Welcome back to all you crazy track heads. In attempt to explain my long-term absence I will only let you know that I took a break to simply re-charge and emphasize that this blog will solely focus on track and field in the collegiate realm. There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon for the sport of collegiate track and field. With this season comes a World Championships and makes every performance that more important. Let us come together and preview what should be an outstanding season both indoor and out. This is part 1 and will focus solely on the sprints.
SPRINTS
I really enjoy the sprinting events within this sport which is the reason why I generally start off with them in majority of posts. This season that will continue but I do promise to mix things up throughout the season.
There are plenty of great champions returning in the sprints at both the national and conference level. In the 60 meter dash Remona Burchell of Alabama by way of Jamaica returns as the defending champion. Burchell blasted onto the scene at the end of the indoor season last year by running her best race at the championship meet with a time 7.11. Burchell hadn't won the SEC Indoor title and was only considered a dark horse behind favorite Dezerea Bryant of Kentucky. Both are expected to light it up this season on the women's side. Byrant is also the defending champion at 200 meters.
In the long sprints the University of Texas again proves to be the premier program at recruiting and developing for the 400. After Beverly Kearney resigned many expected for the program to falter. That was until Olympian Tonja Buford Bailey was hired on as the women' sprints and hurdles coach and may have taken the program to an even higher level. The Longhorns have two returning champions. The 2013 400 meter champion in Ashley Spencer and the 2014 400 meter champion Courtney Okolo, both outdoors. Also in the mix is 2014 World Junior Champion Kendall Baisden. It is totally possible for the Longhorns to sweep this event this season.
On the men's side a lot veteran talent returns and also a infusion of new talent. There is no defending champion returning in any of the short sprints however there are some big names returning. The biggest name perhaps is Cameron Burrell. Burrell was a freshman sensation last year. Burrell held onto the top mark in the 60 meter dash for a while with a time of 6.55. He in my opinion is the favorite to win the event. His toughest competition may come from two stud freshman in Kendal Willis and Trentavis Friday of Florida State. Florida State has a long history of success in the 60 and 100 meter events.
In the long sprints it is clear that the battle is between Florida and Texas A&M. Both have returning champions from the outdoor season and have consistently produced some of the best 4x400 relays in collegiate history. In the 200 senior Dedric Dukes of Florida returns as the only sub 20 second performer from last season. Dukes aides both sprint relays and has shown to be a complete well rounded sprinter. Deon Lendore of Texas A&M and also a sprinter has been a dominate force in this event since his arrival and is a huge part of his teams national title hopes like Dukes for Florida. Both will face strong competition from the other's school. Shavez Hart for Texas A&M in the 200 and Arman Hall from Florida in the 400. Bbth Dukes and Lendore will have careers following college and possibly be competitng for medals this coming summer at the World Championships.
On the women's side in the 4x400 relay it's Texas and everybody else. Even after losing the defending 2013 NCAA Champion in the 400 meters the Lady Longhorns were still able to run one of the fastest times every ran in NCAA history. All that talent returns a year older and wiser. Florida and Texas A&M will continue to be challengers but may not have enough sufficient talent to compete.
On the men's side in the 4x400 relay it will be Texas A&M and Florida all over again. Both programs went under 3 minutes last season and will continue to electrify again this season. The nod goes to Florida since they are returning every piece of the relay from last season and hope to include a healthy Arman Hall. LSU will continue to be apart of the upper echelon of this group since they surprised both programs last indoor season and won the 2014 NCAA Indoor crown in this event. I expect another national record in this event.
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