NCAA Championship Part 1 Men's Review

(Oregon Ducks Men's National Champs)

This past weekend fans of collegiate track and field were treated to a phenomenal championship meet hosted by the University of Oregon. A packed house was on hand to see if the Oregon men and women could complete a championship sweep. The number 1 ranked men’s team lived up to the height winning with a total of 88 points.

For the Oregon men things began as they always do with their dynamic distance core. Freshman Edward Cheserek was the first NCAA Champion with a time of 28:30.18 in the men’s 10,000 meter race defeating Kennedy Kithuka of Texas Tech. Cheserek would continue his success finishing second in the men’s 5,000 behind Lawi Lalang of Arizona. Cheserek led a 2-3-4 charge for Oregon who scored a total of 34 points between the two events.

The only challenger to Oregon was the University of Florida. Heading into the championship meet the Gators have either won or finished 2^nd at the past 5 NCAA Outdoor Championships dating back to 2009. At their last national championship the Gators did not compete with the same intensity or fire that they normally do. However at this meet they would and competed very well. While Oregon dominated the distance events Florida was strong in the sprints and jumps.

Junior Marquis Dendy has not performed to his usual level the past two outdoor seasons either due to injury or foul trouble. This season he has had to deal with injuries but would not let that hold him back. He began by winning the men’s Long jump in cold windy conditions. Dendy was the only athlete over 26 feet with a winning mark of 26-3 earning him a legal qualifying mark for USATF Nationals. Dendy followed that performance by winning the Triple Jump two days later with a wind-aided mark of 55-11 ¼. His mark in the triple jump was just shy of two feet further than his closes competitor. Dendy added 20 valuable team points to the Gators who finished 2^nd overall with 70 points.

(Marquis Dendy)

In the sprints Dedric Dukes led the way for the Gators. Dukes, the only NCAA athlete to break 20 seconds in the 200 meter dash again broke the 20 second barrier with a time of 19.91 in barely wind-aided race. Dukes also anchored the winning 4x100 relay with a time of 38.73 over Texas A&M. The Gators scored 1 point in the men’s 100 dash with sophomore Antwan Wright finishing 8^th and 5 points in the 400 with Najee Glass in 5^th and Hugh Graham Jr in 8^th. Senior Eddie Lovett added another 4 points in the 110 hurdles.

(Dedric Dukes)

Oregon had some help in the sprints and hurdles from senior Eric Berry who finished 2^nd in the 400 and true freshman Devon Allen who won the 110 high hurdles in school and Pac 12 record time of 13.16. Allen surpassed Aleec Harris ofUSC who set the Pac 12 record earlier in the season with a time of 13.18.  Harris finished 2^nd to Allen with the same time he led with early in the season. Arthur Delaney added the final 2 sprint points in the 200 meter dash running 20.79 for 7^th.

Other notable performances came from freshman Trayvon Bromell of Baylor who clocked in at 9.97 to win the 100 meter dash title and set a World Junior Record. Bromell defeated favorite senior Dentarious Locke of Florida State. Locke clocked in at 10.02 for 2^nd place. Texas A&M junior Deon Lendore did not break 45 seconds but still managed to win the men’s 400 title in a time of 45.02 and anchor the Texas A&M 4x400 relay to number 2 all time with a time of 2:59.60. The men’s high jump was absent James Harris of Florida State who earned the indoor title. However junior Bryan McBride of Arizona State has been solid all outdoor season and continued his success by winning the high with a mark of 7-5 ¾.

(Trayvon Bromell)

In the throwing events none of the events were claimed by seniors. Junior Sam Crouser of Oregon stood out as he was a big part in scoring vital points for the Oregon Ducks. Crouser provided the most he was allowed by earning the championship title on his last throw with a mark of 252-7 to add another 10 points to Oregon’s total.

After all that the Ducks still had not stopped scoring, junior Dakota Keys scored another 6 points by finishing 3^rd in the men’s decathlon with a point total of 8,068. Keys had a strong day 2 after sitting in 7^th place after day 1. Maicel Ubo of Georgia was the winner with a point total of 8,182 after two days of solid performances. 

Overall solid performance by the men of Oregon on their home track. They will be losing some key members to their championship team but have a great group of recruits. Next season should be awesome.