Update

Sorry I was out for so long, we were out of internet service. Our next post will be a season review. We will also talk about the USA Championships and the professional outdoor season. Thank you for all those that still read.

Collegiate Update #3

Men's Sprints and Jumps Preview

The 100 meter dash is the glamour event of the NCAA Championship and all major track and field competition. This year the 100 meter dash is huge for the team battle between the three powers, Florida, Florida State and Texas A&M. Jeff Demps of Florida is the defending champion and currently ranked number 1 in the nation with a wind aided 9.96. There will be strong competition from Florida State's Maurice Mitchell and Ngondizashe Makusha. Demps must have a strong frame a mind and put the false start at the SEC Championships behind him. Demps is clearly the favorite in the event.

The 200 meter dash is expected to be a huge point boost for Florida State in the team competition. The Seminoles have Maurice Mitchell and Brandon Byram expected to score well in the event. Rakeeim Salaam of Oklahoma however is the current favorite. Salaam currently leads the nation with a time of 20.05.

In the long sprint 400 it has been a lackluster outdoor season after such a solid indoor season. This is also true in the professional ranks. This could be the start of a great summer. Kirani James ran a 44.8 indoors at the SEC Championship and has already matched that feat outdoors. Texas A&M''s Tabarie Henry and Demetrius Pinder will be strong competition to be in the event and both have also ran 44.8.

The 110 high hurdles is perhaps the most intriguing event. Omo Osaghae of Texas Tec missed all of last outdoor season with an injury and has set the season a fire with his great performances. Andrew Riley of Illinois and Barret Nugent wait in the wings and have the speed to match Osaghae. Nugent has already beaten Osaghae this season at the Texas Relays. Osaghae however has been flawless since then. Osaghae enters the meet as favorite, don't count out defending champion Riley.

The 400 hurdles has perhaps one of the best collegiate 400 hurdlers of all time. Jeshua Anderson has won the title twice before as a freshman and as a sophomore. Last season Anderson unfortunately came up short. This season he has been solid all season. Anderson has nearly a full second on the entire field and leads the NCAA with a time of 48.13. No other athlete is under 49 seconds.

The vertical jumping events is where Florida expects to score huge points. The Gators Christian Taylor and Will Claye are currently 1-2 in the triple jump and both are ranked in the top 10 in the long jump. Claye is Florida's biggest threat to double. Makusha of Florida State leads the NCAA with a mark over 27 feet and will try to see to it that 10 points is given to the Seminoles.

The High Jump may be absent Derek Drouin the defending champion from Indiana but there is a group of new stars in this event that are ready to take his place. Erik Kynard of Kansas State is the clear favorite for the title having leaped to 7-7 and the number 1 ranking. Fellow sophomore Ricky Robertson of Ole Miss will be tough for Kynard to shake. If Kynard wants the title it is going to possibly take a personal best.

The Pole Vault as usual is always an intriguing event at the championship meet. Senior Scott Roth is the clear favorite and with a season best of 18'9.25 may treat the fans in Des Moines, Iowa to a 19 foot performance for the win.

Collegiate Update# 2

Instead starting a series based off the regional results, instead we will move to a preview of the meet.

Monday- Women's Sprints and Jumps

Tuesday- Men's Sprints and Jumps

Wednesday- Men's and Women's Distance and Throws



WOMEN'S SPRINT PREVIEW

In the sprints it has been one incredible year. Performances and times we have not seen in quite some time. So far this season there have been two athletes under 11 seconds in the 100 meters, 13 athletes under 23 seconds in the 200 meters and 4 athletes under 52 seconds including a pair of freshman. The NCAA meet is shaping up to be a barn burner.

In the 100 meters Jeneba Tarmoh of Texas A&M has been the story all season. After her 10.94 performance at the Texas Relays, albeit wind aided, she has been stamped as number 1. She has been undefeated all outdoor season and I expect for that to stay. It will take a sub 11 performance to beat Semoy Hackett of LSU or English Gardner a true freshman from Oregon.

In the 200 meters Kimberlyn Duncan is the first real 200 meter star from LSU since Muna Lee. Kelly Ann Baptiste was great but never a real threat to win the title. As a sophomore Duncan has already won her first title winning the indoor crown. Her 22.18 performance as the LSU Alumni Gold meet stands alone as the best 200 meter performance since the mid 90's. She is not ready to challenge the NCAA record but will be sooner rather than later. Teammate Hackett and Tarmoh remain the top two threats.

In the 400 meters a stunning upset took place at the Big 12 Championships win Diamond Dixon a freshman from Kansas took down senior Jessica Beard of Texas A&M. Beard was having a great season, showing great speed in the 200. Beard is still favorite to win the title after winning indoors, however she must do her best to earn it. Joanna Atkins the champion in 2009 remains the top threat.

Senior Nia Ali of USC is having her best year yet at USC. Technically sound in the 100 hurdles and using her solid speed to power over each hurdle. Ali currently is tied for the top time in the country in 12.74, wind aided. Freshman Tiffani McReynolds of Baylor has lit up the Big 12 with that same time. With Brianna Rollins of Clemson out, Ali and McReynolds are the two to beat. Ali is my pick to become champion.

The 400 hurdles has to be the most competitive it has been in years. A total of 10 girls running sub 57 in the event. Ellen Wortham of Tennessee was already an expected All-American in the event, but what was so shocking was her performance at the SEC meet where won in 55.70 to beat Cassandra Tate defending champion from LSU. Wortham will have to put on a similar performance to claim the NCAA crown, Latoya James of North Carolina and Tierra Brown of Miami will be strong challengers.

In the vertical jumps, Mara Griva a freshman from Nebraska is in strong position to complete the double. In the long jump she is currently ranked number 1 with a leap of 21-11.75 and in the triple jump she is 3rd with a leap of 45 3.75. Kim Williams of Florida State looks to defend her title in the triple jump but Griva will be a tough competitor to shake.

In the high jump Brigetta Barrett of Arizona has remained the top performer all season including indoors. Her 6'4 performance makes her a huge favorite to win the title.

The Pole Vault has belonged to Tina Sutej of Arkansas. Once part of that great trio from a year ago, Sutej has had quite a season and continued in her winning ways with a NCAA leading performance of 15-1.5.