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It is finally here, the Division NCAA Outdoor Championships.
After what was an incredible regular season, we had a strong start to the post
season with a great conference championship weekend. As expected, the regional competition
was able to weed out some top performers prior to the NCAA meet. Regardless of
those not competing there are several stars that still qualified. In this
preview we are going to take a look at the men’s competition.
SPRINTS/HURDLES
In the 100-meter dash Oregon Micah Williams versus Tennessee’s
Favour Ashe is the biggest headline heading into the finals. Williams had a disappointing
ending to the indoor season after a false start, but he has been blazing the track
this outdoor season. Williams has the fastest wind-legal time in the country
and Ashe has the fastest wind-aided. This will be SEC vs Pac-12.
Prediction: Micah Williams, Oregon
In the 200-meter dash there are three men capable of
claiming the NCAA title. First is the defending outdoor champion in Joseph
Fahnbulleh of Florida, 2021 NCAA Indoor Champion Matthew Boling of Georgia and
Texas senior Micaiah Harris. Fahnbulleh and Boling have done battle twice this season
with each scoring a victory. Perhaps the most impressive victory was Boling
winning the SEC title over Fahnbulleh. Harris has been able to fly under the radar
and achieve the fastest wind-aided time in the country. All three schools will
be top contenders for a team title, and each is a leader on their perspective
teams.
Prediction: Joseph Fahnbulleh, Florida
The 400-meter dash is Randolph Ross’ race to lose. Outside
of the big news of his father head coach Duane Ross plans to leave North
Carolina A&T for Tennessee, Ross’ time at the NCAA Eastern Regional was 44.23.
That time is ranked number two worldwide and also further proves that he is
ready to turn to the professional ranks following this season. He will face a
solid challenge in Johnathan Jones of Texas who is a championship performer.
Prediction: Randolph Ross North Carolina A&T
In the 110 high hurdles there has only been one consistent
top tier performer and that is Trey Cunningham of Florida State. I believe the
senior is our most likely candidate to set a new NCAA record and keep our theme
going. At the Eastern Regional he clocked a time of 13.07 into a headwind! That
is incredible time for Cunningham, and I think he easily dips under 13 seconds.
Joshua Zeller of Michigan ran an impressive time of 13.19 but will have a tough
time against Cunningham like this past indoor season.
Prediction: Trey Cunningham
The 400 hurdles are a wide-open race. There are three
athletes who have run under 49 seconds in the regular season: true freshman
Nathaniel Ezekiel of Baylor, seniors Moitatel Mpoke of Texas A&M and Isaiah
Levingston of Oklahoma. Mpoke and Levingston have been close to winning in the
past. Ezekiel is ranked number one in the nation, and he will be heavily challenged
by veteran talent. The defending champion is in the field, Sean Burrell of LSU has
had a few injuries and slowly rounding into shape. He is a big meet performer and
will show up.
Prediction: Moitalel Mpoke of Texas A&M Darkhorse: Sean
Burrell LSU
DISTANCE
The 800 meters was a forgone conclusion at the beginning of
the season that it would be Texas A&M’s Brandon
Miller’s to lose. Well after an ok regular season Miller is right now no longer
the favorite. Thanks to a 1:43 performance from senior Moad Zahafi of Texas
Tech, he has been the front runner all season long. We should expect Miller to
show up and show out but Zahafi has performed at a high level at every turn.
Prediction: Moad Zahafi Texas Tech
The 1,500 is headlined by favorite Eliud Kipsang of Alabama.
The super sophomore was number one during the regular season which included a victory
over Abdihamid Nur of Northern Arizona at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Kipsang’s
national leading time of 3:33.74 is one of the best in NCAA history. With Nur
out of the race he has a much easier path to victory. Keep an eye out for
Illinois senior Johnathan Davis.
Prediction: Eliud Kipsang of Alabama
The 5,000-meter run should turn out to be a rematch from the
Bryan Clay Invitational earlier in the regular season between Brian Fay of
Washington and Morgan Beadlescomb of Michigan State. Beadlescbomb had one of the
best indoor seasons you could have. Joining the all-time top ten list and front
running several events. Neither finished the indoor season without any
championship hardware so this is their best opportunity. Fay leads the nation
with his time of 13:16.52 used to beat Beadlescomb. With this being a championship
field, expect for their to be a bit of cat and mouse between them.
Prediction: Morgan Beadlescomb Michigan State
The 10,000-meter run is an incredibly grueling race. A total
of 25 laps around the track. This year’s field is incredibly deep, four competitors
in this field have run under 28 minutes. Leading that group is Adriaan
Wildschutt of Florida State. The senior was the front runner during the indoor
season and was unable to complete the deal. He will be challenged by Matthew
Pereira of Harvard and Stanford’s Cole Sprout and Charles Hicks. Abdihamid Nur
will also be in the field, and he has two NCAA titles under his belt already.
This field as I had stated is deep.
Prediction: Adrian Wildschutt Florida State
The 3,000-meter steeplechase changed leaders regularly
throughout the indoor season. We can into the season with no clear favorite or
front runner and that status still has not changed. Ahmed Jaziri of Eastern Kentucky
has led the way since the end of the regular season. His top time of 8:24.33
was performed at the Payton Jordan Invitational, and he outperformed the number
two NCAA runner Duncan Hamilton of Montana State. Either of the two could win
or an outside competitor. It is fair to show Jaziri a tad bit of favoritism
since he does have the number one ranked time and has performed at a high level
all year long.
Prediction: Ahmed Jaziri
JUMPS
The high jump competition will be hot. There are several top
tiers jumpers who will be competing. Vernon Turner of Oklahoma, Earnie Sears III
of USC and Darius Carbin of Georgia. These three jumpers are all currently tied
for number one in the nation with a mark of 7 feet 6 ½ inches (2.30m). Turner
claimed victory during the indoor season and has not lost at all outdoors. All
three are seniors and this is their last opportunity to claim an Outdoor title.
Carbin has the luxury of a solid coaching staff and excellent training partner
in Kyle Garland the Decathlon star.
Prediction: Vernon Turner Oklahoma
The Pole Vault will be fun to watch. The indoor champion Sondre
Guttormsen of Princeton will be in the field and is one of the favorites to
win. He’ll be joined by his brother Simen Guttormsen and three others. Top
ranked Clayton Fritsch of Sam Houston, Zach Bradford of Kansas, and Zach McWhorter
of BYU. Fritsch national leading mark of 19 feet ¼ inch (5.8m) is the only 19-foot
jump on the season. But Guttormsen is a big meet performer and will show up regardless
of Fritsch personal best.
Prediction: Sondre Guttormsen
The Long jump could potentially be a sweep by Tennessee. The
Volunteers who will be going through a major coaching change with Duane Ross
taking over still have perhaps the deepest jumps core in the country. Leading
the way for them is two Jamaicans in Wayne Pinnock and Carey McLeod. They also
have Anthony Riley to compete as well. Brandon Hicklin of North Carolina
A&T is the front runner with the top ranked mark in the nation. Johnny
Brackins of Baylor is also in the mix, but do they have what it takes to beat
McLeod or Pinnock.
Prediction: Wayne Pinnock Tennessee
The triple jump is a bit of same script, same cast. Chengetayi
Mapaya of TCU versus Emmanuel Ihemeje of Oregon. Mapaya like in the past will
enter the championship meet with the top mark and Ihemeje will enter with the second-best
mark. Ihemeje shows up at every National Championship and I expect this to be
no different. Both have jumped over 56 feet and it will take that type of
effort to claim victory.
Prediction: Emmanuel Ihemeje Oregon
THROWS
The shot put and discus have defending champion Turner
Washington of Arizona State returning to defend his titles. However, he is
having a bit of challenging season. He underperformed in both events at the
Pac-12 championships and has not performed to the same level since winning the
indoor shot put. I am certainly not counting him out but it’s worth noting. In
the shot put of course Adrian Piperi of Texas, who leads the nation will be there
to challenge him. In the discus super freshman Mykolas Alekna already has a victory
over him this season.
Shot Put Prediction: Turner Washington Arizona State Discus
Prediction: Mykolas Alekna California
The Hammer throw will be a battle between to seasoned veterans.
Bobby Colantonio of Alabama and Logan Blomquist of Southeast Missouri. Blomquist
leads the nation with a throw of 240 feet 1 inch (73.18m) and is the only athlete
in the field with a 240-foot mark. Colantonio is not far behind and even has an
Indoor title in the weight throw for good measure.
Prediction: Bobby Colantonio Alabama
In the Javelin the defending champion Tzuriel Pedigo of LSU
is the not the headliner going into the championship meet. It is Ethan Dabbs of
Virginia. Dabbs has not competed at a championship meet since 2019. However, he
does have the number one throw in the nation with a mark of 272 feet even
(82.92m). Dabbs is having quite the outdoor season and will look to continue.
You cannot ignore Baylor freshman Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi who has a personal
record of 266 feet 6 inches (81.22m). Nnamdi is rounding into shape at the
right time.
Prediction: Tzuriel Pedigo LSU
Decathlon
We are going to have ourselves quite a competition here.
Kyle Garland of Georgia, Ayden Owens-Delerme and Austin West of Iowa. They are
just the top three but there are seven gentlemen in this field that will have a
personal best over 8,000 points. Garland obviously leads the way with his mark
of 8720 points. Owens-Delerme broke several records this past indoor season on
his way to a national title and Austin West is capable of a big meet performance.
I still think Garland who has already qualified for the World Championships is
the front runner and has a history of performing well at Championship meets.
Prediction: Kyle Garland of Georgia
RELAYS
The 4x100 relay could potentially be a battle between
Florida and Florida State. Florida has had a few misses this season most
notably against their rival Florida State. The Noles always have a strong sprint
core and this group is no different. Florida has the number one time of 38.44
but have not been at that level since the Texas Relays. I expect for the Gators
to be at their best.
Prediction: Florida
The 4x400 relay Florida also leads the way and they broke
the national record earlier in the season to do it. They may be without a key
member of their team Jacob Miley, who appears to be injured. If that is the
case winning against a quality field will be difficult, especially against Texas
who are the team front runners for a national title.
Prediction: Texas
TEAM TITLE
I think the Texas men have far too much depth for anyone to
compete. They can score in a myriad of different ways and after winning the
indoor title they are in prime position to win the outdoor title.
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