SEC Men's Preview

Just pure dominance. When it comes to the SEC that is what everyone is currently talking about. The SEC has dominated football with its speed and has dominated track the same way. The SEC both men and women have produced some of the greatest NCAA Champions in the sprints and relays. Not only is the SEC great in the sprints but thanks to Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee distance is also a strong point of the SEC. This coming season expect for much of the same and possibly even greater results from this phenomenal conference.

Sprints & Hurdles

The most talked about section of this conference, especially for the men. The SEC is returning the defending NCAA Champion in the 60 meter dash in Jeff Demps of Florida who ran a season best last year of 6.56. Last indoor season Marcus Rowland of Auburn stunned Demps with a sensational performance in the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.62 to win the conference title. Expect for Demps to get his revenge but do not be surprised if Rowland is the winner.

In the 200 Rowland is the clear conference favorite now that Calvin Smith has graduated. Challenging Rowland will be sophomore Tony McQuay of Florida and Horatio Williams of LSU. Williams joins LSU after spending two great seasons at Hinds Community College running a personal outdoor best of 20.48

McQuay of Florida joins a spectacular returning cast in the 400. Torrin Lawrence who seems to perform better indoors than out was All-World last season running a indoor personal best of 45.03 to claim the conference and NCAA title. Last outdoor season star freshman Kirani James and Tavaris Tate of Mississippi State showcase their freshman talents with strong seasons. Tate with a personal best of 44.86 and James with a personal best of 45.01 went onto win the SEC Outdoor Title as well as indoors. It is hard to predict a champion but Lawrence is the king of indoors and will be the favorite throughout the season unless McQuay, Tate or James prove otherwise.

In the hurdles Curtis Frye's South Carolina program has dominated this event for years by either winning this event or having more athletes than anyone else. While Florida and Tennessee have had some great success, South Carolina has been very strong in this event. Returning for the Gamecocks is one of the favorites to win in junior Booker Nunley. Nunley's only challenge at the conference meet and national meet was the other favorite in the race Barret Nugent of LSU. Nugent claimed the conference title last season and will try to do the same this season. Both Nugent and Nunley have great speed and good technique, but Nunley in his third year under Frye's system maybe ready to overtake Nugent with superior technique. I do not think LSU has a hurdle program that can match South Carolina.

Jumps

The SEC challenges the Big 12 for the nation's premier jumping conference. The Conference has had some great Olympians and NCAA Champions from schools such as LSU, Arkansas, Auburn and Florida. This season is no different. Florida returns an impressive group of jumpers. Christian Taylor, Omar Craddock and transfer Will Claye all have what it takes to help the Gators sweep the men's triple jump and or sweep the long jump. Taylor is the returning conference and NCAA Champion while Craddock and Claye are returning All-Americans. Taylor is not the most impressive long jumper in the conference with his inconsistency in the event but perhaps the most talented and likely to win along with being the top returnee. LSU also has a great stable of jumpers in Zedric Thomas, Demar Forbes and transfer Kyron Blaise. Thomas finished 2nd to Taylor last indoor season in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump and will look to challenge Florida's triple jump success.

In the High Jump Ole Miss looks to dominate this event as well as the Gators plan to in the triple jump. Ole Miss is returning the top two performers from last seasons indoor championship. Ricky Robertson lived up to the hype he generated in 2009 as All-American high school athlete by claiming the crown for himself with a height 7-4 1/2, teammate Brian Knight finished in a close 2nd and will assist Robertson in going for the 1-2 sweep for the Ole Miss Rebels.

In the Pole Vault LSU and South Carolina have a very strong presence. Both LSU and South Carolina are returning All-SEC athletes from last season. LSU is returning three while South Carolina is returning two. LSU has the best chance for a 1-2 finish with Thomas Reinecke and Joseph Caraway. Both Reinecke and Caraway were true freshman last season with Reinecke finishing 2nd and returning as the top vaulter. Marvin Reitze and Matt Schuler will look to try that same feat for South Carolina.

Throws

Florida and LSU don't just battle it out in the men's sprints and jumps but the two programs are excellent in the throwing events, each returning the champion in the two throwing events during the indoor season. Kemal Mesic of Florida is the returning shot put champion and Walter Henning of LSU is the returning champion in the weight throw. Both are seniors and look to go out on top in there signature event. In the shot put Mesic looks for team assistance from Jeremy Postin who had a solid freshman season. In the weight throw Michael Lauro will aide Henning in team points and possibly challenge for a 1-2 finish. LSU will rely on Henning in the shot put and in the weight throw Postin along with David Triassi, a true freshman last season as well, to score big team points for Florida.

Distance

Yes distance is the last section to be discussed. Although the conference has had it share of great success from Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee there is no question the conference is known more for its speed. However with Arkansas in the picture the SEC cannot be ignored since the program has been able to win 40 NCAA titles and countless individual titles.

LSU has joined the ranks as a solid distance program in the conference, mainly in the middle distances. In the 800 were LSU has been king for the past few seasons in depth they return a great trio of runners. Richard Jones is returning champion from both indoors and outdoors. Jones 1:47.78 last season earned him an automatic berth to last season's NCAA meet and put Jones in National championship discussion. Jones remains in the discussion as not only a favorite to win the conference but a strong change to win the NCAA title as well. Sadiki White a true freshman last season was big for LSU finishing 2nd to Jones at the conference championship and will be a strong challenger for the title. Garrek Thompson rounds out the trio and will to add to the great depth of LSU.

In the mile Arkansas and Alabama will be well represented. Arkansas returns a strong group of outstanding runners in Michael Chinchar, Rick Elliott and Omar Abdi; returning for Alabama Joel Rop and Julius Bor. Rop is the top returning athlete but will face strong opposition in Chinchar.

The Long distance races strongly feature the usual suspects in Arkansas and Alabama but Arkansas maybe king in this area. In the 3,000 Arkansas is returning three All-SEC athletes after having five athletes score last season. Top returnee is Solomon Haile who as a true freshman last season finished 2nd behind teammate Dorian Ulrey. Eric Fernandez and Lane Boyer will look to aide Haile in the scoring big team points for the Razorbacks. In the 5,000 the top returnee is not from Arkansas or Alabama but from Auburn is Ben Cheryiout. Cheryiout maybe the early season favorite but Fernadez of Arkansas and Moses Kiptoo of Alabama are also favorites to challenge Cheryiout for the title.

Another great year for the SEC, it never gets old. With track and field having a relevant world championship at the end of the year this could be a year to remember, especially when the Olympics are only one year away.

CONFERENCE CHAMPION: FLORIDA

CONFERENCE RUNNER-UP: LSU