NCAA Championship Meet Preview

It is finally here. After months of waiting the NCAA Indoor Championship meet will be held this weekend at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. This past weekend many athletes punched their tickets automatically at last chance meets such as Terrell Wilks of Florida matching his personal best with a time of 6.59 in the 60 meter dash. This weekend the team battles are heavy along with the individual battles, it is the championship meet.



Women's preview

SPRINTS

Lakya Brookins of South Carolina has been phenomenal all season in the 60 meter dash. Brookins has only one loss on the season against Clemson's Stormy Kendrick. Every race since that Brookins has been a win and a better time. Two seasons ago Brookins set the facility record by winning the indoor national title in a time of 7.13 seconds, her season best so far is 7.14. Only one other athlete has ran under 7.20, Jessica Young of TCU. Young has a season and personal best of 7.18 and will be Brookins strongest challenger.

In the 200 LSU has the potential to sweep the event. The Lady Tigers have three of top four entrants. Sophomore Kimberlyn Duncan has become a breakout star claiming the top ranking with a time of 22.78 ran at the SEC Championships. Teammates and transfers Semoy Hackett and Rebecca Alexander rank number 2 and 4 respectively. Jeneba Tarmoh ranked number 3 with a time 22.88 is the best athlete to challenge this strong trio.

The 400 belongs to Jessica Beard a senior from Texas A&M. Beard has yet dip under 50 seconds either indoor or outdoors but her 22.9 200 meter speed shows she has the talent. Beard ran a 51.68 at the Big 12 Championship to claim the title and may run under 51 seconds at the indoor meet. The next collegiate 400 meter star is freshman Briana Nelson of Texas. Nelson was second to Beard clocking in at 52.18 which currently ranked number 3 in the nation. Nelson along with senior Shelise Williams of Arkansas will push Beard to indoor personal best.

JUMPS

In the long jump and triple jump is a battle of two athletes. Seniors Chantel Malone of Texas and Kimberly Williams of Florida State. Malone and Williams rank 1 and 2 in the long jump with Malone as the national leader. In the triple jump the pair rank 1 and 4 with Williams getting the edge. Although Malone is ranked number 4 in the triple jump Malone's championship performances argue against her rank and Malone has a great chance to dethrone the defending champion Williams in the triple jump.

In the high jump Brigetta Barrett as predicted at the beginning of the season would be the favorite to win the NCAA title. Barret currently has leaped to a season best 6 feet 3 1/2 inches. Tynita Butts of East Carolina will attempt to challenge Barrett, but the event is Barrett's to lose.

Tina Sutej of Arkansas has been so dominant over the past two seasons in the pole vault. Sutej set a personal best at the SEC Championship leaping to 14 feet 10 3/4 inches. Sutej may jump 15 feet at the championship meet to cap off a great season.


DISTANCE

The distance events will be key in the team battle. Oregon who is defending champion and currently ranked number 1 in the nation has to score big in this area to combat LSU's powerful sprinting core.

In the middle distance events the 800 and mile the Ducks will be counting on their youth to come up big. In the 800 the Ducks only entrant is freshman Laura Roesler currently ranked number 8 in the nation. Roesler will have to fight off Michigan sophomores Rebecca Addison and Jillian Smith currently ranked number 2 and 4. Lea Wallace of Sacramento State is currently ranked number 1 with a time of 2:03.07.

In the mile sophomores Jordan Hasay and Anne Kesserling are ranked number 1 and 3. Senior teammate Zoe Buckman will join the group and looks to score big team points. Kate Van Buskirk of Duke will be a tough challenge for Hasay in the mile. Hasay will attempt the rare double by competing in the 3,000 meter race and challenge Lucy Van Dalen of Stony Brook.


THROWS

The shot put features a dynamic duo from Oklahoma in Karen Shump and Tia Brooks. Shump and Brooks rank number 2 and 5 respectively and will look to repeat their 1-2 finish at the Big 12 Championships and the NCAA Championship meet. Senior Faith Sherrill of Indiana who is ranked number 1 looks to end the hopes of a 1-2 finish for Oklahoma and claim the title.

The weight throw also features its own duo from Southern Illinois with Gwen Berry and Jeneva McCall. Berry and McCall rank 1 and 3 in the country and will look to fight off D'Ana McCarty of Louisville and Felisha Johnson of Indiana State.


PENTATHLON

Brianne Theisen of Oregon has made no one miss the dominance of Jacqueline Johnson. Theisen has been solid over the years for Oregon and early this season set a new NCAA record. The junior will look to defend her crown and set the record again.