Summer Track and More

So I am back yet again. The NCAA season is officially over only 1 month until the NCAA cross country season starts. However for the many of us that watch professional track and field were are in the middle of the regular season. Let's take a look at some of the big stories in professional and NCAA track and field.


FLORIDA GATORS FALLS SHORT FOR A 3RD STRAIGHT TIME.

Boy oh boy. Another disappointing ending for the Florida Gators at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. We cannot take anything away from Texas A&M, however the Gators had so many opportunities to win the men's NCAA Outdoor crown. Jeff Demps not qualifying in the 100 meter dash, Christian Taylor not qualifying in the long jump, Eddie Lovett not qualifying in the 110 hurdles, the 4x100 relay not finishing the race and the 4x400 relay falling short. The truth of the matter is, if just one of those stories turned positive the Gators would be National Champions. There is always next year Gator fans (including me), Dedric Dukes, Hugh Graham and Marquis Dendy will arrive this fall and a huge boost. I am curious to know if they have recruited a 100 meter guy as well.


USAIN BOLT COMEBACK IN FULL EFFECT

As a track fan I just sometimes and sit in amazement with what this athlete can do. Bolt is simply fantastic. After coming off a leg injury from last season Bolt defeated Asafa Powell in their first show down of the season with a time of 9.91 in the 100 meters. To open up your season against Asafa Powell and win is a pretty special. This year so far Bolt has not blown anyone away in the 100 but he needs to be wary of his country men, Powell and rising star Steve Mullings at the World Championship in Daegu.


SANYA RICHARDS-ROSS RETURN NOT AS SMOOTH AS EXPECTED

It has been somewhat of a difficult year for Sanya Richards. She has not been as dominant as in years past. She is slowly getting into shape. Richards ran a seasonal best of 50.61 to finish second to Amantle Montsho at the Lausanne, Switzerland Diamond League meet. Richards stated in a interview that the comeback was more difficult than expected. I still think Richards has was it takes to win the World Title but she will have to earn it and work on her endurance.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BLANKA VLASIC

Vlasic high jump Goddess. She has dominated the event over the past few seasons. This year though she has lost twice. Both at Diamond League events. Vlasic is 27 years of age and is in great shape, I do not expect to see her continue down a losing path by championship time Vlasic should be in perfect form.


The summer track season is in full effect. Expect for there to be some major noise in the coming weeks as many of the world's best athletes compete in the Diamond League meets.

Next Post: Review of the Diamond League Meet in Paris

Update

Sorry I was out for so long, we were out of internet service. Our next post will be a season review. We will also talk about the USA Championships and the professional outdoor season. Thank you for all those that still read.

Collegiate Update #3

Men's Sprints and Jumps Preview

The 100 meter dash is the glamour event of the NCAA Championship and all major track and field competition. This year the 100 meter dash is huge for the team battle between the three powers, Florida, Florida State and Texas A&M. Jeff Demps of Florida is the defending champion and currently ranked number 1 in the nation with a wind aided 9.96. There will be strong competition from Florida State's Maurice Mitchell and Ngondizashe Makusha. Demps must have a strong frame a mind and put the false start at the SEC Championships behind him. Demps is clearly the favorite in the event.

The 200 meter dash is expected to be a huge point boost for Florida State in the team competition. The Seminoles have Maurice Mitchell and Brandon Byram expected to score well in the event. Rakeeim Salaam of Oklahoma however is the current favorite. Salaam currently leads the nation with a time of 20.05.

In the long sprint 400 it has been a lackluster outdoor season after such a solid indoor season. This is also true in the professional ranks. This could be the start of a great summer. Kirani James ran a 44.8 indoors at the SEC Championship and has already matched that feat outdoors. Texas A&M''s Tabarie Henry and Demetrius Pinder will be strong competition to be in the event and both have also ran 44.8.

The 110 high hurdles is perhaps the most intriguing event. Omo Osaghae of Texas Tec missed all of last outdoor season with an injury and has set the season a fire with his great performances. Andrew Riley of Illinois and Barret Nugent wait in the wings and have the speed to match Osaghae. Nugent has already beaten Osaghae this season at the Texas Relays. Osaghae however has been flawless since then. Osaghae enters the meet as favorite, don't count out defending champion Riley.

The 400 hurdles has perhaps one of the best collegiate 400 hurdlers of all time. Jeshua Anderson has won the title twice before as a freshman and as a sophomore. Last season Anderson unfortunately came up short. This season he has been solid all season. Anderson has nearly a full second on the entire field and leads the NCAA with a time of 48.13. No other athlete is under 49 seconds.

The vertical jumping events is where Florida expects to score huge points. The Gators Christian Taylor and Will Claye are currently 1-2 in the triple jump and both are ranked in the top 10 in the long jump. Claye is Florida's biggest threat to double. Makusha of Florida State leads the NCAA with a mark over 27 feet and will try to see to it that 10 points is given to the Seminoles.

The High Jump may be absent Derek Drouin the defending champion from Indiana but there is a group of new stars in this event that are ready to take his place. Erik Kynard of Kansas State is the clear favorite for the title having leaped to 7-7 and the number 1 ranking. Fellow sophomore Ricky Robertson of Ole Miss will be tough for Kynard to shake. If Kynard wants the title it is going to possibly take a personal best.

The Pole Vault as usual is always an intriguing event at the championship meet. Senior Scott Roth is the clear favorite and with a season best of 18'9.25 may treat the fans in Des Moines, Iowa to a 19 foot performance for the win.

Collegiate Update# 2

Instead starting a series based off the regional results, instead we will move to a preview of the meet.

Monday- Women's Sprints and Jumps

Tuesday- Men's Sprints and Jumps

Wednesday- Men's and Women's Distance and Throws



WOMEN'S SPRINT PREVIEW

In the sprints it has been one incredible year. Performances and times we have not seen in quite some time. So far this season there have been two athletes under 11 seconds in the 100 meters, 13 athletes under 23 seconds in the 200 meters and 4 athletes under 52 seconds including a pair of freshman. The NCAA meet is shaping up to be a barn burner.

In the 100 meters Jeneba Tarmoh of Texas A&M has been the story all season. After her 10.94 performance at the Texas Relays, albeit wind aided, she has been stamped as number 1. She has been undefeated all outdoor season and I expect for that to stay. It will take a sub 11 performance to beat Semoy Hackett of LSU or English Gardner a true freshman from Oregon.

In the 200 meters Kimberlyn Duncan is the first real 200 meter star from LSU since Muna Lee. Kelly Ann Baptiste was great but never a real threat to win the title. As a sophomore Duncan has already won her first title winning the indoor crown. Her 22.18 performance as the LSU Alumni Gold meet stands alone as the best 200 meter performance since the mid 90's. She is not ready to challenge the NCAA record but will be sooner rather than later. Teammate Hackett and Tarmoh remain the top two threats.

In the 400 meters a stunning upset took place at the Big 12 Championships win Diamond Dixon a freshman from Kansas took down senior Jessica Beard of Texas A&M. Beard was having a great season, showing great speed in the 200. Beard is still favorite to win the title after winning indoors, however she must do her best to earn it. Joanna Atkins the champion in 2009 remains the top threat.

Senior Nia Ali of USC is having her best year yet at USC. Technically sound in the 100 hurdles and using her solid speed to power over each hurdle. Ali currently is tied for the top time in the country in 12.74, wind aided. Freshman Tiffani McReynolds of Baylor has lit up the Big 12 with that same time. With Brianna Rollins of Clemson out, Ali and McReynolds are the two to beat. Ali is my pick to become champion.

The 400 hurdles has to be the most competitive it has been in years. A total of 10 girls running sub 57 in the event. Ellen Wortham of Tennessee was already an expected All-American in the event, but what was so shocking was her performance at the SEC meet where won in 55.70 to beat Cassandra Tate defending champion from LSU. Wortham will have to put on a similar performance to claim the NCAA crown, Latoya James of North Carolina and Tierra Brown of Miami will be strong challengers.

In the vertical jumps, Mara Griva a freshman from Nebraska is in strong position to complete the double. In the long jump she is currently ranked number 1 with a leap of 21-11.75 and in the triple jump she is 3rd with a leap of 45 3.75. Kim Williams of Florida State looks to defend her title in the triple jump but Griva will be a tough competitor to shake.

In the high jump Brigetta Barrett of Arizona has remained the top performer all season including indoors. Her 6'4 performance makes her a huge favorite to win the title.

The Pole Vault has belonged to Tina Sutej of Arkansas. Once part of that great trio from a year ago, Sutej has had quite a season and continued in her winning ways with a NCAA leading performance of 15-1.5.

Collegiate Update

THE FINALS ARE HERE!!

First of all, I apologize for being away for so long, but you know the reason.

This past weekend we were treated to the second year of the new regional format for NCAA Track and Field. As stated last year this is so pointless. I do not understand why the outdoor season can mirror the indoor season with a provisional qualifying time and a automatic qualifying time. But instead we get the first two rounds of the NCAA finals as our regional format.


EASTERN CONFERENCE REVIEW

There was a nice little debate on flotrack.com over the weekend of which coast was more tough. My vote went to the eastern conference. The reason is due to the fact that the best teams are in the region. Florida and Florida State are currently 1-2 in my book. This past weekend the Gators and Seminoles did not nothing to diminish that.

In the sprints the major qualifiers for the men are Jeff Demps of Florida and Maurice Mitchell of Florida State in the men's 100. In the 200 Mitchell and Horatio Williams of LSU were tops. In the long sprint Kirani James of Alabama and Clayton Parros of North Carolina were the best qualifiers.

In the high hurdles Barret Nugent of LSU and defending champion Andrew Riley of Illinois still reigned supreme in their event both qualifying to the NCAA Championship meet.

In the jumping events Florida was well represented. In the long jump and triple jump Florida qualified both of the championship jumpers in Will Claye and Christian Taylor. From Florida State Ngondizashe Makusha also qualified and will try and stop the 1-2 finish from Florida in the long jump.

The high jump is missing a key ingredient, Derek Drouin of Indiana defending NCAA Champion is out with an injury. Future star from Ole Miss sophomore Ricky Robertson did qualify and is one of the favorites to win the the national title. In the pole vault top qualifying honors went to Cori Mattix out of Michigan State.

In the middle distance events Robby Andrews of Virginia and Casimir Loxsom of Penn State, both returning All-Americans qualified for the NCAA Meet. Matthew Gibney took home top honors in the mile qualifying in a time of 3:46.29.

In the shot put true freshman from Auburn Stephen Saenz was top qualifier. Saenz has been solid all season competing very well as a freshman for Auburn, putting up big time marks. He will be a serious threat at nationals.

This was an abbreviated review, just discussing some of the more notable qualifiers. Please don't forget the PREFONTAINE CLASSIC will be on TV this weekend live on NBC.

NEXT POST: WOMEN'S EASTERN CONFERENCE REVIEW

Update

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I currently am recovering from pneumonia after just having had the flu. The internet in our home is also down. Please bare with me I plan to get back to weekly postings. Thank you for your continued support.

Weekend Review

This past weekend is one of the best weekends for track and field. The last weekend in April always includes the Penn Relays. The Penn Relays is America's premier track and field event. This three day carnival attracts over 100,000 fans from through the North and Central American continent. To go along with the Penn Relays there was the USC-UCLA Dual and the Drake Relays.

PENN RELAYS (MEN)

LSU DOMINATES SPRINT EVENTS

It was all about LSU. Under Dennis Shaver the LSU men have become even more competitive in the sprint events. Shaver has focused strongly on developing some depth. At the Penn Relays it was clear LSU had the superior stick work. The Tigers were surprisingly the only team under 40 seconds in 400 meter relay. It seems three key teams (Florida, Texas A&M and TCU) struggled to get the baton around well. The LSU tigers clocked in 38.77 in the 400 relay almost breaking the meet record set by TCU. The quartet included Keyth Talley, Horatio Williams, Tristan Walker and Gabriel Mvumvure.

In the 800 meter relay there was more a challenge. The Texas A&M Aggies took LSU to the line. The Tigers held on to win in 1:20.62. The time is the 8th fastest collegiate team in Penn Relay history. The quartet consisted of Riker Hylton, Horatio Williams, Tristan Walker and Gabriel Mvumvure.

In the 1,600 meter relay there was no quit in the LSU Tigers as they pressed towards the finish line against Texas A&M. It was a game of cat and mouse with each leg between LSU and Texas A&M. In the end Texas A&M senior Demetrius Pinder was just strong enough to hold off LSU. Pinder ran a 44.9 to hold off Ryker Hylton of LSU. Texas A&M clocked in at 3:01.73. Along with Pinder the Texas A&M quartet included Bryan Miller, Tran Howell and Tabarie Henry. LSU clocked in at 3:02.33.

Mvumvure also claimed the 100 meter dash running a 10.33 in to a decent headwind. Mvumvure is the 2nd ever LSU tiger to win the 100 meter title at the Penn Relays. Teammate Barret Nugent tried to defend his 110 meter hurdle title, Nugent fell short finishing 2nd in 13.70. Omo Osaghae of Texas Tech took the event in a time of 13.35. Teammate Bryce Brown finished 2nd in the 400 hurdles at 50.92 while Leford Green of Johnson C. Smith claimed the title in 50.00.

Osaghae was joined by Jamele Mason, Brandon Tucker and Shane Brathwaite to claim the Shuttle Hurdle Relay title over Florida.

In the Sprint Medley Relay Penn State was able to outlast the University of Florida after an amazing race. Penn State clocked in at 3:17.10. The group included Aaron Nadolksy, Brady Gehret, Casimir Loxsom and Ryan Foster.

In the 4xMile Princeton claimed the title as the first Ivy League title since 1931. The group of Chris Bendsten, Donn Cabral, Kyle Soloff and Mark Amirualt. The winning time of 16:19.98 included a 4:02.8 anchor from Amirault.

In the Distance Medley Relay Villanova won the 24th title in the event. After a great starting leg from Brian Tetreault and excellent anchor from Matthew Gibney, Villanova was too much for Arkansas to compete with. 24 titles in one event is just pure dominance.

FIELD EVENT WINNERS


LONG JUMP: MARQUISE GOODWIN (TEXAS) 26-3.5

TRIPLE JUMP: OMAR CRADDOCK (FLORIDA) 54-0 (BACK TO BACK TITLES)

SHOT PUT: HAYDEN BAILLIO (TEXAS) 64-0.25

DISCUS THROW: JAMES PLUMMER (RUTGERS) 191-1

HAMMER THROW: WALTER HENNING (LSU) 208-3

JAVELIN THROW: BRANDON HEROUX (WILLIAMS AND MARY) 239-9

HIGH JUMP: MAALIK REYNOLDS (PENN) 7-3.25

POLE VAULT: JARED JODON (VIRGINIA TECH) 17-0.75