In our final preview for the indoor season, I will be
reviewing the field event athletes. We have seen recording breaking performances
over the past few years that include some world records, most notably Mondo
Duplantis formerly of LSU. This year we have some special athletes returning to
possibly break more records.
Women
Long Jump/Triple Jump
Regardless of what took place last year during the regular
season Jasmine Moore of Florida found a way to win the national title whether
indoors or outdoors. Moore had quite the season last year garnering 4 NCAA
titles. The long jump is perhaps her weakest of the two events and the event she
will find the most challenge this season. Already Ackelia Smith of Texas has
jumped to a mark of 22 feet 1 inch (6.73m) last weekend. Her mark is one of the
best in NCAA history and it is still very early in the season.
In the triple jump she set the all-time record with a mark of 47
feet 9 ¾ inches (14.55m). It is the event she has been most dominant in going
back to her time as a high school athlete. No other athlete in the field has
even hit 47 feet. Smith will again be her top challenger.
High Jump
It is Lamara Distin of Texas A&M and everybody else.
Distin last season dominated the high jump and even broke her country’s (Jamaica)
national record. Her top mark of 6 feet 5 ½ inches (1.97m) was earned during the
regular season. I think Distin will challenge the NCAA record this year. Rachel
Glenn of South Carolina will obviously be her top challenger. Glenn won the
NCAA outdoor title in 2021 as a freshman. I look for Glenn to rebound in 2023
but it will be tough to take down Distin.
Pole Vault
Arkansas has regularly produced stellar pole vaulters each
year. In 2023 I expect for that to continue. Amanda Fassold finished second at
the outdoor championships after winning the SEC title and had a season best
mark of 14 feet 11 inches (4.55m). Sydney Horn of High Point University had an
impressive freshman indoor season where she finished second at the indoor championships
along with a personal best mark. Fassold is the closest athlete to 15 feet and
with the quality development that has taken place at Arkansas over the years
that mark should be inevitable.
Weight Throw
Jasmine Mitchell of Ole Miss is the latest throwing star
from Ole Miss and Connie Price-Smith. Mitchell has thrown over 80 feet with a
personal mark of 81 feet 10 inches (24.94m). She has not been able to
completely put it together outdoors, but she certainly is capable in the weight
throw. Rebecca Mammel of Virginia Tech is second on the list of returnees and
is one of the potentially strong challengers to Mitchell.
Shot Put
Jorinde VanKlinken is the defending champion from last
indoor season with a mark of 62 feet 7 ¼ inches (19.08m) for Arizona State. She
is now at her third school competing for the Oregon Ducks as a graduate
student. VanKlinken has one multiple NCAA titles before and this will be
another opportunity with Adelaide Aquilla gone, to add to her trophy case. Axelina
Johannson of Nebraska had a strong freshman year and will be the top
challenger.
Pentathlon
Kristine Blazevica of Texas is the top returnee with a
personal mark of 4,402 points. She was a freshman last year and will look to
improve upon her performance from last indoor championships. Lexie Keller of
Colorado State is another returning athlete with championship capabilities.
Men
Long Jump
Wayne Pinnock took the country by storm last year. A true
freshman by way of Jamaica who always find a way to win in the biggest moments.
Pinnock claimed the NCAA title in the long jump both indoors and outdoors for
Tennessee. He has since transferred to Arkansas and under their coaching will
likely reach new heights, also we may see him return to his roots as a spectacular
hurdler. His teammate Carey McLeod followed him to Arkansas and will be one of
his biggest challengers.
Triple Jump
The top returning triple jump based on performance is Owayne
Owens of Virginia. He was expected to be the next great triple jumper out of
Virginia and looked to be on his way last outdoor season after a personal best
performance at the Penn Relays with a mark of 54 feet 6 inches (16.61m). He did
not have the best outdoor championships and missing to score. I expect for him
to pick things back up this indoor season. Salif Mane of Farleigh Dickinson is
the next best performer and should challenge for the title in a event that will
have a new champion.
High Jump
Vernon Turner of Oklahoma is the defending indoor champion
in the High Jump. He had a remarkable indoor championship last year with a leap
of 7 feet 7 ¼ inches (2.32m). Although it did not translate to the outdoor
championships where he finished fourth. Turner is a senior and will look to go
out on top. Corvell Todd of Southern Mississippi is the top returning challenger,
but Turner will be tough to beat.
Pole Vault
The defending champion Sondre Guttormsen and his brother
Simen of Princeton will look to have a strong 1-2 finish this indoor season in
the Pole Vault. Zach McWhorter of BYU is their top challenger. The irony is
that McWhorter like Sondre has a personal best of over 19 feet, but his
personal record mark is better. McWhorter is certainly more than a challenger,
but Sondre shows up at championship meets.
Weight Throw
Bobby Colantonio of Alabama returns at the defending
champion in the weight throw. He is knocking on the door of an 80-foot throw. Colantonio
will be exciting to watch this season and it will be interesting to see Jayden
White of Washington transition after his freshman campaign.
Shot Put
The shot put will also have a defending champion in Turner
Washington of Arizona State. Turner Washington is the NCAA record holder and
has been riding high since 2021. He was taking off his square last outdoor
championships falling to Adrian Piperi. Jordan Geist of Arizona will challenge
him again and it will be interesting to see if Washington can return to the top.
Heptathlon
Ayden Owens of Arkansas is a generational talent. The record
holder for the country of Puerto Rico. Owens had a remarkable indoor and outdoor
season. Last indoor season he scored a total of 6,211 at the indoor
championships. Owens is the class of the field, but Leo Neugebauer of Texas
will be a strong challenger.
Closing
It will be a special indoor season. Although Covid is still present
in our life, it is in the rear-view mirror. With a lot of transfers and talented
incoming freshman it will be a season to remember. Gone are the days of no
national records, it has been a habit the past few years of NCAA records
falling. The team title battle will clear come mid-January and it will be interesting
to see where the defending champion Florida Gators and Texas Longhorns stand.
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