybe win the triple jump as well.

Senior Ben Patterson of Minnesota is another defending conference champion in the Men's Pole Vault. Teammate Brock Spandl and Michigan State senior Logan Lynch will challenge Patterson for the crown. Lynch and Spandl are great vaulters in his own right, however it's Patterson title to lose.

Throws

Joe Kovacs of Penn State will look to win the men's shot put as well as the weigh throw. Lonnie Pugh of Michigan State is the true favorite in the men's weight through but Kovacs could be thinking double.

Heptathlon

The Heptathlon had an amazing freshman last season in Jack Szmanda of Minnesota. Szmanda finished second to teammate and defending champion R.J. McGinnis. Szmanda is an early favorite to win the event but will see great competition from Cliff Miller of Michigan State and teammate Spandl.



Next Post: Women's Big Ten Conference Preview

ACC Indoor Track and Field Men's Preview

Unlike the women of this conference the men's version of the ACC has always been very well rounded. Excellent sprint programs in Florida State and Clemson, great distance programs in North Carolina, Duke and Virginia along with a great conference full of talented athletes in the field events. However the conference has been getting stronger in the sprints and in jumps in the past few years especially from schools such as Florida State. The Seminoles had won three straight NCAA Outdoor titles from 2006-2008. Although the past two years they have been close to regaining that championship form this maybe the season that takes them over the top again. The Seminoles will get the championship start from competition in the conference.


Men's Sprints & Hurdles

Florida State suffered from the lost of Charles Clark to injury, Johnathan Borlee who left early and Brandon O'Connor to undisclosed issues. Maurice Mitchell, Kevin Borlee and Brandon Byram stepped up to continue that great Florida State tradition. Mitchell won the men's 60 meter dash last season. Mitchell is the headline favorite in the men's 60, looking to defend his title against Keith Ricks of Virginia Tech. Mitchell will also be challenged and aided by the return of teammates O'Connor, Bryam and Clark in the men's 200 that could be a 1-2-3-4 sweep for the Seminoles. Borlee will lead the Seminoles in the men's 400 but will be challenged by a deep group of North Carolina Tar Heels. Clayton Parros, Charles, Cox and Ian Williamson will look to again to challenge the Seminoles for long sprint supremacy.

In the men's hurdles it is Clemson, Miami and everybody else. Clemson is returning four All-Conference performers from last season in Spencer Adams, Charlton Rolle, Claudio Carpini, and Marcus Maxey. Returning for the Hurricanes of Miami is Devon Hill who will try and defend his indoor title that he won last season clocking in at 7.78.

Distance

Like the women of this great conference the men have a great distance tradition. Virginia had the recruit of the year last season in Robby Andrews. Andrews won the NCAA Indoor title as a freshman and when many thought he would hit the freshman wall, he didn't. Andrews went on to finish second at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Andrews personal best of 1:45.54 was the nation's best time last season and Andrews is easily the favorite to repeat as champion. Lance Roller a teammate of Andrews will provide great competition, Roller won the outdoor ACC crown and could upset Andrews in his bid for another indoor crown.

Virginia has another talented middle distance runner in Sintayehu Taye. Taye won the outdoor ACC title and is early favorite to repeat. Teammate Brett Johnson and Michael Hammond of rival Virginia Tech will be strong challengers and could win the conference title themselves. Hammond is especially dangerous to Taye's hopes, Hammond was the indoor conference champion last season. Hammond's teammate William Mulherin is also dangerous, Mulherin won the Penn Relays mile and is the defending outdoor champion at 5,000 meters, he should carry that success indoors as well.

Jumps

It's fair to say that the ACC is one of the three best jumping conferences in the country and could arguably be the best. Senior Madanha Chibudu of Florida State will look to defend his title in the men's long jump. Chibudu has been apart of the Seminoles great staple of jumpers going back to their last championship season. Josh Fowler of Clemson, a senior as well, will contest Chibudu for the conference title and was a great challenge last season.

With Alphonso Jordan gone Austin Davis of North Carolina ND and Marcus Robinson of Virginia both of whom are seniors, will compete for the men's title in the triple jump. There is not a headline favorite since both are capable of winning the title.

In the men's pole vault Hunter Hall looks to aide in helping Virginia Tech sweep again. Last indoor season the Hokies went 1-2-3 with Hall leading the way. Hall is the early favorite to defend his title but teammates Jared Johnson and Yavgeniy Olhovsky will look to win the event themselves. Olhovsky proved to Hall last outdoor season that he is capable of winning the crown by winning it.

Throws

The main event in the throws is always the shot put. With Steve Marcelle gone Michael Putman of Florida State will look to step and take the crown. Putman did not have the greatest indoor performance finishing 7th, however last outdoor season Putman finished 2nd to Marcelle. Alex Padgett of Clemson will also be a contender for the men's shot put crown. Putman's place in this event will have a huge impact on the points race for the conference crown.


CONFERENCE CHAMPION: FLORIDA STATE
RUNNER UP: VIRGINIA

NEXT POST: MEN'S BIG TEN PREVIEW

ACC Indoor Track and Field Women's Preview

It is amazing how this conference keeps growing over the years. For such a long time the SEC was the premier conference for everything involving sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays. Today the NCAA has become more diverse and each conference has something that they are instantly recognizable for. Outside of having a phenomenal core of distance programs, the ACC is becoming very powerful in the sprints and hurdles. The ACC arguably has the most depth when it comes to hurdling programs. Clemson, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Miami (FL) have shown to be the best hurdle programs in the conference and are among the best in the NCAA. The conference as a whole should be ready for a great year. Let's preview the women's side in preparation for the season.


Sprints and Hurdles

When the topic of sprints in the ACC comes up three programs come to mind all the time, Miami, Florida State and Clemson. Those three programs come up in the discussion regardless of sex. Marecia Pemberton of Florida State flew on to the scene last season by winning the outdoor title in the women's 100 meters with a wind-aided 11.12. During the season Pemberton clocked a personal best at the Florida Relays with a time of 11.20. Clemson had another star freshman in Stormy Kendrick who was the top representative for the United States at the World Junior Championships in the 200 meters in which she would win the World Junior Title. Kendrick finished 2nd in both short sprints last seasons and definitely favored in the 200 and could beat Pemberton in the 60 meter dash.

The 400 maybe the conference's achilles heel, no real threat nationally in this event however there is some solid performers. Ti'erra Brown of Miami is the top returning 400 meter hurdler but she does not openly compete in the 400 meters, Brown however will likely compete in the 400 during the indoor season in preparation for the outdoor season. Along with Brown other 400 hurdles who will compete in the open 400 include teammates and twins Tameka and Takecia Jameson and Brittany Pringley of Clemson maybe the best overall 400 runner.

In the hurdles the University of Miami may have the deepest team in the country. Competing for the Lady Hurricanes in the 60 hurdles will be Brown, the Jameson sisters and Brittney Clarke. Challenging Brown and her teammates could be Latoya James of North Carolina and freshman star Bridgette Owens from Clemson and her teammates Brianna Rollins and Michaylin Golladay.


Jumps

Clemson's April Sinkler pulled a double last outdoor season winning both the High Jump and Long jump at the conference meet. Sinkler's teammate Patricia Mamona is the best challenge to that effort. Mamona won the NCAA Outdoor title in the Triple Jump and was an All-American in the long jump. Kimberly Williams of Florida State looks to interrupt the Clemson jumps dominance by defending her conference title and also provide a challenge in the long jump. Terri Ann Grant of Georgia Tech and Patience Coleman of North Carolina could pose as a potential threat to Sinkler and her goal to repeat as a conference champion in the women's High Jump.

The pole vault is the hands of senior Amy Fryt of Duke. Last outdoor season Fryt was the only athlete in the women's pole vault to reach 4.00 meters. Fryt looks to finally win the indoor title but must be mindful of Amy Morrison and Caroline Kennedy of Clemson who look to claim the title for Clemson and what could be a jumps sweep.

Distance

For so long the ACC was mainly a distance conference with perennial powers, North Carolina, Duke, Florida State, Wake Forest and Virginia producing All-American talent. Although the conference has become amazingly well rounded the conference is still producing All-Americans and NCAA Champions in this area.

On the women's middle distance races North Carolina looks to represent themselves well. In the 800 Dominique Jackson and Tasha Stanley look to contribute a potential 1-2 performance while in the 1,500 Ashley Verplank will have to take over for Brie Felnagle who graduated. Caroline King of Boston College is another potential champion in the women's 800. Katie Van Buskirk of Duke will challenge Verplank for the conference title in the women's 1,500.

Long distance in this conference simply belongs to Wake Forest senior Anna Nosenko who won the Outdoor titles in the 5,000 and 10,000. Clemson's Kimberly Ruck will be the main challenger to Nosenko's long distance dominance after having finished 3rd and 2nd respectively last outdoor season.

Throws

With only two throwing events in the indoor season the impact that the throwing events have on the team title grow more important. Lawanda Henry a junior from NC State is a headliner in both the shot put and weight throw. Henry is the defending champion in the women's weight throw and was the runner-up last indoor season. Henry was able to avenge her indoor loss with an outdoor crown. Henry's chances of performing the double are very high. Maureen Laffan of Virginia the defending champion in the women's shot put will look to repeat to put an end to Henry and her hopes of the double.

Heptathlon

Kiani Profit is the easy pick for champion in the women's indoor pentathlon. Profit is the only returning athlete having scored over 4,000 points, the next best returning athlete did not even reach 3,800 points. Profit's ability to sprint, hurdle and jump well should help easily claim the conference crown and compete for an NCAA title.


Next Post: Men's ACC Conference Preview

Blog Update

Sorry for the lack of updates for this month. This has been a personal month for me, growing spiritually was the reason for the absence. It is time to put a pause on the best of series and get ready for the indoor season. The next posting either on December 6 or December 7 I will post a ACC Conference preview as the first of the conference previews prior to the indoor season. The five other conferences include, Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, SEC and Conference USA. I also would like to state that in the future I will have some youtube videos put up as well. Thanks so much for your continued support I look forward to taking this blog to the next level.