TRACK SEASON IS BACK!
(Hayward Field host of the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championship)
Alas, another track season is on the horizon. This coming indoor collegiate season the Big 12 will for the first time since it went from the Big 8 to the Big 12 to welcome new members, TCU and West Virginia. The Big 12 has seen a few of it's members leave and go to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Big 10 and Pac-12. The Big 12 will certainly miss Texas A&M who has been a stellar representative for the conference on the national scene, winning three straight outdoor national titles from 2009-2011 for both men and women. The University of Missouri was always a strong presence in the middle distance events and will be sorely missed. With A&M gone Texas looks to return to the top spot. For the Texas Women they are not that far removed from a national title in 2005 and a Indoor national title in 2006 and they return a strong veteran group.
SPRINTS
After spending a few years sitting behind Texas A&M, Beverly Kearney's Texas crew finally broke through last season with amazing results. With a strong group of sprinters the Longhorns were able to finish 2nd last indoor season. Albeit behind A&M however tremendous progress was made and for the first time in a few years Texas was a real threat.
The 60 meter dash has been an area of weakness for Texas since Marshavette Hooker left during her junior year. Allison Peter looks to change that. After a very average indoor season in the short sprint Peter proved that she is more than capable of fast times by running a time of 11.17 in the 100 meter dash last outdoor season. With an improved start and drive phase Peter is clearly has the capability to claim the conference crown.
The hurdle/sprint specialist Tiffany McReynolds of Baylor is the top returnee for 2013 and her start maybe too strong for any to catch her in the 60 meter dash. In the 200 it is quite possible that the Texas Longhorns could sweep the event. Peter, Christy Udoh and Chalonda Goodman are the top returning 200 meter sprinters from last season and only will see challenge coming from Paris Daniels of Kansas.
The 400 meter dash has been a Texas staple since the arrival of Head Coach Beverly Kearney. Even during the past four seasons were Texas A&M was the clear sprint power, Texas was able to put together championship winning 400 meter runners and 4x400 relay teams. Briana Nelson and Kendra Chambers will look to continue that legacy. It will be tough with defending NCAA Indoor Champion Diamond Dixon of Kansas in the field, look for her to defend her crown and make a strong push to defend the 4x400 relay title as well.
The hurdles will be a true clash between McReynolds of Baylor,Morgan Snow of Texas and conference newcomer Chelsea Carrier-Eades of West Virginia. Snow is coming off an amazing outdoor season for a freshman that resulted in a World Junior title. McReynolds was slightly slowed and was unable to match the amazing season she had as a freshman. Snow has the speed to match McReynolds but the question is her technique. Great technique will come from Carrier-Eades. With a personal best of 12.78 outdoors the All-American has the talent to surpass both McReynolds and Snow and not only win the conference title but threaten for the national title.
DISTANCE
Part of the reason why Texas seems almost a guarantee to win the conference title is that they are complete team. The Longhorns have always been known as an amazing sprints and hurdles program. Under their brief rebuilding period they have added serious strength in the middle distances events starting with Marielle Hall. Hall will return as the top miler after finishing 2nd last season to Laura Roxberg of Missouri. Now that Missouri is competing in the SEC expect for Hall too be the event favorite come championship time.
Nataljia Piliusina of Oklahoma State returns as one of the top 800 meter runners not only in the conference but in the country. She is the defending Big 12 champion and an NCAA All-American. Piliusina is looking to defend her title and claim the national title as well.
Betsy Saina of Iowa State is another national star competing in the Big 12 conference. Saina completed the distance double last indoor season by claiming both the 5,000 and 3,000 meter races. Saina also claimed the indoor 5,000 meter race at the NCAA Championship. Saina is the odds on favorite to defend her title and may double at the Championship meet as well.
FIELD EVENTS
The Big 12 Conference as I have stated many times before is one of the best conferences in the country for field athletes. Several athletes in this conference have competed at the Olympic Games and made it to the finals in several events.
Tia Brooks of Oklahoma might as well be the headliner of this talented conference. Brooks who qualified for the shot put was one of the many talented youngsters competing in the throwing events for the United States. She was unfortunately unsuccessful in achieving an Olympic Medal . However Brooks is the defending Outdoor Champion at the NCAA Championships and should easily defeat the competition.
The jumping events are were Texas is expecting to score major points. The Longhorns produced four all conference high jumpers and return two in Shanay Briscoe and Alicia Peterson. Briscoe is one of the few athletes in the conference that can surpass the 6'0 barrier and has already claimed a conference title in her career. She will have defeat defending indoor champion Alyx Treasure of Kansas State. Treasure competes for native Canada and brings strong championship experience with her this season.
The Long jump and Triple Jump will be a Kansas affair. Francine Simpson and Andrea Gouble both are champions in each the respected horizontal jumping events, Gouble the champion in the latter. A'Lexus Brannon of Texas will make things interesting in the long jump, however Gouble should have no challenge defending her title in the triple jump.
The pentathlon took a big hit due to graduation. The top three athletes from last season were all seniors. However with the addition of West Virginia All-American Chelsea Carrier-Eades should dominate the event. Carrier-Eades has great speed and hurdle technique along with great jumping ability. Lindsay Vollmer of Kansas the top returnee from last season will be the main challenger and should improve substantially from last season her freshman year.
Our first track post in preparation for the 2012-2013 Indoor and Outdoor Season. This should be a good season, let's hope some historic records fall this season. The next post will be the men's preview.
