April 11th Weekend Recap

1:44.99!!

(Shaquille Walker-BYU)

The first weekend in April has come and gone. The season is now in full swing and many athletes returned to the track after spending a 2-3 week hiatus to rest from the NCAA Indoor Championship seasons. There were so many big time performances this weekend, new number 1’s and personal records. We will recap the top 5 from men and the women.

MEN

5. SAM MATTIS (PENN)- The defending champion continued his record dominant streak again this past weekend. Mattis threw his discus a grand total of 213 feet and 7 inches. His mark is the not the best of the season but it is still better than the season best of the number 2 ranked thrower in the nation. Mattis is on a record tear and looks primed to add another national title to his trophy case.

4. FRED KERLEY (TEXAS A&M)- Kerley a junior college transfer has taken over the reigns as the next great 400 runner from Texas A&M. Kerley made his presence known early with a NCAA leading time of 45.10. Although it is early in the season and many great sprinters have yet to run the 400, Kerley’s time is still quality enough that his name should be mentioned among the challengers for the title.

3. DEVON ALLEN (OREGON)- The Oregon Duck football player is having an amazing comeback season. After injuring himself in the 2015 Rose Bowl Game Allen has climbed back to the top of the rankings and looks to prove that he is more than capable of dominating the hurdle world once again. His early season time of 13.40 is indicative of the hardwork he has put in and his readiness to win the 110 hurdles again.

2. COLBY GILBERT (WASHINGTON)- Although his winning time of 13:44.96 in the men’s 5,000 only puts him 4^th in the NCAA it was still quite an impressive performance. Perhaps the most impressive point of his performance would be who he won against. In the same race at the Pepsi Team Invitational was Oregon’s distance phenom and superstar Edward Cheserek. Cheserek has more individual national titles then entire programs. This was his season debut on his home track and he was expected to dominate. Gilbert had other plans and out kicked Cheserek to win a stunning upset.

1. SHAQUILLE WALKER- In my opinion Shaquille Walker of BYU had the most impressive performance of the season in the men’s 800 at the Sun Angel Classic held at Arizona State University. Walker is having quite the season. He is currently ranked nationally in the men’s 400 and follows that up with this weekend’s performance. Walker vaulted to the number 1 ranking with an impressive time of 1:44.99. His 1:44 is the first sub 1:45 performance of the season and a positive sign that he is on the right track to earning another All-American honor and potentially challenge for the title.

WOMEN

4/5. There is a tie for the 5th position. We had a rare occurrence were two different athletes ran the exact same time. It happened in the women’s 200 meter dash. Deanna Hill of USC stormed the Oregon Oval at the Pepsi Team Invitational to a winning time of 22.71. At that the time her mark placed her as the number 1 200 sprinter in the NCAA. Meanwhile freshman Taylor Bennett of Baylor was also dominating the 200 on her track matching the time of 22.71. Bennett did however run into a slight headwind but both times are significant and we have co-leaders at the top of the rankings. It’s early in the season but expect to hear more from these two talented young sprinters.

3. ALYSHA NEWMAN (MIAMI)- This past weekend at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational senior Alysha Newman became the first vaulter to surpass 15 feet this season. Her mark of 15-1 ranks her number 1 in the country and in the driver’s seat for the NCAA title. Newman had a much better outing this past weekend then during the Texas Relays where she finished 4^th against national competition.

2. NNEYA HAILEY- Surprisingly the women’s 100 meter hurdles does not have very many athletes running sub 13. Hailey of Arizona became the first woman of the season to break the 13 second barrier and set a personal record with a time of 12.96. Many All-Americans have already competed this season but none have been able to run sub 13. Although it is early in the season, it’s a real positive sign for Hailey.

1. SAGE WATSON- Watson arrived at Arizona from Florida State. Watson was the 2015 ACC Champion in the women's 400 hurdles and also earned All-American honors. She may have been forgotten but the Canadian made sure that everyone remembered she is still here. Watson blasted off to an NCAA leading time of 55.45. Her top ranked time still confirms that she is not only ready to add another conference title to her credit but challenge Shamier Little for title of NCAA Champion. Although she may have a ways to go she she deserves credit for having the better performance this past weekend.