It is finally here, the Division 1 NCAA Indoor National Championship. This season we have seen many great performances and a few NCAA records too. Although this is the year after the Olympics there is still a lot of buzz in the sport because of the World Championships.That thought may not necessarily be in the back of every one's mind but it is there to be recognized. This season the team battle is perhaps more interesting than ever on the men's side and less predictable on the women's side. With plenty of returning champions and outstanding seniors and freshman this should be a great meet.
Defending Champions
Women: (8) Teahna Daniels, Texas-60 Meter Dash; Kaela Edwards, Oklahoma State- Mile; Alexis Weeks, Arkansas-Pole Vault; Quanesha Burks, Alabama-Long Jump; Keturah Orji, Georgia-Triple Jump; Kendall Williams, Georgia-Pentathlon; Raevyn Rogers, Oregon-800 Meter Run
Teahna Daniels of Texas perhaps the most daunting challenge in defending her title. She had good freshman season but no race matched the performance from last indoor season. Her time of 7.11 broke the school record and put her in the top 10 all time of 60 meter sprinters. Hannah Cunliffe of Oregon has been dominating the event all year long. She set a NCAA record in the event with a time of 7.07, but that was at altitude lowering her mark to 7.09 at the correct level. It still will take a new personal best if Daniels is going to beat Cunliffe.
Senior Kaela Edwards of Oklahoma State returns as the top performer in the mile. Her time of 4:28.75 is almost a full second ahead of her closest competitor. Although not invincible Edwards has proven to have an impressive kick and advantage she has used in the mile. No one in the field has the kick that she does and when she is on top of her game it is hard to beat her.
Alexis Weeks of Arkansas is part of a dymanic duo that is looking to continue the championship success of Arkansas and their pole vaulters. The other half of the dynamic duo from Arkansas is the only other person who has been capable of beating her. That would be her twin sister Victoria Weeks. Arkansas is squarely in the team battle and will need 18 team points to keep pace with Oregon.
Quanesha Burks of Alabama is no stranger to competition. She competes in the SEC and has competed against world class talent. Last season is Akela Jones of Kansas State this year it is Sha'Keela Sanders of Kentucky. Both have jumped over 22 feet this season but Saunders has been tough, she has not lost all year even in one on one competition against Burks at the SEC Championship. Saunders proved herself strong by winning the SEC long jump title proving that Burks will have a difficult time trying to defend her title.
Keturah Orji of Georgia has dominated my blog all year long. It's hard not to talk about her, she has broken American records and triple jumped farther than any collegian in history. After last season where she made the Olympic team and finished 4th, one could assume that she had no place further to go. She proved us wrong by setting the NCAA/American Indoor record. She is with a blink of 47 feet and with no one on her level, she is in excellent position to defend and redefine.
Senior Kendell Williams of Georgia has to have had the most decorated career by a Georgia athlete. Winning this weekend would cement her in legendary status. She would have won four consecutive times in a row, each year having broke her previous record. A four peat clearly seems with in her grasp as she enters ranked number one and on the heels of her own NCAA record.
Jazmine Fray of Texas A&M has been the talk of the event since she broke the indoor record in the event that has stood for more than 10 years. Her time of 2:00.69 is almost a full second ahead of her closes competitor. Defending champion Rogers sits comfortably ranked 3rd with a time of 2:01.75. She is the only athlete in the field who has ran under two minutes and has consistently shown up at the big meets. Fray may have the best time but Rogers is still the favorite.
Men (4) Christian Coleman, Tennessee-200 Meter Dash; Edward Cheserek, Oregon-3,000 and 5,000; Trey Culver, Texas Tech-High Jump; Clive Pullen, Arkansas-Triple Jump.
Christian Coleman has had quite a season for the Volunteers. He has been apart of the Tennessee resurgence in the sprints and has dominated the season. Last season he finished 2nd at the SEC Championships before going on to win at the NCAA. This past weekend he finished 2nd behind Jereem Richards of Alabama. It seems as if its the same script different cast. You should not be surprised if Coleman wins and defends his title.
Edward Cheserek or King Cheserek as he is often referred to returns as the defending champion in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs. Cheserek has an extensive trophy case full of national titles and he is looking to add more to it. This year, his senior year the King is going for a distance triple. He broke the mile NCAA record a few weeks ago and has entered into the event to compete. No one has ever won all three distance events at a meet before but if anyone can do it, Cheserek can.
Trey Culver of Texas Tech has been keeping a low profile. He returns at the defending champion with the hardest job. He is currently ranked 5th overall. Randall Cunningham of USC claimed the outdoor title last season and is looking to avenge himself after losing last indoor season. He has the top ranked mark at 7'5 and has taken over as the favorite to win. For Culver to win the event he may have to perform a personal best.
Senior Clive Pullen of Arkansas is the latest in a long line of Arkansas jumpers. He has been great over the course of his career and has placed himself in good position to defend his title. He currently has the number mark in the country jumping over 56 feet. He will have to contend with the only man capable of beating him and that is Florida's Keandre Bates. Bates defeated Pullen at the SEC Championships and will look to do it again to claim valuable team points. Arkansas and Florida will be are both amongst the favorites to win the team title, every point will count and it is imperative that Arkansas score well here since there will be two Florida Gators in the field.
TOP RANKED
Women
(200 Meter Dash) Deajah Stevens of Oregon has already had quite the career for the Oregon Ducks. She made the U.S. Olympic team in the event and is currently ranked number one in the country with a mark of 22.65. Her teammate Cunliffe has been hot on her tail and will challenge every step of the race.
(400 Meter Dash) Senior Shakima Wimbley of Miami has led the event for the entire season. Fellow senior Chris Ann Gordon of Texas is still expected to challenge Wimbley since she entered the season as the favorite. Wimbley possesses greater speed having run under 23 seconds this season. Gordon had a late start to the season but has come on strong and is rounding into fine shape just in time.
(3,000 Meter Run) Katie Rainsberger of Oregon is a talented freshman and one of the many top recruits from Oregon's 2016 class. She has proven her worth and enters the event as the number one ranked competitor with a time of 9:01.21. The youngster has proven herself against veterans and will be counted to for 10 team points to keep the Oregon Ducks in the team title hunt.
(5,000 Meter Run) This event has the runner-up Erin Finn of Michigan returning for an opportunity to finally win an NCAA title. The stud distance star has ran into injuries as well as a lot of 2nd place finishes. Perhaps the biggest shock was her not wining either the 3,000 or 5,000 meter race at the Big 10 championship. She finished 3rd behind two great competitors including top entrant Tessa Barnett of Penn State. Finn will look to better her performance against Barnett and finally claim the title that has alluded her.
(60 Hurdles) Sasha Wallace of Oregon is another Duck that is being counted for team points. Wallace finished runner-up in this event last year and returned as the top hurdler. She has not disappointed with her national leading time of 7.91 set early in the regular season. With an undefeated season Wallace will look to claim the title to close out a great indoor season.
(High Jump) Georgia looks to continue the field event dominance in this event and possibly finish 1-2. Madeline Fagan is the top entrant along with her Georgian teammate Tatiana Gusin. One of these two talented jumpers will have to win the event and give Georgia 18 huge team points in the team title battle.
(Shot Put) Raven Saunders of Ole Miss looks to avenge herself after suffering a disappointing loss last season. So far so good this season with a mark of 62'8 that is more than two feet ahead of her closest competitor. Saunders already the preseason favorite could use this as an opportunity to set the NCAA record.
(Weight Throw) Janeah Stewart of Ole Miss will be apart of what Ole Miss hopes to be a double. Stewart who trains with Saunders is the leader of the pack in this event with a throw 76-0.75. Her throw sets her well aside of the competition and in great position to win her first NCAA title.
(4x400 Relay) Texas A&M is the top entrant with a time of 3:29.74. They currently are the only team to have eclipsed 3:30. However head to head they were not able to defeat LSU who currently ranks 5th win a time of 3:31.50. Texas A&M will need to put everything they have into the event if they want to defeat not only LSU but 2nd ranked Alabama. Also a side not it has been quite a long time but there is no Texas relay squad competing in one of their signature events.
(Distance Medley Relay) Oregon set the NCAA record early in the season without even trying. With some decent competition expect more of the same. The Ducks are well rested and have avoided heavy injuries so far and will be in great position to win.
Team Battle: It seems to be Oregon and everyone else. The Ducks are ranked number one in so many events and are in great position to win the team title with a lot room for errors. Georgia and Arkansas bring a bevy of talent as well but may not have enough to defeat the loaded Oregon Ducks.
Men
(60 Meter Dash) What a great race this could be. Senior Cameron Burrell of Houston entered the season as the favorite with his top returning time of 6.48. He barely loss the race last season and got off to a good start this season. He has yet to run near his 6.48 but cannot be counted out of the race. Christian Coleman of Tennessee has been the leader all year and will need the race of his life to defeat such a talented field.
(400 Meter Dash) Fred Kerley of Texas A&M has been apart of what has been an outstanding season for this event. There are a total of 8 runners who have already ran under 46 seconds this indoor season. There is a great possibility for that list to grow. Kerley however is the obvious favorite having gone under 45 seconds with his national leading time of 44.94.
(800 Meter Run) Emmanuel Korir of UTEP has led the nation all season long in this event. This will be the 2nd year in a row that a freshman comes in as favorite to win the event. His national leading time of 1:46.15 is one of nine guys who can run 1:46. He cannot let his inexperience affect him with so many talented runners in this field.
(60 Meter Hurdles) The hurdles is another event with a freshman leading a talented group. Grant Holloway set all types of national records last season as high school senior. He has picked up where he left off with a time of 7.58 to lead the Florida Gators. The Gators have a large number of entrants but do not have a lot of room for error. Expect for Holloway to continue to show up when his team needs him too.
(Long Jump) Julian Harvey of SIU-Edwardsville leads a pair of jumpers from Florida. Harvey's national leading mark 26'9.75 is within reach of 27 feet and four feet ahead of the competition. The Gators need big points in this event and Keandre Bates and Grant Holloway are both capable of giving it to them and beating Harvey. Bates has proven this fact especially after finding ways to show up in big moments.
(Pole Vault) Yet another freshman arrives to the National Championship as the top entrant. Chris Nilsen of South Dakota leads the nation with a mark of 18'8.25. Among the top eight entrants only one is senior, so being inexperience will likely not hurt Nilsen or hinder him from winning the title.
(Shot Put) Mostafa Hassan is the big leader in the men's shot put with a two lead on his closest competitor. 69'10.75 puts him in solid reach of 70 feet. Hassan only a junior looks to represent for the smaller schools proving he can compete with the best and defeat them.
(Weight Throw) Senior Johnnie Jackson of LSU has led this event since early on in the season. His national leading mark of 77'3.75 was well out in front for majority of the season. However things have changed and there are now three competitors with 76 foot throws. Jackson will still enter the meet as the favorite but will have good competition to challenge him for the crown.
(Heptathlon) Senior Devon Williams of Georgia seems to finally have a healthy year. After watching his sister dominate for years Williams will look to win a national title of his own. He currently leads the mark with a total of 6,047 points. He was of only two athletes in the field to score over 6,000 points. Williams will find a great challenge in Tim Duckworth of Kentucky and it will require a few personal bests if he wants to win a title.
(4x400 Relay) It's quite unbelievable but there are three teams that have ran 3:02 this season and they gave us quite a race at the SEC Championships. I expect much of the same, collegiate record holders Texas A&M sit in front with a time of 3:02.39. Do not count out Florida as they will be ready along with a talented Alabama group.
(Distance Medley Relay) Ole Miss is developing quite the distance power. Normally when you think of the SEC and distance you think of Arkansas, but not this season. The Ole Miss rebels have proven that recruiting and development along with a little time can go a long way. They lead the nation by nearly two minutes with a time of 9:26.55. Indiana is not two far behind and should be quite the challenge for Rebels to defeat.
Team: It seems to be Florida, Oregon and Arkansas. Arkansas has the most entrants but Florida is ranked high in almost every event except for one. The Gators quite the impressive resume remaining strong throughout the season regardless of challenges,but Arkansas seems to simply know how to win.
(3,000 Meter Run) Katie Rainsberger of Oregon is a talented freshman and one of the many top recruits from Oregon's 2016 class. She has proven her worth and enters the event as the number one ranked competitor with a time of 9:01.21. The youngster has proven herself against veterans and will be counted to for 10 team points to keep the Oregon Ducks in the team title hunt.
(5,000 Meter Run) This event has the runner-up Erin Finn of Michigan returning for an opportunity to finally win an NCAA title. The stud distance star has ran into injuries as well as a lot of 2nd place finishes. Perhaps the biggest shock was her not wining either the 3,000 or 5,000 meter race at the Big 10 championship. She finished 3rd behind two great competitors including top entrant Tessa Barnett of Penn State. Finn will look to better her performance against Barnett and finally claim the title that has alluded her.
(60 Hurdles) Sasha Wallace of Oregon is another Duck that is being counted for team points. Wallace finished runner-up in this event last year and returned as the top hurdler. She has not disappointed with her national leading time of 7.91 set early in the regular season. With an undefeated season Wallace will look to claim the title to close out a great indoor season.
(High Jump) Georgia looks to continue the field event dominance in this event and possibly finish 1-2. Madeline Fagan is the top entrant along with her Georgian teammate Tatiana Gusin. One of these two talented jumpers will have to win the event and give Georgia 18 huge team points in the team title battle.
(Shot Put) Raven Saunders of Ole Miss looks to avenge herself after suffering a disappointing loss last season. So far so good this season with a mark of 62'8 that is more than two feet ahead of her closest competitor. Saunders already the preseason favorite could use this as an opportunity to set the NCAA record.
(Weight Throw) Janeah Stewart of Ole Miss will be apart of what Ole Miss hopes to be a double. Stewart who trains with Saunders is the leader of the pack in this event with a throw 76-0.75. Her throw sets her well aside of the competition and in great position to win her first NCAA title.
(4x400 Relay) Texas A&M is the top entrant with a time of 3:29.74. They currently are the only team to have eclipsed 3:30. However head to head they were not able to defeat LSU who currently ranks 5th win a time of 3:31.50. Texas A&M will need to put everything they have into the event if they want to defeat not only LSU but 2nd ranked Alabama. Also a side not it has been quite a long time but there is no Texas relay squad competing in one of their signature events.
(Distance Medley Relay) Oregon set the NCAA record early in the season without even trying. With some decent competition expect more of the same. The Ducks are well rested and have avoided heavy injuries so far and will be in great position to win.
Team Battle: It seems to be Oregon and everyone else. The Ducks are ranked number one in so many events and are in great position to win the team title with a lot room for errors. Georgia and Arkansas bring a bevy of talent as well but may not have enough to defeat the loaded Oregon Ducks.
Men
(60 Meter Dash) What a great race this could be. Senior Cameron Burrell of Houston entered the season as the favorite with his top returning time of 6.48. He barely loss the race last season and got off to a good start this season. He has yet to run near his 6.48 but cannot be counted out of the race. Christian Coleman of Tennessee has been the leader all year and will need the race of his life to defeat such a talented field.
(400 Meter Dash) Fred Kerley of Texas A&M has been apart of what has been an outstanding season for this event. There are a total of 8 runners who have already ran under 46 seconds this indoor season. There is a great possibility for that list to grow. Kerley however is the obvious favorite having gone under 45 seconds with his national leading time of 44.94.
(800 Meter Run) Emmanuel Korir of UTEP has led the nation all season long in this event. This will be the 2nd year in a row that a freshman comes in as favorite to win the event. His national leading time of 1:46.15 is one of nine guys who can run 1:46. He cannot let his inexperience affect him with so many talented runners in this field.
(60 Meter Hurdles) The hurdles is another event with a freshman leading a talented group. Grant Holloway set all types of national records last season as high school senior. He has picked up where he left off with a time of 7.58 to lead the Florida Gators. The Gators have a large number of entrants but do not have a lot of room for error. Expect for Holloway to continue to show up when his team needs him too.
(Long Jump) Julian Harvey of SIU-Edwardsville leads a pair of jumpers from Florida. Harvey's national leading mark 26'9.75 is within reach of 27 feet and four feet ahead of the competition. The Gators need big points in this event and Keandre Bates and Grant Holloway are both capable of giving it to them and beating Harvey. Bates has proven this fact especially after finding ways to show up in big moments.
(Pole Vault) Yet another freshman arrives to the National Championship as the top entrant. Chris Nilsen of South Dakota leads the nation with a mark of 18'8.25. Among the top eight entrants only one is senior, so being inexperience will likely not hurt Nilsen or hinder him from winning the title.
(Shot Put) Mostafa Hassan is the big leader in the men's shot put with a two lead on his closest competitor. 69'10.75 puts him in solid reach of 70 feet. Hassan only a junior looks to represent for the smaller schools proving he can compete with the best and defeat them.
(Weight Throw) Senior Johnnie Jackson of LSU has led this event since early on in the season. His national leading mark of 77'3.75 was well out in front for majority of the season. However things have changed and there are now three competitors with 76 foot throws. Jackson will still enter the meet as the favorite but will have good competition to challenge him for the crown.
(Heptathlon) Senior Devon Williams of Georgia seems to finally have a healthy year. After watching his sister dominate for years Williams will look to win a national title of his own. He currently leads the mark with a total of 6,047 points. He was of only two athletes in the field to score over 6,000 points. Williams will find a great challenge in Tim Duckworth of Kentucky and it will require a few personal bests if he wants to win a title.
(4x400 Relay) It's quite unbelievable but there are three teams that have ran 3:02 this season and they gave us quite a race at the SEC Championships. I expect much of the same, collegiate record holders Texas A&M sit in front with a time of 3:02.39. Do not count out Florida as they will be ready along with a talented Alabama group.
(Distance Medley Relay) Ole Miss is developing quite the distance power. Normally when you think of the SEC and distance you think of Arkansas, but not this season. The Ole Miss rebels have proven that recruiting and development along with a little time can go a long way. They lead the nation by nearly two minutes with a time of 9:26.55. Indiana is not two far behind and should be quite the challenge for Rebels to defeat.
Team: It seems to be Florida, Oregon and Arkansas. Arkansas has the most entrants but Florida is ranked high in almost every event except for one. The Gators quite the impressive resume remaining strong throughout the season regardless of challenges,but Arkansas seems to simply know how to win.
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