NCAA MEN'S INDOOR PREVIEW

(Edward Cheserek-Oregon)

Men’s Preview

SPRINTS

Cameron Burrell was one of the top recruits coming out of high school. He ran a barely wind aided 10.0 performance in the 100 meter dash and clearly displayed all of the skill set that his world record setting father had. He now enters his junior season absent NCAA Championship hardware. He’s had some major competition recently from Trayvon Bromell, Andre DeGrasse and Ronnie Baker. His time of 6.48 is the fastest returning time in NCAA history and put him in the record books, had it not been for Baker’s 6.47 he would’ve won the title.

Burrell has the luxury of being a student of Carl Lewis and his father Leroy Burrell. Both men have owned the 100 meter world record at one point. Last outdoor season Burrell finished a closely ran race finishing 4th. As a junior he now has the perfect opportunity to put all that behind him and claim the title that has eluded him the past two seasons. Christian Coleman of Tennessee and Senoj-Jay Givans of Texas will be strong challengers but it should be Burrell’s race to lose.

Coleman is a defending champion to keep an eye on for a potential double. Coleman claimed the men’s 200 title last indoor season with a time of 20.55. Coleman also boasts some impressive short speed. Nethaneel  Mitchell-Blake of LSU will also be a threat in the 200. Blake has personal best of 19.95 and was the talk of the sprinting world last outdoor season before his injury anchoring the 4x100 relay. Since Coleman beat a healthy Blake last season he enters the indoor season as the favorite.

The 400 meter dash Michael Cherry of LSU is the top returnee from last season. Although he did not earn individual All-American honors last indoor season he has the top returning time running 44.81 from last outdoor season at the Olympic Trials. Cherry who has large tall frame will likely struggle some with the tight turns of an Indoor track but his speed and strength should be enough to power him to victory.

DISTANCE

Edward Cheserek of Oregon returns to dominate in his senior year. The past year has been a difficult one for Cheserek; he has gone from invincible to beatable. This past cross country season Patrick Tiernan of Villanova claimed the Cross Country NCAA title and Justyn Knight of Syracuse finished 2nd, Cheserek crossed the line in a disappointing 3rd place finish. Although he was unable to four-peat there are still other opportunities for him to make history his senior year.

Cheserek returns at the defending champion of both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter races. Knight and Tiernan will likely be there to challenge him. However Cheserek will want revenge and want to add to his already very large trophy case.

In the mile defending champion Henry Wynne of Virginia returns to defend his title against a great returning field. Oregon returns both All-Americans from last season in Blake Haney and Sam Prakel. Wynne was one of the surprises of the Indoor season but will have to run this season with a target sign on his back against quality competition.

The 800 should be a battle between Shaquille Walker of BYU and Andres Arroyo of Florida. Arroyo a Puerto Rican Olympian is now a senior looking for redemption. After an impressive indoor campaign Arroyo missed the finals at the championship meet and was unable to aide his Florida Gators with much needed team points. Arroyo has solid speed and a strong kick and many have been waiting for him to make the major leap.

Walker on the other hand has made the major leap and earned All-American honors joining a special group of distance runners at BYU. Walker is the early favorite because of his NCAA Championship performance history and his outdoor personal best of sub 1:45.

HURDLES

Freddie Crittenden of Syracuse is the top returnee from last indoor season. Two way sports star Devon Allen of Oregon decided to turn pro this past November after suffering a knee injury during football. Crittenden is a solid technician who has proven that he pays attention detail. Crittenden looks to join another indoor great from Syracuse in Jarrett Eaton. He’ll have great competition in Aaron Mallett of Iowa and Nick Anderson of Kentucky to block him from earning the title.

FIELD EVENTS

Keandre Bates had perhaps his best outdoor season as a Florida Gator last season. He especially performed well when his team needed him too. Bates finished 2nd in the triple jump and third in the long jump and is in the top 3 for returnees for each event. Bates returns as the top triple jumper and will look to continue the championship success established at the University of Florida. Bates will face great challenge in Clive Pullen of Arkansas in the triple jump and Kemonie Briggs of Long Beach State and Roelf Pienaar of Arkansas State in the long jump. Bates will be counted on to provide major team points for Florida to win or have a chance at winning team title.

Trey Culver of Texas Tech prematurely took over the reins last season as the next great high jumper from Texas Tech. Bradley Adkins who returned as the top returnee was no match for his younger teammate who returns as a junior this season. Culver is the top returnee in the event based on marks. However Randall Cunningham of USC lived up to his name and claimed the Outdoor title and will head into the indoor season with some serious confidence. Both are juniors and should put up high quality marks throughout the season.

Filip Mihaljevic of Virginia Tech has been a main stay in the throwing events since his arrival. The Croatian national had quite the impressive season last year and did everything right except win the men’s shot put indoors. However he does have the outdoor hardware and will look to continue that success indoors along with being a part of the great tradition of throwers from Virginia Tech. With the hardware and impressive marks Mihaljevic is an easy preseason favorite to win the title.

Vinny Gjokaj of Michigan State is the top returnee from last indoor season after finishing 9th at the Indoor Championship. This season there will be a new champion along with a new set of All-Americans since the entire top 8 of the field were seniors and none return.

The men’s multi-events has been dominated by Georgia in recent years but last season was different. Zach Ziemek of Wisconsin claimed the indoor title and last outdoor season Lindon Victor claimed the decathlon outdoor title. Lindon returns this season as the early favorite over Devon Williams of Georgia and Harrison Wlliams of Stanford. Williams has had injuries in their past and even with a healthy season Lindon maybe too much to overcome and is the preseason favorite to win the Indoor hepathlon.

The team race will conclude our preview here. This year there is no preseason favorite, with a bevy of returnees and high school super stars expect for this to be a close race. Right now I will lean on Arkansas because of the well rounded talent and the depth that they are returning.

2017 Women's Indoor Preview

OREGON DUCKS

JOY TO THE WORLD TRACK SEASON HAS COME

‘Tis the season for indoor track and field. The indoor season has become an important part of the track and field calendar including more than just the northern schools. There is participation now with nearly every state in the Union competing during this popular season. Last season as expected produced some major stars, it was an Olympic year which usually brings out the best in everyone. 

This season there is the World Championships coming in summer 2017 in London no less and there is still major buzz swirling around the sport. In the college world we are witnessing the development of new stars and the return of old ones every season. As we prepare for what should be an exciting indoor season let us preview of what we expect this season.

SPRINTS 

Ariana Washington of Oregon leads a dominant group of Oregon sprinters. They are reminiscent of the old LSU teams of the 90’s that simply just dominated the sprint events at the National Championships. This past outdoor season Washington returned to her rightful place atop of the sprint thrown winning both the 100 and 200 meter dash. This former California super star has started to live up to the hype surrounding her. After a year of injuries she returned to form at the end of the season.

She’ll be joined by teammates Hannah Cunliffe who was the top sprinter in the NCAA before an injury and Deajah Stevens who went only to be an Olympian for Team USA in the 200 meter dash. It is quite possible that Oregon sweeps the 200 and places two girls in the top 3 in the 60 meter dash.

Defending 60 meter champion Teahna Daniels of Texas will return. Daniels took Cunliffe to the line last indoor season and looks to return to top form after an injury plagued outdoor season that saw some less than stellar times. Daniels having already beaten Cunliffe at her best is the only likely candidate to stop the 1-2 performance Oregon will be hoping for.

In the long sprints there is only one returning All-American and that is senior Chris-Ann Gordon of Texas by way of Jamaica. The talented senior from Jamaica looks to be in great position to carry the torch of great 400 runners from Texas. Shakima Wimbley a senior for Miami will look to rebound after an up and down indoor season 2016 season. The sprinter from South Florida has also ran under 52 seconds indoors before and will look to end her senior season on a high note.

DISTANCE

When you think of distance runners Erin Finn of Michigan should come to mind. She has been on the national scene since she was in high school setting state and national records. Finn has had to deal with her share of injuries and after a great cross country campaign and a solid indoor season last year, Finn looks to finally be ready to garner the one thing missing from her resume. National Champion. Whether it is in the 3,000 or 5,000 now is the best time for Finn to claim the top spot.

Finn’s rival and defending champion at both distances Molly Siedel of Notre Dame is the only challenge to that threat. Siedel too has sat out considerable time due to injury and missed the 2016 cross country season and the 2016 Outdoor Championships. Siedel made the smart decision when she decided to return to Notre Dame and looks to make good on that decision. With Finn having a cross country season under her belt she may be in slightly better shape to compete that Siedel. Each event can go either way, no predictions on the champion here.

In the shorter distances Raeyvn Rogers of Oregon looks to apart of the continued dominance of the Lady Ducks. Rogers now a junior has been quite impressive during her time at Oregon having already won 2 NCAA Outdoor titles and dipped under 2 minutes. Oregon will look to Rogers to provide them with major team points. Olivia Baker of Stanford finished behind Rogers most of the season but has the 400 meter speed to potentially outkick Rogers if it ever comes too it. Expect for Rogers to continue to add winning hardware to her trophy case.

The women’s mile also returns a defending champion in Kaela Edwards of Oklahoma State. Edwards had a disappointing finish to her outdoor campaign finishing 6^th. Her indoor performance was quite impressive and Edwards posses an incredible kick. Edwards will have a class field to compete against but all eyes should appropriately be on her to make up for the disappointment for last outdoor season.

HURDLES

Women’s hurdling in the United States has been on fire in recent years. With so many quality programs at the collegiate level and high school level it’s no wonder that the world and American record fell last year. This year expect for more fire power. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Kentucky had an outstanding freshman campaign. Quinn defeated favorite Cindy Ofili of Michigan at the Outdoor Championships last season to win. Quinn boasts impressive speed; she made the finals of the women’s 200 and holds a personal best of 22.93. With so much room for her to improve she is will ahead of any returning champion in NCAA History. Dior Hall returns this season from a devastating injury and along with Pedrya Seymour of Illinois will be the biggest challenge to Quinn.

FIELD EVENTS

The jumping events simply belong to Georgia. Petros Kyprianou has developed quite the impressive jumps program. Keturah Orji was an outstanding recruit and has turned out to be the greatest female triple jumper in American history. She can also perform at a championship level in the long jump, her teammate Chanel Porter has just simply been better. Both claimed NCAA titles last outdoor season and Orji returns as the defending champion from last indoor season.

This indoor season Orji is the lone threat in the women’s long jump for Georgia. The only thing standing in the way of a jumps double is defending indoor long jump champion Quaneesha Burks of Alabama. All thought she did not finish the season the way she planned it, Burks is more than capable of defending her crown.

In the high jump Georgia could potentially finish 1-2. The Bulldogs have the top returning indoor performer in Tatiana Gusin and outdoor performer in Madeline Fagan. This would further cement their program as the best jumps program in the nation without question.

After a disappointing 2016 indoor season Raven Saunders made up for it during the outdoor season. The talented shot-putter claimed the outdoor title for the second year in a row. The junior returns this indoor season with a plan to reclaim the crown she lost last indoor season. In the weight throw top returnee Dolly Nyemah of Louisville leads a high quality field but should win convincingly.

In the pentathlon senior Kendall Williams of Georgia looks to make it a four peat. A rare feat in the NCAA these days since so many are willing to turn to the professional ranks immediately following a new record or championship performance. Williams is well ahead of the field and should win running away and breaking her record again.

With so many talented athletes moving after the 2016 season this year there will be no early season preview of the 4x400 relay. But a quick note expect for Texas to always field a good team.

The overall team battle looks to come down to Oregon, USC and Georgia. Oregon will likely earn majority of their points in the running events regardless of distance. With the heavy hitters that they possess I believe the Lady Ducks will once again claim the NCAA Indoor Championship.