REGIONAL RECAP

(Fred Kerley- Texas A&M)

This past weekend the Eastern and Western Regional Preliminary Rounds took place. We cannot call them championship meets since they are only used for qualifying. Still there were quite a few noticeable performances and quite a few disappointments. Some of which are in my opinion the result of the regional competition. To be fair injuries are a part of sport and so are mentally weak athletes, every collegiate sport has a qualifying competition before nationals why should track and field be any different.

RECORD BROKEN

Senior Fred Kerley of Texas A&M is having perhaps one of the best seasons in 400-meter history. He has been so dominant all season long using his speed with his, big frame to put up some impressive times. He broke the NCAA record with a time of 43.70. Quincy Watts of USC held that record for 25 years. It is one of the oldest records in NCAA history. His time places him in the top 10 in world history and this year’s number one. It remains to be seen if he lowers his record any further.

OREGON STRUGGLES

This season’s Lady Ducks remind me of the Texas Longhorn team of 2004. In 2004 then head coach Beverly Kearney had assembled one of the greatest teams in NCAA history. They looked virtually unstoppable. They had three to five quality athletes for every sprint and or hurdle event. They were great in the relay events as well. When they got to Nationals they crashed and burned. Even there record setting 4x400 relay, which still stands today, dropped the baton early in the race and finished 6^th.

What I saw from Oregon this past weekend reminded me of that. Yes, it is disappointing as we head into the National Championship but is all a part of competition. Their record setting 4x100 relay will not go onto Nationals. They were disqualified at Regionals. This leaves LSU without a true challenger in the 4x100 relay and gives them a clear path to re-claiming the record solely. Oregon also will be without Hannah Cunliffe who was a no show for the 4x100 relay, 100 and 200. They Ducks are still favorites but they will arrive significantly weaker than expected.

MISSING IN ACTION

Hannah Cunliffe of Oregon is not the only headlining athlete who will not be competing at Nationals. There is Eli Hall of Houston. Hall had the fastest time in the NCAA at 200 meters and one of the fastest times in the NCAA at 100 meters before the meet. He was a no show for the final preliminary round of the 100 and for any heats of the 200 and it was likely due to injury.

Also missing is sprinter Just’N’ Thymes of USC, sprinter Kunle Fasasi of Florida, high Jumper Tequan Claitt of Western Kentucky, long jumpers Ja’Mari Ward of Missouri and Charles Brown of Texas Tech. Their absences certainly change the team battle races on both sides but even without these stars there will still be a bevy of talent competing at this year’s meet.

TEAM BATTTLE GETS TIGHTER

With the Oregon women taking a significant hit this weekend and Florida and Texas A&M men looking like they may tie again this weekend certainly changed the perceived outcome of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

On the women’s side LSU leads with the most entries totaling 19. With their bevy of sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and throwers to add to that two great relays this maybe Dennis Shaver’s best assembled team since he has been a head coach and puts him in great shape to win the team title.

Texas A&M lead the entrants on the men’s side with a total of 18. Texas A&M is a well-rounded program, great in the sprints and relays but also great in the field events and middle distance. The Aggies enter the meet as the number 1 team and will likely end that way.