(Miami Defending Women's Champion)
Conference Championship Weekend Preview 1
Power 5 Conferences: ACC
The ACC has been one of the top tier conferences in the NCAA
this season. They have the makings of a complete conference, great sprint
programs, great distance programs, great throwing programs and jumping
programs. Notice I say programs as in plural. There are more than one of the
programs in this conference that are solid in each discipline. The conference
is full of quality and many of the athletes competing this weekend will be
competing at nationals.
SPRINTS
Women
Since Coach Marvin Gibson joined the Clemson coaching staff
as its sprints coach the Clemson Tigers have continued their successful run of
producing top tier sprinters. This season is no different. The Lady Tigers have
a total of three athletes in the top four and a total of five athletes in the
top eight. Junior Torie Robinson leads the way in the 60 meter dash with a time
of 7.27. Her time ranks her 10th in the nation and a legit candidate
for first time All-American honors.
In the 200 and 400 is where Miami will challenge the Lady
Tigers for sprint supremacy. The Miami Hurricanes have the luxury of having
Shakima Wimbley. Wimbley has dominated this conference in the long sprints
winning both events multiple times at the conference meet. She is the defending
champion in both events. In the 400 she is ranked number in the NCAA with a
time of 51.28. In the 200 her time of 23.19 ranks her 12th.
As of right now she could qualify to compete in both events
at the national championship. I believe she focus on her best event the 400.
Wimbley is nearly two seconds ahead of her closest competition her own teammate
Brittny Ellis. In the 200 she will have to contend with Sabria Hadley a senior
from Clemson who is looking to add some championship hardware to her trophy
case.
SPRINTS
Men
In the 60 meter dash Florida State continues to be the king
on the mountain of short sprinters. Sophomore Darryl Haraway is the latest
sprinting prodigy from the Seminoles. Haraway has a season’s best of 6.59 which
currently leave him tied for 3rd in the nation. Myles Valentine of
Miami seems to be the only threat to Haraway.
In the 200 Quashawn Cunningham of North Carolina St is the conference’s
top performer with a mark of 21.12. Cordelll Lamb of Clemson is a close 2nd
with a time of 21.19. Haraway of Florida State has not ran the 200 that much
this indoor season but with a time of 6.59 in the 60 meter dash you cannot
count him out.
In the 400 Clemson looks to make it a one-two punch with conference
leader Jeffrey Green and senior Michael Cheeks. Green’s top time of 46.49 is
currently ranked 17th in the country. He’ll need to improve and get
into the top 16 if he would like to compete at the National Championship. Green
is also the only athlete to run under 47 seconds in the conference this season
along with being the defending conference champion.
HURDLES
Senior Ebony Morrison of Miami leads the women’s side of
this event. Her time of 8.13 slightly edges out Peta-Gay Williams of Florida
State. Williams leads a strong contingent of hurdlers for Florida State, they
have a total of three in the top eight. Morrison’s time currently ranks her 12th
in the nation and in good position to qualify the National Championship.
On the men’s side senior Freddie Crittenden III is the top
leader in the conference with a time of 7.67. He also happens to be the
defending champion and All-American. He is currently ranked 5th in
the nation. He has a full step on his closes competitor Kirk Lewis of Clemson.
He will attempt to add valuable team points to Syracuse and lead a strong group
of Syracuse hurdlers. Syracuse currently has three in the top of the
conference.
DISTANCE
Men
The 800 is another event home to a defending champion.
Robert Heppenstall of Wake Forest claimed the 800 conference title last indoor
season and currently leads the way this season with a time of 1:47.63. The
talented sophomore is currently ranked 11th in the country and will
look to defend his title against great competition. His main challenger should
be senior Drew Piazza from Virginia Tech who is ranked 2nd with a
time of 1:47.87 good enough for 15th in the country.
In the mile, 3,000 and 5,000 meter races it is possible for
distance star Justyn Knight of Syracuse to sweep all three. He is the defending
champion for both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter races and is ranked number in the
conference currently for the 3,000. The mile has defending champion Henry Wynne
of Virginia that will challenge him along with conference leader Adam Palamar
his teammate from Syracuse. The 5,000 is not an event he has ran yet this
season but since he is the defending champion and should not be overlooked.
Women
Hanna Green has been a household name in the women’s 800
ever since she defeated Natoya Goule of Clemson a few years back. Green has
been routinely at the top of the conference and the NCAA. As the defending champion
yet again Green should simply look to improve upon her time of 2:01.91 that
currently ranks her fourth in the nation. She is currently a full three seconds
ahead of her closest competitor Ersula Farrow of Clemson and her teammate
Rachel Pocratsky.
In the mile Grace Barnett of Clemson is the conference
leader with a time of 4:33.40. Her time currently has her ranked 6th
in the country. There is no defending champion in the event giving Barnett a
much easier path to victory.
Molly Siedel of Notre Dame is the defending champion in the
women’s 3,000 and 5,000 meter races. However the talented senior from Notre
Dame is still recovering from some very painful injuries and has ran sparingly
this indoor season. The conference leaders in the 3,000 which is Rachel Koon of
North Carolina St and Erika Kemp also of North Carolina St are in great position
to take the crown in their respective events.
FIELD EVENTS
Men
Defending Champions: Damar Robinson of Louisville in the men’s
high jump, Nate Richartz of Notre Dame in the men’s Pole Vault , Filip
Mihaljevic of Virginia in the men’s shot put and Robert Rohner of Duke in the
hepathlon.
Nate Richartz of Notre Dame is perhaps the most vulnerable
of the group. Richartz is currently ranked third in his event in conference.
The two athletes ahead are both from Virginia Tech with Deaking Volz leading
the way with a mark of 18-6 ¾ which currently ranks him number two in the
nation.
Another potential vulnerable athlete would be Rohner of
Duke. He has not competed in the heptathlon this season but has competed separately
in various individual events. He cannot
be counted out especially since his performance from last season is still
better than the current conference leader Jack Lint of Virginia.
In the weight throw Jordan Young is the conference leader
with his mark of 75’2. He is one of only two athletes in the field with a mark
over 70 feet and the senior is ranked 4th in the nation.
The Long jump will have a new champion as well with Clemson’s
Chris McBride leading the way. McBride is the only athlete in the field with a
mark over 25 feet with his season’s best of 25-6 ¾.
Women
Defending Champions: Bria
Matthews of Georgia Tech in the women’s long and triple jump, Emmonie Henderson
of Louisville in the women’s shot put and Dolly Nyemah of Louisville in the
women’s weight throw.
Bria Matthews is perhaps the most vulnerable defending
champion. Matthews has not competed at all this indoor season and will likely
not be competing at the conference championship. Jogaile Petrokaite of Florida
State leads the women’s long jump and senior Iana Amsterdam of Clemson leads
the women’s triple jump.
Madison Heath look of Duke looks to continue their tradition
of great Pole Vaulters. The talented junior is currently the only woman in the
field with a mark of 14 feet. Her mark ranks her 9th in the country.
She will lead a group of four athletes currently ranked in the top 8 in the
conference.
Nicole Green of North Carolina and Eleonora Omoregie of
Florida State look to officially break their stalemate. The two are currently
tied for the top spot in the women’s high jump with a mark of 6-0.75. They are
the only two in the field over 6 feet and are tied for 6th in the
country.
The pentathlon will crown a new champion and senior
Melissa-Maree Farrington of Florida State will look to claim the crown. The
senior is currently ranked 1st in the conference with a total of
4,056 points. She is the only athlete in the field with over 4,000 points.
RELAYS
Men
4x400 Relay: Clemson with a time of 3:07.15 is the
conference leader.
Distance Medley:
Virginia Tech with a time of 9:31.15 is the conference leader.
Women
4x400 Relay: Miami with a time of 3:31.88 is the conference
leader. They are also ranked 5th in the nation.
Distance Medley: Virginia Tech with a time of 11:12.17 is
the conference leader.
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