Outdoor Season Recap 2

(Jordan Geist-Arizona)

The outdoor season is moving along quickly. We are heading to mid-April and this past weekend gave us quite a few big performances. Although there is still a month left in the regular season it will go by quickly. Let us recap the most notable performances from the weekend.

On the men’s side Tyrell Richard of South Carolina State won the indoor 400 title in a huge upset. This past weekend he ran the number one time in the world outdoors with a time of 44.81. He is the first man in the world this year under 45 seconds. Richard has now cemented as top 400 runner and is the driver’s seat to win the outdoor title.

A tie rarely happens in track and field these days because the quality of timing systems that are available. Iowa State gave us two phenomenal 800 performances by teammates who clocked the exact same time to share the win at the Sun Angel Classic. Festus Lagat and Roshon Roomes clocked 1:47.14 to lead the NCAA in the 800. It is only April but have two athletes running 1:47 is impressive.

Joe Klecker of Colorado continued this weekend’s trend of great middle-distance performances. The junior won the 1,500 on his home track in a time of 3:45.11. His time converts up to 3:39.75 because of the altitude he ran at. He won his race by almost three seconds claiming the top time in the NCAA this season. Expect more from Klecker this season in his specialty the 5,000 and event he earned All-American honors last season.

Jordan Geist of Arizona took the top spot in the nation in the shot put. The talented sophomore is returning to his 2018 form that made him a sensation as a freshman. On his home field he threw for 69 feet 9 ¾ inches. This mark surpasses super senior Payton Otterdahl. Geist was always mentioned as a threat but Otterdahl has been so dominant he became a mere after thought. With a mark of this quality he is clearly a threat to Otterdahl’s reign.

Johannes Erm of Georgia made his season debut in the decathlon on his home track. The talented sophomore is the latest multi-event star to compete at Georgia. He scored a total of 7,913 points to claim the highest point total in the nation but finished second to Karl Saluri of Estonia. Erm felt short of expectations this past indoor season and will look to rebound this outdoor season and win the national title. The mark he scored this early is a great sign.

It seems as if all the great performances were out west this past weekend. On the women’s side there were a number of top performances. In the 800 Lauren Ellsworth of BYU claimed the victory at the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State and the top time in the nation with 2:02.49. She beat a quality field that included the NCAA number two. BYU has developed quite the distance program and it is likely to continue.

Erica Birk of BYU is another quality competing at the Mormon school. The junior ran a time of 4:13.57 to win the 1,500 at the Sun Angel Classic. The field included three professionals and she bested them all. BYU now has three athletes ranked in the top 10.

Chanel Brissett of USC continued her winning streak. The indoor champion claimed the 100-hurdle title at the Jim Click Shootout at the University of Arizona. Her winning time of 12.87 is the top time in the nation and amongst the fastest in the world this year. Each top Brissett has stepped on the track this outdoor season she has gotten better. After winning the indoor title she will carry a target on her back all season.

Samantha Noenning of Arizona State is latest protege coming out of their program. Arizona State can easily claim that they are the best throwing school in the nation with their string of NCAA Champions over the past few years. Noenning in front of the home crowd launched a NCAA leading throw of 57-7 1/2 in the shot put, finished second at the Sun Angel Classic. The only woman to beat her was a professional. She claimed the event title indoors and is continuing that success outdoors.

Laulauga Tausaga of Iowa was another highlight from out west competing at the Sun Angel Classic. The junior claimed the top collegiate mark and overall mark to win the discus. Her mark of 202’7 moved her into the number one spot and she is one of only two athletes who have gone over 200 feet this season.

Senior Mackenzie Little of Stanford also competed out west, just not in Arizona. The senior won crucial points for the Stanford Cardinal in the annual dual meet against rival California. The winning of 195’1 in the Javelin allowed for Little to claim the number one ranking in the NCAA and continue her reign as the best javelin thrower in the west.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Later this week I will be completing the season’s first podcast. I will be discussing the regular outdoor season versus the indoor season regarding marketability and excitement. Our next post will be about NCAA development.