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.