Weekend 6 Recap

7.42!

(GRANT HOLLOWAY-FLORIDA)

Wow! That is all I could say as I reviewed the results from this past weekend Saturday night. Through watching track and field on television and live streaming I was left stunned and amazed. The record breaking streak continued again this weekend. It seems that we cannot go a week without a collegiate record falling, a national record and or a new number one. There were so many solid performances that I will not rank them in this post. This will be an old-fashioned review.

SPRINTS

I assumed after a blazing January that many of the top performances would remain set until the Championship seasons starts. I was wrong of course and should not have assumed anything. In the men’s 400-meter run Michael Norman ran his first indoor 400 with a banger of a time, of 45.00 winning the event at the Tiger Paw Invitational. The talented sophomore was the top recruit coming out of high school a few years ago and spent most of his time as a 200 runner. His time in the 400 is the fastest indoor performance ever for USC and was the fastest 400 for USC in several years. He not sits atop of the rankings and immediate favorite to claim the title.

In that same race in a different heat Akeem Bloomfield of Auburn clocked the nation’s number two time with a mark of 45.02. Bloomfield’s time is notable since it is the fastest time ever run indoors by a Jamaican making a Jamaican national record holder. Only a sophomore Bloomfield seemed very poised and relaxed his entire race. The battle between Norman and Bloomfield has huge implications for the future of the sport.

On the women’s side the highlighting sprint event was the 200-meter dash. Deanna Hill a senior at USC is one of the top returning 200-meter runners in the NCAA. With Ariana Washington struggling to regain her form from last season Hill dashed into the lead this weekend at the Tiger Paw Invitational winning the 200 with a time of 22.82. In that same race we saw two other young women go sub 23, freshman Sydney McLaughlin of Kentucky in 22.95 and Hill’s teammate Kendall Ellis in 22.99. USC had a tremendous weekend at the meet, this was perhaps one of their better highlights.

HURDLES

Grant Holloway continues to be a special performer for Florida. Every time he steps in front of the hurdles he simply seems to out due his previous performance. This past weekend at the Tiger Paw Invitational Holloway did something special in the 60-meter hurdles. Holloway lined up against defending World and Olympic Champion Omar McLeod, who is also the NCAA record holder. Against a stacked field Holloway dominated the race after a slow start and used his speed to surge past McLeod and break the NCAA record with a time of 7.42. He is currently ranked number one in the world and perhaps a step off Terrance Trammell’s record. Perhaps even more impressive is that he made ESPN's Top 10 on Sports Center. 

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Kentucky entered this season at the favorite to win the 60-meter hurdles. This past weekend she confirmed why she is still the number one athlete in the event. Her time of 7.95 to win at the Tiger Paw Invitational moved her to the number one ranking ahead of Dior Hall of USC. Quinn has the rare blend of great speed with solid technique. She also clocked in at 23.00 in the open 200-meter dash and has the potential to further lower NCAA leading time.

DISTANCE

In the distance events there were two major number one performances this weekend. Elinor Purrier of New Hampshire had her number one ranking in the mile taken last weekend by Karissa Schweizer of Missouri. Both athletes are quite successful in both long and middle-distance races. Purrier regained her number one ranking at the Valentine Invitational at Boston University. Her new time of 4:26.55 was not only good enough to garner the number one ranking but she also every professional in the race as well.

While Justyn Knight was out dominating at the Iowa State Classic, Mike Tate of Southern Utah became the new leader in the 5,000 at the Husky Classic at the University of Washington. Knight may have thought he had the number one ranking until Tate’s time appeared across the leader board with his winning time of 13:37.33. Tate may not have the championship pedigree that Knight has but he has certainly made a name for himself this season and his new leading time puts him the driver’s seat for the title.

JUMPS

The men’s high jump is having a great year. This may perhaps be the deepest field we have seen in a long time. Talented freshman Vernon Turner of Oklahoma is the latest star to come out of the Sooner school. He tied Trey Culver’s number one ranking with a mark of 7 feet 7 ¾ inches winning the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas. Turner’s jump is already tied for 4^th best all-time in the NCAA, quite an impressive performance for a freshman.

In the long jump Zach Bazile of Ohio State launched out to a mark of 26 feet 8 ¼ inches at the Music City Challenge at Vanderbilt University. The Ohio State senior was not considered a favorite to win the long jump since defending champion KeAndre Bates was thought of as a shoe in. His performance however speaks to the nation that he can challenge the champion who saw far has seen a bit off this indoor season.

THROWS

Senior Maggie Ewen of Arizona State just seems to be unstoppable this indoor season. With Raven Saunders of Ole Miss leaving the collegiate ranks there really is not anyone who can compete. The senior had a mark of 63 feet even this past weekend. Her mark is now number one in the world and third all-time in collegiate history. Ewen is a part of an outstanding throwing history at Arizona State and is the latest potential threat to win the title for the program.

Senior Janeah Stewat of Ole Miss now serves at the top ranked thrower from Ole Miss with Saunders gone. Stewart did not disappoint this past weekend at the Music City Challenge in the weight throw. Stewart’s winning mark of 79 feet 1 ¾ inches places her in the top four collegians all-time. There is still the post season and plenty of opportunity for Stewart to surpass 80 feet. Only one collegian has ever passed 80 feet in Brittany Riley who was also coached by Connie Price-Smith, Stewarts current coach.

Joseph Ellis is a part of the University of Michigan’s meat factory. It is the nick name given to the throwers who compete for the University of Michigan. Ellis is having a great indoor season in the weight throw and further cemented his status at the best this past weekend. Two weekends ago on his home field Ellis beat Josh Davis of North Carolina State at the Power Five Invitational. He still however did not have the number one ranking. This past weekend at the Music City Challenge he took the number one ranking with a mark of 76 feet 5 ½ inches. The Championship season is now here Ellis is clearly peaking at the right time.

MULTI-EVENTS

Kansas State has found their latest multi-event star. Akela Jones had a legendary season in 2016 and their newest star Nina Schultz is trying to join her in the championship ranks. Schultz claimed the number one ranking in the pentathlon with a point score of 4502. The performance moved her to number two all-time on the school list for Kansas State and proved that she is a real threat to win the event at Nationals. Her mark also makes her seventh all-time in collegiate history proving that she belongs in the same discussing as the great Akela Jones.

RELAY OF THE WEEK

It seems that all the action was the Tiger Paw Invitational at the University of Clemson. The 4x400 relay has been one of the highlights of the weekend and one of many discussions in Facebook groups. USC defeated Florida in a close race with a new NCAA record time of 3:01.98. Florida’s 4x400 Relay clocked in at 3:02.23 also bested the previous NCAA record.

NEXT WEEKEND

News maybe light next weekend for some. There will be a few conference championships next weekend but for the most part the big Conference Championship weekend is two weeks away.