19-5 1/2!!!
(Chris Nilsen-South Dakota)
The final weekend of the regular season has come and gone.
As expected, it was a pretty quiet weekend. There were a total of two new
number rankings and many top tier athletes rested this past weekend to prepare
for Conference Championship weekend. There were still a few noteworthy
performances that are worth mentioning.
NEW NCAA RECORD
As our NCAA record theme has continued the past few years
another NCAA record fell this past weekend. In the pole vault KC Lightfoot of
Baylor and defending outdoor champion Chris Nilsen of South Dakota have been
trading the number one spot for the past few weeks. This weekend champion
Nilsen took the ranking to the highest it has ever been. He leaped 19 feet 5 and
½ inches to not only notch the number one ranking but break the NCAA record
held by last season’s indoor champion Mondo Duplantis. Duplantis is now the
world record holder have broken it twice this indoor season as a professional.
Nilsen is the last person to defeat Duplantis added to his impressive legacy.
All that is left is for him to win the NCAA Indoor crown.
Rachel Tanczos of Notre Dame impressed the home crowd this
weekend at the Alex Wilson Invitational on the campus of Notre Dame. The talented
junior launched a throw of 57’7 ½ to claim the number one ranking in the weight
throw. The weight throw has been interesting all season and amongst the women
throwers has seen the most interchangeable action to its list. Tanczos is now another
threat to claim the title.
THE CHAMP IS HERE
Quincy Hall of South Carolina is having a relatively quite
indoor season. The NCAA Outdoor Champion at 400 hurdles is also known for his
blazing speed and smooth stride in the open 400. Depending on who you ask they believe
Hall should stick to simply competing in the open 400. This past weekend he
climbed back up the list with a time of 45.99. His time places him fifth in the
nation. He seems to be rounding in to shape at the right time as the SEC
Championships are this weekend. It will be interesting to see how he performs
with such great competition.
MISSING HARDWARE
Devin Dixon of Texas A&M is the top returnee in the
nation in the open 800. He has had quite the career at Texas A&M and put up
some impressive times. The only thing missing from his trophy case is the NCAA
title. Dixon has been quiet this indoor season focusing on the 600 and
anchoring the Texas A&M’s really good 4x400 relay. This past weekend he ran
an impressive time of 1:47.88. It is only his second 800 of the indoor season
and a strong indicator that he is rounding into shape for a strong championship
season.
TWO THROWERS OF NOTE
Khayla Dawson of Indian moved into the top five in the
nation with her throw of 57’7 ½ in the shot put at the Alex Wilson
Invitational. This now gives Indiana two athletes in the top five of the women’s
shot put.
Kieran McKeag of Minnesota wowed his home crowd with his
throw of 75’2 ¾ to claim the Minnesota Cold Classic Weight throw competition.
McKeag is apart of a great conference of throwers that is having an impressive
season. His mark moves him third in the nation, and he may even improve upon
that throw due to the quality of the competition he will face at the Big Ten
Championships this coming weekend.
Our next post will be a Big Ten Preview. The plan is to have
as many of the power five conferences done by Friday to prepare for Conference
Championship weekend. Keep checking back for more great information.
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