NCAA Women's Preview

 



(Oregon)

The big dance is finally here. We have reached NCAA Championship week. This is my favorite time of the year. The meet again is being held at the University of Oregon and should be an exciting meet. This has been one of the best years for women's track and field at every level. With the home team currently ranked number 1 and in great position to win the title expect plenty of fireworks, let's preview.

SPRINTS

In the 100 defending NCAA Champion  Ramona Burchell of Alabama is out. That leaves the battle for 100 meter supremacy between two Oregon Ducks, Jenna  Prandini and Jasmine Todd. Prandini is currently the favorite thanks to her blistering performance at the  Mt Sac Relays clocking in a 10.92. However her teammate Todd has looked every bit as strong. Todd clocking 10.88 at the NCAA West Regional qualifying meet. Although her time was wind-aided it is one of fastest times ran in collegiate history. Todd is more than capable of claiming the 100 meter title.

In the 200 Prandini will have to face off against the only woman who beat her indoors at this distance. Florida's Kyra Jefferson, Jefferson claimed the indoor title with a blazing 22.63. She also lit the track up at the NCAA East Regional with a legal time of 22.26. One of the fastest times in NCAA history. This is Jefferson's only individual event while Prandini will be busy running the 100 and the long jump making the chance a double a difficult one.

The long sprint looked to potentially be a Texas sweep. However fans of track and field now there always injury and error the could always derail any plans. Favorite Courtney Okolo is out. That leaves Texas with Kendall Baisden and Ashley Spencer. Spencer has not yet lived up to the expectations she set while an NCAA Champion at this distance in 2013 for Illinois. Plagued by injury this is still her last opportunity to win another title. Kala Funderbunk of Florida State currently leads all qualifiers with a time of 51.09. With Okolo out this is anyone's race.


HURDLES

The 100 hurdles is headlined by two former Clemson teammates now competing for top tier SEC programs. Kendra Harrison for Kentucky and Bridgette Owens for Florida. Harrison has frequently gotten the better of Owens and currently leads the NCAA with a time of 12.50. Her personal best this season easily places her in amongst the top 5 100 hurdlers in NCAA history. Owens has a season best of 12.73 and has only lost to Harrison this season. Michigan's Cindy Ofili has championship pedigree and a sister who once dominated this event for three seasons 2007-2009. This will be a great race.

In the 400 hurdles Harrison is one of two athletes to have gone under 55 seconds. The other is the NCAA leading defending champion Shamier Little. Little was fast enough to claim the SEC indoor title at the open 400 meters and posses that rare speed that makes elite level hurdlers. Little's NCAA leading time of 54.68 was performed at a rainy SEC Championship meet. With her speed there is the potential that she may run sub 54 and she's only a sophomore.


DISTANCE

The 800 brings the perfect blend of old and new. 2013 NCAA Champion Natoya Goule returns this time at Clemson. After sitting out last season due to transfer rules Goule is ready to reclaim her crown as a senior. Talented freshman Raevyn Rogers of Oregon will have the home crowd behind her pushing her to the line.

The 1,500 will be a battle between Rhianwedd Price of Mississippi State and Shelby Houlihan of Arizona State. Price just ran the top time in the country at the NCAA West Regional meet with a time of 4:10.95. Houlihan's season best of 4:11.06 is not to far off. With Michigan State's  Leach O'Connor focusing on the steeplechase the 1,500 is a two woman race.

O'Connor who is the leader of a solid distance crew at Michigan State that won the 2014 NCAA Cross Country title. O'Connor is the headlining favorite to win the 3,000 meter steeplechase. O'Connor already has individual NCAA Championship pedigree after winning the mile indoors. O'Connor will face off against Colleen Quigley of Florida State who is equally talented. Senior O'Connor is having a dream season and should continue her success to another NCAA title.

The 5,000 and 10,000 are events that Emily Sisson of Providence is capable of winning. The talented senior is currently ranked number 1 in the 10,000 and has the top qualifying mark in the 5,000. Sisson has selected to do the lesser of two evils the 5,000. Sisson will have to out pace NCAA leading Jessica Tonn of Stanford. That leaves the 10,000 to potentially be claimed by Dominique Scott of Arkansas who will look to add 10 team points to the Arkansas Razorbacks chances for a team title.

RELAYS

In the 4x100 relay the top four teams all come from the same conference, the SEC. Texas A&M, Florida, LSU and Kentucky in that order are the best four teams in the NCAA. They are also the only four teams to run sub 43. Texas A&M's leading time of 42.61 shows that the Lady Aggies are rounding into championship form at the right time since they have had a year of consistent injuries. Let's also not count out the deep core of sprinters at USC and the 1-2 punch at Oregon.

The 4x400 relay was expected to be dominated by Texas. With Okolo out that leaves Florida who has been ranked number 1 in the event for two months the opportunity to win the event. USC put up a solid performance at the NCAA West Regional but still sits in the number two position this season. Both may put up sub 3:26 performances in what should be a fantastic event.


FIELD EVENTS

Here are the current leaders in the field events.

LONG JUMP: Quanesha Burks Alabama 22-5.25. Burks is currently the only athlete to have jumped 22 feet this season and is the clear favorite to win the event.

TRIPLE JUMP: Keturah Orji Georgia 46-4.25. Orji a true freshman who has truly lived up to the hype has not been challenged at all this season. Orji currently has a two feet lead over defending champion Ciarra Brewer of Florida. Orji is also ranked high in the long jump as well.

HIGH JUMP: Jeannelle Scheper South Carolina 6-5. Scheper leads a crowded high jump field with a lot of potential for an upset.

POLE VAULT: Sandi Morris Arkansas 15-5.75. Morris leads a three headed monster for Arkansas against Demi Payne of Stephen F. Austin.

SHOT PUT: Tori Bliss LSU 60'8. Senior Tori Bliss is currently the only thrower to surpass 60 feet this season. Her challenger the next big time thrower in the event true freshman Raven Saunders of Southern Illinois.

DISCUS: Shelbi Vaughan Texas A&M 211'8. Vaughan leads the event by 15 feet. She is currently the only thrower over 200 feet and will be huge in terms of team points for the Aggies.

HAMMER THROW: Brooke Pleger Bowling Green 228'9. Pleger a senior is looking to go out on top.

JAVELIN THROW: Irena Sediva Virginia Tech 192'5. Sediva a talented sophomore leads a strong field of great throwers. Included in that field is defending champion Fawn Miller of Florida who is a senior. Miller has not had the outdoor season she had last season but with this being her final meet a Florida uniform look for her to perform her best.

Heptathlon: Erica Bougard  Mississippi State 6,250. Bougard is top ranked athlete in several events from the long jump, high jump and 100 hurdles. With Kendall Williams of Georgia missing a portion of the outdoor season Bougard is primed to win it all.

Team Battle: Oregon, Texas A&M, Florida, Arkansas and USC are all teams with the right pedigree to win the team battle. Oregon has an enormous home field advantage along with a ton of entries. However never count out Pat Henry. I believe the Aggies are rounding into shape at the right time and are ready to avenge what has been an injury plagued season.