NCAA Regional Review and Other Opinions

                          Jeff Demps (Florida)

                     

This past weekend the NCAA's latest experiment with a Regional Championship for track and field continued. On the campuses of North Florida University and the University of Texas both East and West regions competed to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. This meet has met a lot of criticism as it has robbed track and field fans of a lot of quality competitors. It seems that every year there is always an athlete we do not get to see compete due to injury. The qualification rules are unfair and a waste to the sport. The current system has damaged the sport and has made a mockery of the championship season as well as the outdoor regular season.

The beauty of the indoor season is that every week matters. The sole purpose of each competition is hit the automatic qualifying standard. If not enough individuals qualify, then the NCAA will chose the top athletes who hit the provisional qualifying standard. Prior to 2003 the outdoor season competed the same way. This process is what help to make the NCAA Outdoor Championship such a revered meet. We were still able to see the best athletes compete.

Due to injury we will not be able to see Jeff Demps compete at the championship meet. This is truly a disappointment. Demps, currently the NCAA leader in the 100 meter dash would have likely qualified for the NCAA meet under an automatic standard. Maurice Mitchell  of Florida State and Harry Adams of Auburn will now headline this event. This meet has become yet another opportunity to grab money, but a what cost not all money is good money. The sport is suffering from visibility and the biggest stars not competing on the biggest stage will damage the sport.

Enough of my ranting on the latest NCAA follies lets talk about the good that came out of the weekend. It seems as if Texas A&M will again capitalize of the University of Florida's struggles. The Aggie men have claimed the top spot in the latest USTFCCCA rankings. Texas A&M has a well rounded program that does not solely have to rely on its sprint core. A bit of disappointment for A&M is that none of their 800 meter runners and Ameer Webb not qualifying in the 100 meter dash. However Webb did qualify along with Prezel Hardy for the 200 meter dash. Wayne Davis again proved that he is getting better as the season goes on and will challenge for the title in the 110 high hurdles.

On the women's side LSU and Oregon have made things very interesting with their long list of NCAA Championship competitors. Oregon has qualified a total 31 athletes for both teams. The Ducks qualify athletes in the sprints, distance and jumping events. Three major standouts for the Lady Ducks, English Gardner, Anne Kesserling and Brianne Theisen will be heavily favored to win their respective events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

For LSU this might just be Dennis Shaver's best team. With a dominating sprint core as usual the Tigers boast an overbearing team that has already claimed the number 1 ranking away from Oregon. Kimberlyn Duncan currently the NCAA leader in both the 100 and 200 meter dash maybe able to put a record setting performance. Semoy Hackett, Rebecca Alexander and Jasmine Stowers add to provide LSU with a formidable team that reminds us of the great LSU teams of the '90's.

                                  Kimberlyn Duncan (LSU)

PREDICTION

MEN: TEXAS &M

WOMEN: OREGON

Penn Relay Review (Women)

It was another banner weekend for the PENN Relays. The 5^th largest crowd in Penn Relay history cheered and jeered along with bracing the horrible weather.  The women and the young girls present provided some solid performances that had many fans on their feet ranting and raving.

SPRINTS

HIGH SCHOOL

In the 4x100 relay Edwin Allen was the favorite entering in. They won Champs with a time of 45.00 and cruised through the preliminaries. However in the finals Long Beach shocked everyone winning with a time of 46.36. Although Holmwood Tech had the best overall time winning the large schools in 46.26, Long Beach Poly’s win is their 4^th ever and the first American team in recent decades to go back to back. The beauty of their win is that two of their relay members will be returning next year and third consecutive title is certainly possible.

The 4x400 relay was all Edwin Allen. They dominated from beginning to end to claim the title with a time of 3:42.06 with Camira Haughton splitting 54.0. Following Edwin Allen was Holmwood Tech and Vere Technical to complete a sweep. Edwin Allen success in the long sprints should not be anything new to anyone, their most noted quarter-miler Ristanannana Tracey set a 400 hurdle record last year and has turned pro one year early and will compete for an Olympic medal. 

COLLEGE

This seemed like it would be the year that LSU was finally retain their crown and the 4x100 relay queens. Texas A&M has won the last three titles under the direction of former LSU head coach Pat Henry. Texas A&M has to replace two major members of the 2011 team and did not seem like they would repeat after losing to LSU at the Texas Relays. In the finals Texas A&M put their foot down and got the baton around successfully and without any errors to claim the 4x100 relay with a time of 43.87.

LSU was able to claim their 12^th 4x200 relay title and exact some revenge on Texas A&M. The Lady Tigers clocked in at 1:31.86 with Kimberlyn Duncan on the end out-kicking Dominique Duncan. Latoya McDermott, Semoy Hackett and Rebecca Alexander joined Duncan in taking down the Aggies.

In the 4x400 relay Texas A&M was able to go out with bang by winning their first ever title in the event. Freshman anchor Olivia Ekpone split a 51.9 to hold sophomore Phyllis Francis of Oregon who split a 52.2. The Aggies clocked in at 3:33.52 with Oregon clocking in at 3:34.08. Oregon should also be a team to fear they were able to finish second with a 57.1 first leg, once the first leg problem is solved Oregon has a team that can compete for the NCAA title.

The Shuttle Hurdle Relay was expected to be dominated by Clemson. Clemson has a strong group of 100 hurdlers totaling 5, two of which have gone under 13 seconds. However during the race one of the girls from Clemson fell leading the way for LSU to claim their 9^th title in the event with a time of 54.68. The group consisted of Jasmine Stowers, Kaitlyn Moreau, Shanekia Hall and Alexandria Gochenour.

DISTANCE

Edwin Allen again represented Jamaica proudly with their dominating performance of the weekend in the 4x800 relay.  Edwin Allen won by more than 10 seconds with a time of 8:52.97. Marleena Eubanks anchored the team with a split of 2:09.3.

The Distance medley relay was more kind the Americans. Tatnall of Wilmington, Delaware had a sensational performance that saw them break a Penn Relay Record. The girls of Tatnall clocked in at 11:28.86 to break the old record by almost six minutes. Haley Pierce who anchored the quartet surpassed North Shore’s anchor with a split of 4:42.9.

COLLEGE

In the College Championship Division the University of Oregon lived up to the hype by winning the 4x800 relay 3 minutes ahead of Tennesse. The Lady Ducks had a winning time of 8:24.16. Laura Roesler the second leg had the teams top split with 2:04.5.

The Lady Ducks carried that same momentum in the 4x1,500 relay. Melanie Thompson, Alex Konsinski, Anne Kesselring and Becca Friday led the charge from start to finish and won by more than 10 minutes against a challenging field that included Georgetown and Villanova. A winning time of 17:29.00 came with a split of 4:16.3 from Anne Kesselring.

Villanova added the 11^th title in the Distance Medley relay. Villanova is number one all time in this event along with a host of others. The race closely contested with Tennessee as both have solid programs with good depth. The anchor leg from Villanova, Sheila Reid outgunned Brittany Sheffey from Tennesse 4:40.8 to 4:43.5 on the mile leg of the race to give the Wildcats their 11^th Penn Relay title.