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.