Superbowl Weekend Recap

Outside of it being Superbowl weekend it was the first major weekend in the month of February. The Superbowl festivities did not prove to be a distraction for some. We are coming closer and closer to championship season and many top tier athletes showcased their talents this weekend replacing several number 1 ranked marks. Let’s review the Top of this weekend.

(Cindy Ofili- Michigan)

(Molly Seidel- Notre Dame)

WOMEN

5. SABRINA SOUTHERLAND (GEORGETOWN)- Georgetown seems to have a top performing athlete in a distance event every year. This year will be no different. Sabrina Southerland became the latest star from the talent rich university to claim a number 1 ranking. At the Villanova Invitational Southerland clocked in at 2:03.10 for the win in the women’s 800. She knocks Kaela Edwards of Oklahoma State out of the top spot and places herself in the driver’s seat.

4. MEGAN CLARK (DUKE)- Senior Megan Clark became this season’s first female pole vaulter to surpass the 15 foot mark. After the craziness of last season with the NCAA record under threat everyday it’s been a quiet year. However Clark steps into the center court after reaching a height of 15’1 at the Armory Invitational. Her mark places at the top of the rankings and the current favorite to win it all.

3. MOLLY SEIDEL (NOTRE DAME)- Although her performance did not garner her the number 1 ranking it was still quite an impressive performance against a great group of competitors. Seidel blazed the women’s, 3,000 meters with a time of 8:57.13. She is currently number 2 and one of only two athletes with a season’s best under 9 minutes. She bested long distance stud Erin Finn of Michigan this past weekend at the Meyo Invitational.

2. COURTNEY OKOLO (TEXAS)- After an injury plagued outdoor season Okolo is back to remind everyone of who she is. Okolo blazed the track at the Husker Invitational to the time of 51.16 for 400 meters. Her time leaves her more than a second ahead the rest of the entire field. Keep in mind this is still a sprinting event, Okolo has proven she is at a level that others just simply are not. Her time certainly indicates that Okolo has the talent to threaten the NCAA and American Indoor record.

1. CINDY OFILI (MICHIGAN)- Ofili debuted two weeks ago as the preseason favorite to win the 60 meter hurdles after a stellar outdoor season. She lived up to the hype vaulting to number 1 and setting a personal best. She followed that performance up with an even better performance by running another personal best time of 7.97. She currently ranks as the only sub 8 second performer in the hurdles and won the race at the Meyo Invitational against quality professional and collegiate competition.

MEN

(Jordan Moore-LSU)

5. JAKE BLAKENSHIP (TENNESSEE)- Last year was the year of the pole vault, both men and women had amazing seasons. This year the Pole Vault has been quiet. This past weekend the event gained a new heartbeat. Jake Blakenship of Tennessee has stepped up as the leader of the event. This past weekend he leaped to 18-9.25 at the Doc Hale Invite. Blakenship is currently one of three athletes to jump over 18 feet. He beat one of the top vaulters to add to his impressive win this past weekend in Torben Laidig of Virginia Tech.

4. CLAYTON MURPHY (AKRON) Murphy is quietly putting together quite an indoor season. Already known for his prowess as a 800 runner he proved this past weekend he is equally adept to the mile. At the Akron Invitational Murphy clocked in at 3:57.11 to win the men’s mile over a class field. Murphy is not ranked in the top 3 in the men’s mile. He may need to make the mile his permanent event after such a race and garnering a top 3 ranking.

3. JOHN ADDISON (NC STATE)- Addison has had to sit behind the big names such as Jarrion  Lawson, Corey Crawford and KeAndre Bates in the men’s long jump. This past weekend he caught the attention of everyone with his leap of 26’9.75. His mark ties Lawson for the number 1 ranking in the country. If you didn’t know about him then you certainly do now. A performance at this level at this point in the season should show how serious Addison is about winning the title.

2. CHRISTIAN COLEMAN (TENNESSEE)- Christian Coleman is another Tennessee Volunteer that has garnered a number 1 ranking. Coleman is one of a few short sprinters pegged to replace the talent of Andre DeGrasse and Trayvon Bromell who both left for the professional ranks early. Coleman blazed the 60 meter dash at the Doc Hale Invitational to the time of 6.54. His time ties him with John Teeters for the number 1 mark in the country. This has proven to be a pretty formidable group of 60 meter sprinters with so many having run under 6.6 this early. The winner this year may dip under 6.5, it could be Coleman.

1. JORDAN MOORE (LSU)- Jordan Moore has been itching to get on my top 5 list for a few weeks now. He has been this season’s best hurdler and continues to prove that. This past weekend he clocked in at 7.68 in the 60 meter hurdles at the New Mexico Classic. The mark will likely be converted to meet his already NCAA leading time of 7.69 since the meet was at Altitude. Moore is leading a pretty solid of hurdlers and is still the clear favorite to win the title at the end of the season.