NCAA Regional Review and Other Opinions

                          Jeff Demps (Florida)

                     

This past weekend the NCAA's latest experiment with a Regional Championship for track and field continued. On the campuses of North Florida University and the University of Texas both East and West regions competed to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. This meet has met a lot of criticism as it has robbed track and field fans of a lot of quality competitors. It seems that every year there is always an athlete we do not get to see compete due to injury. The qualification rules are unfair and a waste to the sport. The current system has damaged the sport and has made a mockery of the championship season as well as the outdoor regular season.

The beauty of the indoor season is that every week matters. The sole purpose of each competition is hit the automatic qualifying standard. If not enough individuals qualify, then the NCAA will chose the top athletes who hit the provisional qualifying standard. Prior to 2003 the outdoor season competed the same way. This process is what help to make the NCAA Outdoor Championship such a revered meet. We were still able to see the best athletes compete.

Due to injury we will not be able to see Jeff Demps compete at the championship meet. This is truly a disappointment. Demps, currently the NCAA leader in the 100 meter dash would have likely qualified for the NCAA meet under an automatic standard. Maurice Mitchell  of Florida State and Harry Adams of Auburn will now headline this event. This meet has become yet another opportunity to grab money, but a what cost not all money is good money. The sport is suffering from visibility and the biggest stars not competing on the biggest stage will damage the sport.

Enough of my ranting on the latest NCAA follies lets talk about the good that came out of the weekend. It seems as if Texas A&M will again capitalize of the University of Florida's struggles. The Aggie men have claimed the top spot in the latest USTFCCCA rankings. Texas A&M has a well rounded program that does not solely have to rely on its sprint core. A bit of disappointment for A&M is that none of their 800 meter runners and Ameer Webb not qualifying in the 100 meter dash. However Webb did qualify along with Prezel Hardy for the 200 meter dash. Wayne Davis again proved that he is getting better as the season goes on and will challenge for the title in the 110 high hurdles.

On the women's side LSU and Oregon have made things very interesting with their long list of NCAA Championship competitors. Oregon has qualified a total 31 athletes for both teams. The Ducks qualify athletes in the sprints, distance and jumping events. Three major standouts for the Lady Ducks, English Gardner, Anne Kesserling and Brianne Theisen will be heavily favored to win their respective events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

For LSU this might just be Dennis Shaver's best team. With a dominating sprint core as usual the Tigers boast an overbearing team that has already claimed the number 1 ranking away from Oregon. Kimberlyn Duncan currently the NCAA leader in both the 100 and 200 meter dash maybe able to put a record setting performance. Semoy Hackett, Rebecca Alexander and Jasmine Stowers add to provide LSU with a formidable team that reminds us of the great LSU teams of the '90's.

                                  Kimberlyn Duncan (LSU)

PREDICTION

MEN: TEXAS &M

WOMEN: OREGON

Penn Relay Review (Women)

It was another banner weekend for the PENN Relays. The 5^th largest crowd in Penn Relay history cheered and jeered along with bracing the horrible weather.  The women and the young girls present provided some solid performances that had many fans on their feet ranting and raving.

SPRINTS

HIGH SCHOOL

In the 4x100 relay Edwin Allen was the favorite entering in. They won Champs with a time of 45.00 and cruised through the preliminaries. However in the finals Long Beach shocked everyone winning with a time of 46.36. Although Holmwood Tech had the best overall time winning the large schools in 46.26, Long Beach Poly’s win is their 4^th ever and the first American team in recent decades to go back to back. The beauty of their win is that two of their relay members will be returning next year and third consecutive title is certainly possible.

The 4x400 relay was all Edwin Allen. They dominated from beginning to end to claim the title with a time of 3:42.06 with Camira Haughton splitting 54.0. Following Edwin Allen was Holmwood Tech and Vere Technical to complete a sweep. Edwin Allen success in the long sprints should not be anything new to anyone, their most noted quarter-miler Ristanannana Tracey set a 400 hurdle record last year and has turned pro one year early and will compete for an Olympic medal. 

COLLEGE

This seemed like it would be the year that LSU was finally retain their crown and the 4x100 relay queens. Texas A&M has won the last three titles under the direction of former LSU head coach Pat Henry. Texas A&M has to replace two major members of the 2011 team and did not seem like they would repeat after losing to LSU at the Texas Relays. In the finals Texas A&M put their foot down and got the baton around successfully and without any errors to claim the 4x100 relay with a time of 43.87.

LSU was able to claim their 12^th 4x200 relay title and exact some revenge on Texas A&M. The Lady Tigers clocked in at 1:31.86 with Kimberlyn Duncan on the end out-kicking Dominique Duncan. Latoya McDermott, Semoy Hackett and Rebecca Alexander joined Duncan in taking down the Aggies.

In the 4x400 relay Texas A&M was able to go out with bang by winning their first ever title in the event. Freshman anchor Olivia Ekpone split a 51.9 to hold sophomore Phyllis Francis of Oregon who split a 52.2. The Aggies clocked in at 3:33.52 with Oregon clocking in at 3:34.08. Oregon should also be a team to fear they were able to finish second with a 57.1 first leg, once the first leg problem is solved Oregon has a team that can compete for the NCAA title.

The Shuttle Hurdle Relay was expected to be dominated by Clemson. Clemson has a strong group of 100 hurdlers totaling 5, two of which have gone under 13 seconds. However during the race one of the girls from Clemson fell leading the way for LSU to claim their 9^th title in the event with a time of 54.68. The group consisted of Jasmine Stowers, Kaitlyn Moreau, Shanekia Hall and Alexandria Gochenour.

DISTANCE

Edwin Allen again represented Jamaica proudly with their dominating performance of the weekend in the 4x800 relay.  Edwin Allen won by more than 10 seconds with a time of 8:52.97. Marleena Eubanks anchored the team with a split of 2:09.3.

The Distance medley relay was more kind the Americans. Tatnall of Wilmington, Delaware had a sensational performance that saw them break a Penn Relay Record. The girls of Tatnall clocked in at 11:28.86 to break the old record by almost six minutes. Haley Pierce who anchored the quartet surpassed North Shore’s anchor with a split of 4:42.9.

COLLEGE

In the College Championship Division the University of Oregon lived up to the hype by winning the 4x800 relay 3 minutes ahead of Tennesse. The Lady Ducks had a winning time of 8:24.16. Laura Roesler the second leg had the teams top split with 2:04.5.

The Lady Ducks carried that same momentum in the 4x1,500 relay. Melanie Thompson, Alex Konsinski, Anne Kesselring and Becca Friday led the charge from start to finish and won by more than 10 minutes against a challenging field that included Georgetown and Villanova. A winning time of 17:29.00 came with a split of 4:16.3 from Anne Kesselring.

Villanova added the 11^th title in the Distance Medley relay. Villanova is number one all time in this event along with a host of others. The race closely contested with Tennessee as both have solid programs with good depth. The anchor leg from Villanova, Sheila Reid outgunned Brittany Sheffey from Tennesse 4:40.8 to 4:43.5 on the mile leg of the race to give the Wildcats their 11^th Penn Relay title.

Penn Relay Preview (Women)

(Long Beach Poly on the right National Record 4x100 44.50)

(Vere Tech on the left Penn Relay Record 44.32)

Sprints

The High School girls unfortunately miss out on the Saturday action by having to compete on Friday. However their performances do not go unnoticed. In the Girls Championship 4x100 relay Jamaica has dominated over the past thirty years. Vere Technical of Jamaica has one this event a record 15 times, no other high school has won more than 4. Long Beach Poly has been America's best representative at this meet and hold the high school national record at 44.50. Edwin Allen is the early favorite with a season's best of 45.00. Edwin Allen has one this event two times, '07 and '08.

The College Women's race has recently been dominated by Texas A&M. Pat Henry brought his relay winning formula from LSU. Dennis Shaver took over at LSU after Henry and the Lady Tigers have not fallen. In fact under Shaver's direction in 2008 LSU set the Penn Relays record in the 4x100 relay with a time of 42.59. They currently lead the NCAA this season with a time of 42.99. Texas A&M is not far behind however with a season's best of 43.21.

LSU posted a rather impressive 4x200 relay time at the Texas Relays clocking in at 1:30.01. However that same quartet is not listed to compete this year. Texas A&M has the 2nd fastest time coming in and will likely claim the title if LSU's b-squad is not up to task. Keep and eye out for the speedy ACC Champions Clemson, they should provide a strong performance.

The High School Girls 4x400 relay is where America has some decent success. However Vere Tech still has won the event 10 times and Holmwood Technical, also of Jamaica holds the meet record a t 3:34.75 set in 2001. Vere Tech is the early favorite currently listed as the only team under 3:40. Just like the 4x100 relay Long Beach Poly has generally been the best American representative and also has the national record with a time of 3:35.49. This year Poly has yet to assemble their best team and must pull the big upset. Other strong American teams include Wakefield from North Carolina and Garden City of New Jersey.

The race amongst colleges does not have the top team competing at the meet. Texas is currently the only women's program in the NCAA running sub 3:30. However Texas A&M and LSU field two very strong teams. LSU is currently ranked 2nd with a season best of 3:30.42.


The Shuttle Hurdle Relay is another event were LSU has dominated. The Lady Tigers have won the event a record 8 times. Most recently Texas A&M has been able to put a couple of strong teams together and have won it the last two years. LSU enters a strong team with sophomore sensation Jasmine Stowers but Clemson has the best hurdling group in the country led by Brianna Rollins and Bridgette Owens.



Distance

Tennessee has won the women's 4x800 relay seven times and currently has the two best times every ran at Penn Relays. This season they are anchored by senior Chanelle Price. Price has not lived up to expectations over her career but has been consistently good all four years. The Oregon Ducks bring a strong group of 800 runners and may have the best squad of the weekend and are also favorites to win the 4x1,500 over Boston College. Villanova, the all time leader in wins in this event enters a solid group that should contend and possibly earn the Wildcats their 10th victory. 

In the Distance Medley relay Villanova again brings a great quartet to compete against Georgetown and Tennessee. Georgetown ran away with the title this past indoor season and will use that same line up. The Oregon Ducks as usual will be a threat to win the event.

As I stated early Oregon boasts the strong group of milers in the NCAA. Boston College will rely on the King sisters Jillian and Caroline to challenge Oregon. Oregon has four athletes that have run under 4:17 and will have a strong veteran superstar in Jordan Hasay to anchor them and likely win another title for Oregon. Villanova is also a team for title consideration. 

PENN RELAYS PREVIEW (MEN)

It is the end of April and my favorite weekend of the year. It is Penn Relay time!!!!

The Penn Relays always brings a certain level of excitement and anticipation for many track and field fans. This year that is especially true with it being an Olympic year. Although the professional athletes take majority of the television time I would like to preview the colleges and high school championship of America races. (Relay events only)


Sprints

The sprint events are always a crowd pleaser. Whether it is a dropped baton, amazing relay leg, sensational anchor or amazing time many simply are fascinated with the challenge the sprint relays bring.

The collegiate men's 4x100 relay is especially interesting this year. Auburn stunned the world on March 31 at the Texas Relays with a time of 38.30. That is one of the fastest opening collegiate times ever. The Tigers will look to eclipse the Penn Relays record of 38.68 set by TCU. The closest team to the Auburn University time wise is the University of Florida which has a season best of 38.67. Unfortunately the Gators will not be competing at the Penn Relays so the main challenge will go to Texas A&M and Florida State.

The School boys 4x100 relay does not have a great recent history for the United States. With the lack of a strong southern presence the United States has to rely on schools from California, Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio to produce top schools for the event. Last season showed how much progress is needed in this event for the United States. Only one team from the United States qualified and they finished last. This year there is potential that no American team will qualify. Long Beach Poly has been the best high school program for America and may be the sole representative come Saturday. For Jamaica, Kingston College leads the way with a time of 40.17 and talented champion Delano Williams will look to lead Munro College to the title.


The 4x200 relay is an odd relay and not ran very much at the top level. However when it is ran it is certainly a sensational event. Texas A&M currently leads the NCAA ranks with a best of 1:21.21 and will look to defend their title. Auburn is also listed in this event with the same 4x100 relay quartet and LSU has a strong squad as well.

In the grand finale the 4x400 relay only one team in the NCAA has stood out all year with a early time and that would be USC. Not South Carolina but Southern California. USC again will not compete at this years Penn Relays. Missisippi State currently ranks 2nd ahead of LSU and Texas A&M. Those three have times with in hundreths of a seconds of each other. Miss St in 3:03.12, LSU 3:03.20 and Texas A&M in 3:03.16. This should be a real barn barner and a great way to end a always phenomenal meet.

The High School Boys race should be interesting as well. The Boys and Girls of New York lit up the track all indoor season long and have yet to run a strong contingent outdoors. It will take at least a 3:11 performance to claim the title. Jamaica brings a strong core of teams including defending champions Munro College and Jamaica Champs winner Calabar which ran a 3:10.19. Hopefeully and eventually an American program in one of the warmer states that compete at the Penn Relays will finally develop a program that can be a consistent threat and win some of the relay events, but for now the Jamaicans will continue to dominate. 

The Shuttle Hurdle Relays is one of my favorite events. Like the 4x200 relay is not ran often and even less so at the College level. Clemson brings a strong quartet of hurdles that include three sub 14 second hurdlers and they are fresh of their strong performance at the Florida Relays. Clemson is really trying to the claim the title of Hurdle University under coach Lawrence Johnson. 



 Distance
 
The Distance events are great to see as well. Traditional distance powers Oregon, Michigan, Villianova, Indiana and Oklahoma will look to bring home titles in respective distance events. However growing power Texas A&M is having a record breaking season in their distance events and will look to represent their university proudly at relays.

The Penn State and Texas A&M bring two very strong 4x800 relay teams. Texas A&M can be considered the early favorite after claiming the title at the Texas Relays with a time of 7:15.99 breaking a meet record that stood for 25 years. Penn State is led by senior star Casimir Loxsom who has a personal best of 1:45.28.

The 4x800 High School race is Boys and Girls race to lose. With a solid 7:41 performance indoors a sub 7:40 performance is all but imminent. Expect for this program to be mentioned a lot this weekend. 

In the 4xmile Texas A&M had another strong showing at the Texas Relays (4x1,500) and will look to capitalize on that performance. However their conference mate, for the last time, Oklahoma brings three sub 4 minute milers to the table and will look to not only claim the 4xmile but the Distance Medley Relay as well.

 

Texas Relays Review and weekend ending 04-01-12

Before we begin a great weekend with the Florida Relays, Arcadia Invitational and Pepsi Team Invitational let us review what a great weekend we recently had. We will mainly look at the Texas Relays and some of the great performances there.

WOMEN

This outdoor season has already started off with a bang. This season looks as if the chase for the top is a little more competitive indoors.

This past weekend at the Texas Relays LSU made their usual strong statement. The Lady Tigers posted some phenomenal times in both the 4x100 relay and 4x200 relay with times of 42.99 and 1:30.01 respectively. Kimberlyn Duncan anchored both relays and ran a strong race in the 100 meter dash. Duncan clocked in at a wind-aided 10.94 over Chelsea Hayes of Louisiana Tech who clocked in at 11.09. Duncan is the recognized leader of the team and has plenty of championship hardware to prove it.

Donique Flemings of Texas A&M brought home the 100 meter hurdle title clocking in a wind-aided 12.88. Flemings has definitely stepped up this outdoor season after a average indoor season.

The University of Texas also had some strong team performances. The Lady Longhorns had two impressive distance victories with a win from Marielle Hall in the 5,000 meter run clocking in at 16:35.63 and Brittany Marches in the 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 10;53.72.

In the sprints Texas claimed the 4x400 relay title becoming the first team to run sub 3:30 this season with a time of 3:29.72 (Stacey Ann Smith, Kendra Chambers, Allison Peter and Briana Nelson).

Chelsea Carrier-Eades of West Virginia maybe the best athlete to challenge defending champion Brianne Theisen of Oregon. Carrier-Eades had a solid all around effort in the heptathlon with a total point score of 5,821. Her score has automatically qualified her for NCAA's.

MEN

The Texas Relays is usually all about speed and this year did not dissappoint. Auburn University scorched the track with their outstanding 4x100 relay team. A team of Marcus Rowland, Harry Adams, Michael DeHaven and Keenan Brock clocked in a world leading time of 38.30. TCU has held the NCAA record of 38.04 since 1998 and held the previous record old record of 38.23 since 1989. That is over 20 years that TCU has held the NCAA record. Auburn has legitimate shot to challenge that record and become the first team under 38 seconds in college.

Jeff Demps won a very fast 100 meter race. Demps clocked in at 10.01, a slightly wind-aided performance. Demps definitely is looking to run in the low 9.9's and if possible sub 9.9 this outdoor season.

Barret Nugent of LSU got off to a fast start in the 110 meter hurdles. Nugent the defending champion clocked in at 13.37 to win the event over Shane Braithwaite of Texas Tech who clocked in at 13.43. Although the performance is wind-aided Nugent is definitely serving notice that he is still the front runner.

Texas A&M normally known as a sprint power was well represented by their distance core. The Aggies won the distance medley and the 4x800 relay. They were also 2nd in the 4x1,500.

Erik Kynard of Kansas State got back to his wining ways in the high jump. Kynard leaped to a height of 7'3. Kynard was the leader all indoor season but was unable to perform up to his championship level at the NCAA Indoor Championship missing out on the title. Kynard was able to Derek Drouin of Indiana the defending NCAA Outdoor Champion and teammate Darius King.

Issac Murphy of Texas also had a strong day in the field, Murphy dominated the men's decathlon with performances that included a 10.47 100 meter dash. Murphy's point total 8,067 will definitely put him the NCAA title discussion with Gray Horn of Florida.

It is now April and expect for the performances to pick up. The Florida Relays should provide some interesting fireworks.

MEN'S 4X100 RELAY AT THE TEXAS RELAYS

NCAA Championship Review

2012 NCAA Men's Indoor Champions

Florida Gators

What an indoor season. The Championship meet again lived up to the heat and had the usual event to event suspense that comes with competing for a national championship. Spring is now here an outdoor season is ready to begin. Before we discuss the outdoor season let’s talk about the great championship meet that recently took place and the highlights of the meet.

The University of Florida men and University of Oregon women both entered the meet ranked number 1 in the country and two-time defending champions. The Gators and Ducks were looking for a three-peat. For the Gators the advantage was solid group of athletes that were top heavy performers. For the Ducks the advantage was the depth and the ability to score in every phase.

The sprinters were the headline of the Gator’s track squad and they did not disappoint. Jeff Demps won his third NCAA Indoor Title in the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.56 over Andrew Riley of Illinois. Demps admitted to not having a good start but had a solid race with an even better finish. His teammate McQuay entered the men’s 400 as the favorite and was able to out kick and out lean Brycen Spratling of Pittsburgh for the title with a time of 45.78. McQuay had a rough start to the season but had a strong finish. This should set him up nicely as he expects to make the US Olympic team in that event.

English Gardner led the sprint core for the Ducks clocking in a 7.12 in the 60 meter dash to defeat highly touted freshman Octavious Freeman of Central Florida who clocked in at 7.15. Gardner’s start was too much for the field to overcome. Gardner’s 11.03 100 meter time ran at the PAC-12 Championship last season should also serve as a warning a sprint star is.

The LSU women saw a boost in team points in the 200 when Kimberlyn Duncan claimed the title clocking in at 22.74. Duncan defended the title with her trademark running form and long stride. Duncan will look to add the 100 meter title to trophy case this outdoor season.

Both hurdle groups men and women performed very well across the board. Jarrett Eaton of Syracuse was able successfully defeat Andrew Riley. Eaton clocked in 7.54 to claim the title of Riley who clocked in at 7.55.

Christina Manning of Ohio State also won a close race, Manning clocked in at 7.91. Her toughest competitor was defending champion Brianna Rollins who ran a personal best of 7.93. Manning's time is one of the fastest times ran at the NCAA Championships and that mark should propel her for a great outdoor season.

Chris O’Hare of Tulsa ran a daring mile race. O’Hare led most of the race and out kicked Rich Peters of Boston and Miles Batty of BYU for the title. The women’s race went a little differently. Jordan Hasay of Oregon led most of the race when Lucy Van Dalen of Stony Brook out kicked her on the final lap to claim the title. Hasay finished 3rd while teammate Becca Friday finished fourth giving Oregon 10 points in the women’s mile.

The men’s 3,000 meter race was a spectacle to see. Lawi Lalang of Arizona by way of Kenya and Chris Derrick of Stanford ran two great races that captured the crowd. Lalang out kicked Derrick to claim the title in a time of 7:46.64. Lalang led for a decent part of the race and had too much foot speed for Derrick to compete with.

In the field events Florida represented themselves well. Omar Craddock was finally able to jump out of the shadow of Christian Taylor and William Wynne. Craddock leaped to a personal best of 54 feet 11 ½ inches to claim the NCAA title over Chris Bernard of Arizona State. His jumping teammate and freshman sensation did not perform at his best but did score a point in the long jump by finish 8th with a leap of 25-3 ½.

In the weight throw Craddock’s teammate Jeremy Postin threw a personal best to claim 4th overall with a throw of 70-7. Marcel Lomnicky of Virginia Tech was the winner with a mark of 72-3 ½.

In the Shot Put Kemal Mesic in his final season of eligibility as a senior, threw a personal best as well with a mark of 67-0 ¼ on his fourth attempt. Jordan Clarke a junior from Arizona State claimed the title with a mark of 68-5 ¼.

The Ducks relied on strength in numbers. The Ducks were not a super threat in the field events but still had the best all around athlete in Brianne Thiesen who has able to defend the NCAA title in the women’s heptathlon.

Two athletes really stood out in the field competition. Tina Sutej of Arkansas and Brigetta Barrett of Arizona.

Barrett made TEAM USA last summer for the world championships in Daegu in her event the High Jump. Her potential seems limitless and the USA may have decent core of jumpers including Chaunte Lowe. Barrett won the high jump by five inches at this meet leaping to mark of 6-5. Barrett's mark is one of the best in NCAA history and she will look to continue to re-write the record books as she continues to grow.

Sutej of Arkansas maybe the next Stacy Dragila with her successful level of dominance in the women's pole vault. Sutej already owns the NCAA record and she fell just shy of that mark with a 14-7 1/4 mark. Expect for Sutej to reach 15 foot mark this outdoor season.

Not be outdone Whitney Gipson of TCU also had a strong field performance. Gipson won the long jump by almost a full foot with her leap of 22-8 a new collegiate record. Gipson will look to make TEAM USA be a part of successful trend in American women's jumping.

Junior Tia Brooks of Oklahoma finished her indoor season with a solid performance in the shot put with a throw of 62-4. Brooks is just 6 inches shy of the NCAA record and may challenge that record next season.

The Gators and The Ducks will look to finally carry their success from Indoors to Outdoors. For the past three seasons Texas A&M men and women have been out duel both programs. This season maybe the difference in which should be an exciting outdoor season.

Women's 2012 NCAA Indoor Champs

Oregon Ducks

MY RECENT ABSENSE

My apologies for no recent post. Going through some personal turmoil. I shall be back and ready to post Sunday March 11, 2012 after the NCAA Championship. GO GATORS!!!