Charles Silmon TCU
Like the women, the men lost a conference leader in Texas A&M with their recent stronghold over the conference. Texas A&M was a well rounded program that attacked from every level. With Texas A&M gone enter in TCU. TCU will not bring the well rounded presence Texas A&M had but they will bring the prowess in the Sprints and the Jumps. The Big 12 will still be one of the best conferences in the country with the remaining programs.
DISTANCE
Yes distance first. The Big 12 boast two the best programs in the country in Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Both programs routinely compete for the Cross Country national title and produce many All-Americans.
Riley Masters of Oklahoma is one of the returning standouts for the Sooners. Masters won the 1,500 meter outdoor title in 2012 and returns as the top threat in the event now that German Fernandez of Oklahoma State has gone professional. Teammate Patrick Casey should help provide a solid 1-2 punch in the 1,600 meter race indoors.
For Oklahoma State Shadrick Kipchirchir returns at the top performer in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races from last outdoor season. Kipchirchir claimed the 5,000 meter indoor title in 2012. Kipchirchir is coming off a All-American Cross Country season and will see the toughest competition come from teammate Girma Mecheso. Mecheso finished 5th at the Cross Country national meet and is ready to challenge the Kenyan for the conference title.
SPRINTS
TCU may make their mark on the conference very early in this section. TCU returns a solid core of sprinters and one of the nation's best high school sprinters as well.
Senior All-American Charles Silmon should lead the way. After years of dominating the Mountain West Conference Silmon will enter this indoor season the favorite to win the 60 meter dash. Teammates Skye Dawson and true freshman Raymond Bozmans should provide admirable competition. Seniors Ian Warner of Iowa State and Everett Walker of Baylor should also be capable of challenging the headliner Silmon.
After playing second for the past several years to Texas A&M Baylor should return to being the dominant power in the long sprints. After decades of producing NCAA Champions and All-Americans in the 400 and 200 meters Baylor has had to take a back seat due to the dominance of Texas A&M. Baylor however did not go unnoticed last season with several performers in both events at the conference championships last season.
Junior Blake Heriot will lead the Baylor Bear contingent. Heriot returns as the top long sprinters in the conference. Heriot can make a strong case for a potential double but will have to fight off teammates Everett Walker and Justin Allen. Kyle Clemons of Kansas could also halt the potential double of Heriot. Clemons is the top returning performer in the 400 meters.
In the hurdles the conference lost a lot of quality performers to graduation and conference changes. Keiron Stewart of Texas by way of Jamaica and Tre' Lathan of Oklahoma are the top returning performers from last season. After an amazing freshman campaign Stewart has not been the dominant threat he was expected to be. Still a consistent performer as a senior he maybe ready to go to the top level. Lathan of Oklahoma has developed well over the years at Oklahoma. Lathan may not have the times that Stewart has but is capable of claiming the conference title himself.
FIELD EVENTS
As I have said many times before the Big 12 conference maybe the best conference in the country when it comes to developing field event athletes. So many athletes this past season competed at the London Olympics with some earning medals.
Erik Kynnard of Kansas State is one of those Olympic medalists, earning a silver medal in the High Jump. Kynnard also happens to be the defending champion in the event and will be the clear favorite to claim the title.
Marquise Goodwin of Texas is another Olympic athlete. After leading the world after a sensation Olympic Trials performance in the long jump, Goodwin's technique at the Olympics cost him a spot in the finals and out of medal contention. Goodwin may or may not compete this season due to the NFL Draft however if he does be prepared for him to remind everyone why he is considered the next big thing.
Teammates of Goodwin, Issac Murphy and Hayden Baillo will headline their respective events. Murphy in the indoor heptathlon will be a clear favorite after having a sensational outdoor season. Murphy has joined the list of great multi-event athletes from Texas and will look to earn his first conference title along with possibly earning a national title. Baillio has been a consistent All-American performer in the Shot Put for Texas. However missing from his trophy case in a conference championship. As a senior Baillio will be given one last opportunity to claim the conference title in either the Shot Put or weight throw.
In the team race the road got much easier for Texas. They will be able to score in almost every event with at least two athletes. Baylor will be a strong challenger but the overall depth from Texas will likely be too much and should allow the Longhorns to claim the team title.
