Weekend 4 Recap

(Lynna Irby-Georgia)

Well the record breaking theme continued this past weekend. It seems that we cannot go a weekend without either a collegiate record, national record or all-time performance happening. That is the type of season it has been for Division 1 Indoor Track and Field. I hope this keeps going, it has made for an exciting season. Let us recap what was an amazing weekend full of top performances.

MEN

5.) KEANDRE BATES (FLORIDA)- Keandre Bates was a little rusty at the beginning of the season but has easily found his form and round into great shape. This past weekend he reminded everyone why he was the favorite to potentially sweep the horizontal jumps this season. He finished 2^nd at the Razorback Invitational in the long jump to his teammate Grant Holloway with a leap of 25 feet 10-¼ inches to move into the number three position in the country. He garnered the top ranking in the country by winning the triple jump with a leap of 54-1. Bates is in great position to pull of the double.

4.) DILLON MAGGARD (UTAH STATE)- Dillon Maggard made a name for himself this weekend at the University of Washington Invitational. This meet has been a distance carnival of sorts and Maggard must have been the main attraction. Maggard clocked in at 7:52.99 in the 3,000 to win the event and claim the number one ranking. Maggard has competed at many national competitions but has yet to do well enough to score. With his recent performance in the 3,000 expect for that to change during the post season.

3.) JORDAN GEIST (ARIZONA)- Jordan Geist was a highly recruited high school senior last year. The talented standout has already proven that they hype was real with his early season performances but this past weekend sealed it. Geist took the number one ranking in the Shot Put with a throw of 70 feet 4-½ inches. He has almost five inches more on the rest of the NCAA and is in prime position to claim the title as a freshman. Expect to hear more from Geist throughout the indoor season.

2.) OGI IGBOKWE (ARKANSAS)- Ogi Igbokwe wowed his home crowd at the Razorback Invitational with his performance against top competition. Igbokwe became on the second man in the NCAA to dip under 46 seconds in the 400-meter dash with his time of 45.72. His time is number one in the NCAA and is the second fastest in the world. Although it is still January we are only a few weeks away from the SEC Championships were Igbokwe is sure to star and further improve upon his NCAA leading time.

1.) MICHAEL SARUNI (UTEP)- Michael Saruni already impressed us early in the season when he ran 1:45.9 in the 800. Saruni immediately became the favorite to win the event but his time was scrutinized because it was on a 300-meter track instead of a 200-meter track. Well Saruni proved that his time was no fluke this past weekend. Saruni clocked in at 1:45.19 at the Texas Tech Classic to win the event by more than three seconds. His time is also one of the fastest times in NCAA history and the fastest indoors since 1989. Even more impressive is that it is the fastest indoor collegiate time on American soil. Saruni is two full seconds on the rest of the NCAA and in great position to win the NCAA title.

WOMEN

5.) JAZMINE FRAY (TEXAS A&M)- Fray broke the indoor collegiate record in the 800 last year but was unable to end either the indoor or outdoor season with any hardware. She still entered this season as the preseason favorite and this past weekend further cemented her status as the favorite to win the NCAA title. Against top competition at the Razorback Invitational Fray clocked in at 2:02.30 to win the 800-meter run. Her time ranks her number one in the NCAA and gives her almost a full second on the rest of the field.

4.) ALEXIS JACOBUS (ARKANSAS)- Another year another top tier pole vaulter from Arkansas. Arkansas is great at many events but Pole Vault may simply be their best. Jacobus this past weekend became the second vaulter this indoor season to surpass 15 feet. On her home field Jacobus claimed the Razorback Invitational with a leap of 15 feet 1 ½ inch. Although she is not the only 15-foot vaulter she did jump higher than Kentucky’s Olivia Gruver. These two will meet again in a few weeks at the SEC Indoor Championships and will give us a true glimpse of who is the favorite to win the event.

3.) KARISSA SCHWEIZER (MISSOURI)- Schweizer has had quite the impressive career at Missouri. She has been a mainstay with in the programs premier distance program. She has three NCAA titles to her credit in all three levels of track. Schweizer this past weekend at the Dr. Sanders Invitational she competed in the mile instead of her specialty the 5,000. Schweizer however may want to consider competing in the mile after her performance which saw her run a time of 4:27.54. Her time is the best in the country and puts her nearly eight seconds ahead of her closest competitor who was in the same race.

2.) ANNETTE ECHIKUNWOKE (CINCINNATI)- Annette Echikunwoke is a part of Cincinnati’s growing throws group. Ole Miss generally grabs the headlines because of their record breaking throwers but you cannot ignore Cincinnati. Echikunwoke joined the all-time greats in the weight throw at the Indiana Relays with her winning throw of 77 feet 8 ¾ inches. Her throw is the best throw in the NCAA since 2012 and gives her a three-foot lead over Jeneah Stewart of Ole Miss in the NCAA rankings.

1.) LYNNA IRBY (GEORGIA)- Lynna Irby was the highest ranked recruit coming out of high school in the 400. She has that rare blend of speed and endurance. She surprised many (especially me) by deciding to attend Georgia. With the way her season has been going she has clearly put the Bulldogs on the map. At the Razorback Invitational, this talented freshman was not afraid of anyone. She won the 200 from lane 3 in a time of 22.96, a new NCAA number one. Then she claimed the 400 in a time of 51.48 against the preseason favorite Kendall Ellis of USC. Her 400 time is also a NCAA number one. So yes, you are reading right a freshman leads the NCAA in both the 400 and 200, let that sink in.

Next Week: The season marches on next weekend as we enter February. There will be plenty of big meets including one in my home state of Michigan. It is the Power Five Invitational at the University of Michigan and there is also the Rod McCray Memorial Invitational at Kentucky. Expect a weekend of big performances. 

Weekend 3 Recap

(Keturah Orji-Georgia)

Whew! That’s all I could say after watching and reviewing the results from this weekend. There was a world record set in the professional ranks and a new American record in the collegiate ranks. This weekend proved that we are on course for another record breaking season. The championship picture is starting to become clearer for not only the team title hunt but for the individuals as well. This post will continue our current theme of the top five performers of the weekend.

WOMEN

5.) MAGGIE EWEN (ARIZONA STATE)- Maggie Ewen continued her hot streak as the nation’s top shot putter. Her throw at the Texas A&M Quad reached 61 feet 3 inches. She remains the only athlete to throw beyond 60 feet this season. She also further solidified her ranking as the number one thrower. With Raven Saunders having yet to compete Ewen’s 60-foot throw proves that Saunders will have to be at her very best to hold off a surging Ewen.

4.) DIOR HALL (USC)- Hall began this season with a bang and injury free. In the preliminary race of the 60 meter hurdles she clocked in at 7.94 behind pro Tobi Amusan. She followed that up with a time of 7.98 in the final. Her 7.94 ran in the prelims immediately vaulted her to the number one ranking and perhaps made her the new favorite to win the title. Due to the altitude at which she competed her time was converted down to 7.96 which still makes her the number one collegiate.

3.) ERIN FINN (MICHIGAN)- Finn is on the list again this week after another solid outing on her home track. The Wolverines hosted Arkansas, Ohio State and Michigan State in the Harvey-Simmons quad. Finn put on an impressive showing in the 3,000-meter run garnering a winning time of 8:58.69 besting her closest competitor by more than 10 seconds. Her time currently ranks her number two in the event and is one of only two performances under nine minutes in the 3,000 this season.

2.) ALEIA HOBBS (LSU)- Hobbs is another repeat offender on this list. This past weekend at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational at the University of Iowa Hobbs clocked in at 7.14 in the 60-meter dash. With that time, she reclaimed the top spot from her teammate Mikiah Brisco. With no performances from the Oregon ladies yet Hobbs remains the favorite to potentially dethrone them and return LSU to the top of short sprints.

1.) KETURAH ORJI (GEORGIA)- Was there really in doubt who the top performer was from this past weekend, in my book no. Orji continues to impress every time she steps on a track, or in her case lands in a pit. On her first jump of the indoor season Orji set a new American/Collegiate record in the triple jump. Her mark of 47’8 to win the Clemson Invitational was three feet ahead of her closes competitor. Orji competed against some of the best jumpers in the NCAA and again proved there is no one on her level, not even close.

(Grant Holloway-Florida)

MEN

5.) CHRIS NILSEN (SOUTH DAKOTA)- It has been a while since a pole vaulter has made the list and after the weekend that Nilsen had he has truly been deserving of being added. Nilsen is the defending NCAA Indoor Champion and reclaimed the number one ranking at the Jim Emmerich Alumni Invite in South Dakota. His mark of 18 feet 6 inches further solidified his number one ranking in the event. Nilsen will remain as the favorite to win the title later this season.

4.) JACOB THOMSON (KENTUCKY)- Kentucky had a weekend full of top performances and Thomson was another one. Thomson clocked a time 7:53.87 to win the 3,000-meter run at the Clemson Invitational. He won the race by more than 10 seconds against a quality field. His time moved him to the number one ranking in the NCAA and he became one of three athletes under eight minutes on the season.

3.) NCINCILILI TITI (SOUTH CAROLINA)- As one of the preseason favorites to win the 200-meter dash senior Ncincilili Titi opened the season with the top mark in the NCAA. He clocked in at in impressive time of 20.45. Titi is one many sprinters this season who look to fill the void left behind by Christian Coleman, a time of this magnitude this early certainly has garnered attention and respect. Titi will remain the favorite to win the NCAA title.

2.) ANDRE EWERS (FLORIDA STATE)- Ewers is a junior collegiate transfer and a native of Jamaica, he did both proud this weekend. Ewers opened his season winning the Larry Wieczorek Invitational 60-meter dash clocking in at 6.52, yes, he read that correctly. His time would have been one of the top times late last season and easily moved him to the number one ranking this season. Only one athlete in the NCAA has a personal record better than that. It seems that Florida State still has that short sprint magic and Ewers is the latest star on a team full of them.

1.) GRANT HOLLOWAY (FLORIDA)- Grant Holloway may have his name on this list every single week of this season. Any time this young man competes he is making headlines. This past weekend was no exception. At the Clemson Invitational Holloway improved his stance on the all-time list clocking in at 7.49 in the 60 meter hurdles. His time currently ranks him number one in the world and in the NCAA. He along with that broke won of Florida’s most impressive school records. He is just a sophomore but the defending NCAA Champion has made some major noise.

RELAY OF THE WEEK: FLORIDA MEN 4X400 RELAY (3:03.49)- The Gators 4x400 relay took the top spot from Texas A&M with the NCAA leading time and one of the fastest indoor times in NCAA history. With Texas A&M showcasing an impressive quartet of quarter milers expect for the rivalry between the two schools to remain hot.

NEXT WEEK: The Razorback Invitational and the Washington Invitational are the two big collegiate meets taking place this upcoming weekend. Expect to see the names listed above perform well again with the Indoor Season now in full swing.

Weekend 2 Recap

(Michael Saruni-UTEP)

The season is now in full swing. The past weekend was the second weekend of the 2018 Indoor Season and many athletes stepped up to provides us our top performances. We had a few surprises and a few reminders from many college athletes that wanted us to remember they are still competing. Let’s review the top performances from this past weekend.

WOMEN

5.) ERIN FINN (MICHIGAN)- This talented senior has been at the top of every distance event every year that she competes. She unfortunately has had many seasons of injuries that has even allowed for her to still compete in this her fifth year. She begins this season with a bang by claiming the top mile time in the nation in 4:40.17. On her beautiful home track Finn was pulled along by World Championship participants and Michigan alums. The mile is not her signature event but a positive start into the right direction for the often-injured star.

4.) MAGGIE EWEN (ARIZONA STATE)- Arizona State won NCAA Championships off the back of their throwers in the past. The past few years they have not had those same championship performers. Senior Maggie Ewen steps up to be the next great thrower for the Sun Devils and this past weekend proved why she should be in the discussion. She launched an NCAA number one throw of 60 feet 6 inches at Northern Arizona. Ewen becomes the first competitor this season over 60 feet sending a clear message she’s ready to compete.

3.) NICOLE GREEN (NORTH CAROLINA)- Amazingly there is a new number one ranked high jumper and she is not from Georgia. Nicole Green was a top tier recruit coming out of high school and now as a junior has stepped into the limelight and title discussion with her performance this past weekend. Green leaped to a height of 6 feet 2 inches. Her mark ranks her currently number one in the NCAA and although early in the season she joins the title discussions and the potential challenger to dethrone Georgia defending champion Madeline Fagan.

2.) OLIVIA GRUVER (KENTUCKY)- Olivia Gruver this past weekend joined the list of number one performances. Her pole vault mark of 15 feet 1 inch is the top ranked performance of the season in the event so far. She is also the only athlete that has surpassed 15 feet this season. Her performance is especially noteworthy since she has over 6 feet lead on her closes competitor. Yes, it is early in the season but that performance is a “WOW”.

1.) MIKIAH BRISCO (LSU)- Mikiah Brisco is known for her great speed in the hurdles and has become even more of a threat in the sprints. Last outdoor season she proved that by winning the 100-meter dash at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a time of 10.96. She began this season behind her teammate Aleia Hobbs. Brisco this past weekend reminded the nation that she is still the threat to challenge the talented sprinters from Oregon. Her time of 7.15 was changed to 7.17 due to the altitude at Texas Tech. Her time immediately catapulted her to the top ranked time in the nation and perhaps more impressive in that same race she beat her teammate Hobbs.

MEN

5.) AKEEM BLOOMFIELD (AUBURN)- This talented young Jamaican is a part of a one two punch at the University of Auburn. Bloomfield began this season as the lesser mentioned of the two but with his performance this past weekend perhaps soon to be more mentioned. His time of 45.92 to win the Commodore Invitational was the first 400-meter time under 46 seconds this season. Bloomfield’s time although ran on an over-sized track is still quite impressive this early in the season and makes him a contender for the title.

4.) ANGELO GOSS (SYRACUSE)- It seems every year Syracuse has someone new competing in the high hurdles as an All-American. Goss is the next guy up and this past weekend’s performance proves his is ready to be their new number one. His time of 7.69 ties him for number two in the nation with defending champion Grant Holloway of Florida. Expect for Goss to continue to develop throughout the season and remain a contender for the national title and the favorite for the ACC title.

3.) TREY CULVER (TEXAS TECH)- Texas Tech known for its success in the jumping events has recently been forgotten because of the success of Georgia and Florida. Trey Culver of Texas Tech decided to remind everyone that they and him are still the team to beat. The All-American high jumper leaped to a mark of 7 feet 7 ¾ inches. His mark places him in the top spot in the country and immediately places him at the top and the favorite to win the national title in the event.

2.) ELI HALL (HOUSTON)- Eli Hall is one of the many talented short sprinters at the University of Houston. The sprinters are coached by both Carl Lewis and Leroy Burrell two Alums who at one point held the world record. Hall made Team USA last season in the 200 only to have his summer plans derailed by injury. He began the season by sending a message to the nation that he is back. His time of 6.60 has become the new number one time in the nation and an instant reminder of his great speed. Do not expect for the top performances to stop for Hall there should be more to see later this season.

1.) MICHAEL SARUNI (UTEP)- Sophomore Michael Saruni had perhaps the most impressive performance so far of this indoor season. Competing at the Commodore Invitational at Vanderbilt University Saruni had quite the performance on their over-sized track. He won the 800-meter run with a time of 1:45.92. He won his race by more than two full seconds. He literally snatched the number one ranking and immediately made himself the favorite to win the event at nationals. Saruni is another talented 800 runner that has been generated by the talented coaching staff at UTEP. 

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN'S FACILITY

I was there to witness the first action at the University of Michigan's newest facility and I must say it was amazing. To see a facility of that caliber in my home state was quite impressive. My school Eastern Michigan performed very well as well University of Michigan. This week's competition will be even more challenging in Ohio State and Arkansas join Michigan and Michigan State for a quadrangular. Performances should be even better and the meet more intense. I have a few videos that I may show later this week. 

Weekend 1 Recap Podcast

This podcast is also available on SoundCloud (TheTrackNerd)

WEEKEND RECAP

(Grant Holloway-Florida)

Our first weekend of the 2018 Indoor Season has been completed. There were quite a few notable performances from this past weekend including one young freshman who set his country’s national record in his event. It appears that the record breaking season of 2017 will likely continue in 2018. In this post, we look at the top performances form a busy first weekend.

WOMEN

3.) KATE HALL (GEORGIA)- Hall as mentioned on my podcast is having a bit of a resurgence at Georgia. Her freshman year at Iowa State did not go as planned and she transferred to Georgia. Last season she won the outdoor NCAA long jump title and this past weekend she began this season with a bang. A mark of 21-9 ½ is a special performance to begin the season with. Let us also mention she won the 60-meter dash as well with a time of 7.32. We cannot forget her sprint prowess from high school as well. It is clear the move to Georgia was the right decision.

2.) SADE OLATOYE (OHIO STATE)- This Buckeye pulled double duty early in the season for the Lady Buckeyes. On home track Olatoye competed in both the Shot Put and Weight throw winning both events. Her mark in the Shot Put was 56-10 ¾ and her mark in the weight throw was 69-11 ½. Both marks currently rank her number two in the country in those respective events.

1.) ALEIA HOBBS (LSU)- Hobbs is the fastest returning sprinter in NCAA history. Having run a 10.85 last season Hobbs was a sure-fire favorite to win the 60-meter dash this indoor season. Hobbs began the season on her home track with quite an impressive time. Her time of 7.24 ran in the preliminaries vaulted her to the top time in the NCAA. What is perhaps even more impressive is the fact that she did not have anyone challenging her in the preliminary race.

MEN

3.) GRANT HOLLOWAY (FLORIDA)- The defending national champion in the 60-meter hurdles began his season the right way. Holloway dominated the competition at the Orange and Purple classic at Clemson. His time of 7.69 currently ranks him number two in the NCAA behind Chad Zallow of Youngstown State. Holloway will enter every season with an “X” marked on his back since he is the defending champion. His performance served everyone noticed that it will be very difficult to beat him.

2.) KEENON LAINE (GEORGIA)- Georgia is just simply unstoppable with the development of their jumpers. Keenon Laine is the next jumper in line to star for Georgia. Laine jumped to an early number one ranking with his jump of 7-5 ¼. Setting a personal record this early in the season is a very positive sign for this Georgia Bulldog.

1.) MUSTAQEEM WILLIAMS (TENNESSEE)- Williams clearly seems to ready to be the next sprint star from the University of Tennessee. He had to sit behind Christian Coleman for the past two seasons and watched him set an NCAA record last season. Williams began this season with a bang winning the 60-meter and 200-meter dash in a dual meet with Indiana. His time of 6.70 in the 60-meter dash ranks him number eight in the NCAA but his time of 20.99 in the 200-meter dash currently ranks him as number one. His time 200-meter time is quite impressive this early in the season as he is the first and only athlete to have gone under 21 seconds.

SUPER FRESHMAN

Lynna Irby of Georgia and Benjamin Vedel of Florida were both high level 400 runners as high school athletes. Both began their season running in a non-traditional event the 300-meter run. Irby blew past NCAA outdoor record holder Kyra Jefferson to win with a time of 36.73 at the Orange and Purple Classic. Benjamin Vedel broke his countries national record in the event with a time of 32.80 to tie Grant Holloway’s mark from last season. It seems very clear that the Gators should have a very competitive 4x400 relay.

NEXT WEEK: This Saturday I will be at the Wolverine Invitational at the University of Michigan. This is the first invitational in their new facility. This meet is expecting to have Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan (my Alma-mater), USF and Hillsdale College. This is also the first major competition weekend as many top programs will be competing for the first time.