MLK Weekend Recap

This past weekend was the second major weekend of the indoor season. Many athletes have shaken off the holiday rust and either improved from week 1 or introduced themselves in a big way. Let’s take a look back at 5 major performances.

(Donovan Brazier-Texas A&M)

5. CAMERON BURRELL LIFTS OFF- Cameron Burrell of Houston has had to deal with injuries the past few seasons and one could be concerned to see if he would ever live up to the hype of an incredible high school career. If this weekend's performance is indication, he could be the favorite to winning the NCAA title and taking over as the new sprint king. Burrell blasted off to a time of 6.55 in the men's 60 meter dash at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational. Burrell currently has the number 1 spot slightly over Christian Coleman of Tennessee and will be a factor coming championship time. 

4. RAVEN SAUNDERS IS A BEAST- Raven Saunders followed her coach Connie Smith to Ole Miss. That seems to be about the only thing that has changed for the amazing thrower. Saunders didn't waste anytime making a statement in the Shot Put. Saunders threw for a season best 61'3". Saunders is currently the only woman in the shot put with a mark beyond 60 feet and also ranks her number 1 in the world so far. It is early in the season but Saunders looks poised to claim the title again. 

3. AKELA JONES CAN DO IT ALL- Akela Jones of Kansas State was apart of my weekend report last week, but that was for 60 hurdles. This week it's for the long jump. It's incredibly rare that an athlete can be ranked in at the top of several different events but Jones is one of them. Not only is she a dangerous threat in several individual events she is also slowly becoming the favorite to win the Pentathlon at the NCAA Championships over defending champion Kendall Williams of Georgia. Jones leaped to a mark of 21-4, her mark currently ranks her number 2 in the country and is the third event were she is either number 1 or number 2. 

2. JASMINE TODD AND EVERYONE ELSE- Jasmine Todd of Oregon is turning into quite the sensational sprinter. With her teammate Jenna Prandini leaving for the professional ranks it is up to her to continue the amazing success of short sprinters at Oregon developed by Robert Johnson. Todd started this season off with a bang running the 60 meter dash in an impressive time of 7.24 at the UW Preview at the University of Washington. Todd is already living up to the hype of pre-season favorite for the 60 meter crown. 

1. DONOVAN BRAZIER IS THE NEXT BIG THING- Many of us in the state of Michigan are not truly shocked at how well Donovan Brazier at Texas A&M is doing. He had an amazing high school career and is translating well at Texas A&M. Just a freshman Brazier blasted off to the 8th best indoor American performance in the 800 meter history. Brazier's time of 1:45.93 set a school record and broke a American junior record that stood since 1982. His time is also the fastest non-championship race time in NCAA history and the fastest since 2001. He did all that in just his first meet, indoors no less. Brazier is big time and is on the path to being a great runner for Team USA in the future.