NCAA Championship Preview

STILL THE KING?

(Edward Cheserek)

Oregon

It is finally here, the best event on the track and field calendar. It is NCAA Outdoor Championship time. I look forward to the day were I attend this meet as a regular. A lot has happened since our last post. We had a broken Regional meet that helped determined who attends the national meet and we had injury updates. I consider the regional meet to be broken because the format makes the meet pointless. I absolutely love the indoor format and hope that Outdoors will adopt this same format one day. This weekend has plenty of things for us to discuss.

Perhaps the biggest story on the women’s side is who will be absent. Jasmine Todd of Oregon who has consistently battled injuries will be out in the women’s 100. It’s rad sad considering her level of talent. She will joined by Kyra Jefferson of Florida who will be out in the women’s 200. Her absence is a huge loss for Florida and their team title hopes. In the distance events defending champion Molly Seidel of Notre is out along with Erin Finn of Michigan.

On the men’s side it’s all about who is ready to shine. Many of the events do not have a returning champion and there will be plenty of new champions and stars developed since this is an Olympic year.

Predictions:

WOMEN

100- Morolake Akinosun (Texas) She finished runners-up here last year by one thousandth of a second. With a personal best of under 11 seconds look for her to claim the title against heavy competition.

200- Felicia Brown (Tennessee) She has been dominant all year long and has cemented herself as one of the greats in the event with her stunning performances.

400- Courtney Okolo (Texas) The most decorated 400 runner in NCAA history and the only in the field with a national title and personal best under 50 seconds.

800- Raevyn Rogers (Oregon) Rogers is the defending champion in this event and the only participant to have run under 2 minutes. Rogers has been up and down this season but she has been more up than she has been down. In front of a home crowd expect the same type of magic you saw last year from Rogers.

1,500- Marta Frietas (Mississippi State) Frietas has been number 1 in the NCAA since the end of April and is currently the only athlete in the field with a time under 4:10. Frietas will be challenged by a great field but expect her to win the crown.

3,000 Steeplechase- Courtney Frerichs (New Mexico) Currently she is ranked number 1 in the NCAA and against a deep field should prevail.

5,000/10,000- Dominique Scott (Arkansas) With Molly Seidel of Notre Dame and Erin Finn of Michigan both of these events took a major star hit. However Dominque Scott of Arkansas is still in the field and was on the early season contenders to win the crown for either of these events. She will be huge in terms of team points and should have no trouble winning the title convincingly.

100 Hurdles- Cindy Ofili (Michigan) Ofili has been the preseason favorite since the end of last season. With a personal best of 12.60 and a season’s best of 12.66. Ofili has been number 1 all season long and it should continue this weekend.

400 Hurdles- Shamier Little (Texas A&M) She started off slow to the season running a few pedestrian times. She did not claim the number 1 ranking until the SEC Championships. Her time of 54.72 still stands as the number 1 time. With Hailey of Arizona out of the picture expect for Little to win her third straight NCAA title.

4x100- LSU. Without major injuries the Tigers look to add to their illustrious history in this event. Kentucky and Texas A&M will still be a challenge.

4x400- Arkansas. Their win at the NCAA West Regional Meet against Texas with Okolo running a 49 split showed that they have come a long way. Consistently over the past few years Arkansas has been able to produce great 400 runners and a solid 4x400 relay.

Long Jump- Quaneesha Burks (Alabama) Undefeated is the reason. Burks has yet to lose this season and has been consistently ranked number 1 all year around and beaten her toughest competitors one on one.

Triple Jump- Keturah Orji (Georgia) Orji has had a spectacular career so far at Georgia. She is on the verge of possibly breaking a NCAA record as a sophomore. With a personal best of 47 feet, the best is yet to come.

Shot Put/Discus- Kelsey Card (Wisconsin) Card has been more consistent with being a top level performer this outdoor season. Defending Champion Raven Saunders of Ole Miss is in the field but has not had the type of Outdoor Season that I believe she would have liked. I think Card will be looking to prove herself and outduel Sanders for the crown. She has also been the favorite all season long for the discus and that should not change this weekend.

High Jump- Erica Bougard (Mississippi State) With no Akela Jones in the field, Bougard has the number 2 mark in the NCAA. This could be an easy victory for Bougard.

Pole Vault- Alexis Weeks (Arkansas) One of the few freshman this NCAA season that are favorites to win the NCAA title. Weeks looks to continue the legacy of great pole vaulters at Arkansas and add another 10 points for the team title hopes.

Hammer Throw- DeAnna Price (Southern Illinois) She has consistently been the best at this event all year long and it should carry over to a national title.

Javelin Throw- Hannah Carson (Texas Tech) Carson comes in ranked number 1 based on season’s best. She has a very competitive field to compete against including the Malone Sisters of Texas A&M but should still claim the crown.

Heptathlon- Akela Jones (Kansas State) In perhaps one of the most competitive competitions this event has seen in years Jones is the favorite to be a phenomenal field. It is quite possible that the top 3 of this event will be in Rio for the countries competing at the Olympic Games. Jones is ranked high in a multitude of events and had it not been for a misstep at the Indoor Championships she would have likely won the event with a record performance.

TEAM: ARKANSAS- This might not even be close. The lady Hogs are absolutely loaded and show they have the ability to score in practically every area on the track. The future is also bright for them as well with such a talented group of young women.

MEN

100- Ronnie Baker (TCU) The two time Indoor NCAA Champion at 60 meters was unable to compete last outdoor season due to injury. He enters this outdoor season with only one goal in mind. Baker will have heavy competition from Cameron Burrell of Houston and Tevin Hester of Clemson but just like indoors expect the star to rise to the occasion when the competition is heaviest.

200- Nethaneel Blake- Mitchell (LSU) After having secured one of the fast wind legal times in NCAA history with a time of 19.95. Mitchell will look to continue his successful outdoor campaign and earn his first NCAA title.

400- Arman Hall (Florida) Hall started his career with plenty of notoriety. He was an outstanding freshman who made team USA and at a young age ran under 45 seconds. Add to that he also ran a 43 split later in his career. However majority of his career he has been plagued by injuries and has yet to claim the NCAA title that many expected him to earn. I believe now is the best time for Hall to truly showcase his talent.

800- Brandon McBride (Mississippi State) McBride has returned back to the top of the 800 podium. After a disappointing 2015 season that saw him unable to defend his NCAA title he began this outdoor season with a bang including a personal best of 1:44.63 that placed in the all-time records list. Look for McBride to reclaim his title against a great field.

1,500- Izaic Yorks (Washington) His season speaks for itself. He has had some record breaking performances and all time bests. The only appropriate conclusion to his season is the NCAA title.

3,000 Steeplechase Mason Ferlic (Michigan) He has been at the top majority of this season and the only athlete in the field with a personal best under 8:30. After falling in the water, literally, at last year’s NCAA Championship Ferlic is looking to rebound in a big way.

5,000/10,000 Edward Cheserek (Oregon) I openly admit to taking the easy road here. Cheserek this outdoor season has not been his usual self. He has been outkicked against some pretty big competition, and at home no less. I don’t expect for that continue and neither should you. Cheserek is one of the most decorated athletes in NCAA history and should use this weekend to add to his Championship trophy case.

4x100 & 4x400 (LSU) What program has ever been this consistent in both relays heading into the National Championship? As much as I love the Florida Gators I cannot recall this level of consistency. LSU is in great position to break the NCAA record in both events. I truly believe this is their best assembled team. LSU wins big in both events.

High Jump- Avion Jones (East Carolina) Jones is having quite the outdoor season and used the American Conference Championship as a signal to the rest of the nation. He claimed the number 1 ranking with a mark of 7-7. His mark is 2 inches more than his closest competitor.  Jones wins convincingly.

Pole Vault- Devin King (SE Louisiana) King has been number 1 since late March with his win at the Texas Relays. Without Shawn Barber in the field who left for the pro’s this is perhaps the perfect opportunity for the talented sophomore to be the next great star in the event. His first assignment is living up to the expectation.

Long Jump- Jarrion Lawson (Arkansas) Although he is not currently ranked number 1 in the NCAA we most certainly know what he is capable of. Lawson has been the bridesmaid at the championships quite often. He got his first NCAA title this past indoor season and will look to continue this outdoor season. Arkansas athletes have a habit of showing up big at Championship meets.

Triple Jump- Clive Pullen (Arkansas) Pullen is currently ranked number 2 right now behind Matthew O’Neal of South Florida. If we have learned anything and I have already said Arkansas athletes show up at Championship meets. Pullen earned the Indoor title and like his teammate should win the outdoor title. It will be a challenge though, O’Neal has proven to be a real talent.

Shot Put- Nicholas Scarvellis (UCLA) It’s been a while since we have heard of championship contender in the shot put for UCLA. A school that has produced some greats in the field events has a new contender. Scarvellis now a senior has been perhaps the best in the event all season long and is the obvious favorite to win the event.

Discus- Sam Mattis (Penn) He’s the defending champion and has been ranked number 1 all season long. Expect for that to continue with Mattis adding another championship crown to his trophy case.

Hammer Throw- Rudy Winkler (Cornell) It is clear that the Ivy League has learned how to play with the big boys. Winkler like his Ivy League brother Mattis has been the top ranked hammer thrower all season long and in is the best position for him to claim his first NCAA title.

Javelin Throw- Ioannis Kyriazis (Texas A&M) Kyriazis is being counted on heavily to live up to the top ranking. With Texas A&M in the middle of an intense team battle 10 points are a must for the sophomore. His undefeated record this outdoor season proves that he is more than ready to win his first NCAA title.

Decathlon- Victor Lindon (Texas A&M) Lindon proved his worth by defeating a talented field at the SEC Championship and not allowing Georgia to continue their dominance in the event. Lindon is also an athlete being relied upon to win the NCAA title to help add 10 big points to his the team battle. Lindon will have heavy competition but has proven he can win against the best already.

Team- LSU- They are extremely top heavy and expect a lot out of their competitors. However if everything falls into place they could potentially walk away with 4 titles which in itself is 40 points and puts them in great position to win the team battle.

Challenger- Arkansas- They always show up to this meet and have capable champions in a myriad of different events. They have the ability to score all over the track. Beware of the Hogs and their championships pedigree.