Big 12 Indoor Preview Men

(Texas Longhorns-Defending Champions)

Just like the women this conference is loaded with All-American talent and national champions. There have been a few changes to the conference, namely new coaches but the expectations are still high.


SPRINTS

(Trayvon Bromell-Baylor)

This conference had the best 100 meter sprinter in the country last season in Charles Silmon of TCU. Silmon is now competing professionally with Adidas after graduating. With the lost of Silmon the conference still holds quite a few big names. No name possibly bigger than freshman sensation Trayvon Bromell of Baylor. Bromell was the nation's top sprinter last season in high school earning the Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Brommell also went under 10 seconds last season, wind-aided but still the fastest under any condition and should be a serious threat in the 60 meter dash. Silmon's former teammate Raymond Bozman's had a rough freshman season compared to the standards he set in high school. He however still returns as the top threat to claim the indoor title along with Carlos Rodriguez of Kansas State.

In the long sprints (200 and 400 meter dash) Baylor has remained dominant for so many years. Senior Blake Heriot looks to continue that success at Baylor. Heriot a can't miss prospect coming out of high school spent his freshman season at the University of Florida. After an average freshman year he transferred to Baylor and has been a fixture in the program ever since. Heriot claimed the 200 meter title last indoor season with a time of 20.77. He however was not able to complete the double in the 400 after being passed up by returning defending champion Nick Efkamp of Iowa State. Heriot clearly has more speed but has been lacking the endurance that makes a great 400 runner. Expect in his senior season Heriot to get it right.

The hurdles have long been dominated by Texas Tech in the Big 12. It seems every year they have a trio of great hurdlers. Last season however was different, the Red Raiders only had one Tramaine Maloney of Barbados. Maloney is started to making a name for himself after his All-Conference freshman season. While the Red Raiders re-build their hurdle core Ryan Sander of Iowa State is primed to take full advantage as the top returning 60 meter hurdler. Michael Stigler of Kansas will also be a threat in the event, Stigler is the defending 400 meter hurdle champion from this past outdoor season.


DISTANCE

What a great conference the Big 12 has been to male distance runners. There are so many programs that are year end and year out ranked in the top 10 in cross country. Out of the great success during the cross country season are athletes who perform on the international stage for Championship hardware. This season is no different.

Last season Kennedy Kithuka of Texas Tech finished one of the most dominant careers in conference history. Kithuka went onto win the NCAA Indoor title in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 13:25.38 a new school record. For perennial distance power Oklahoma State Kirubel Errassu leads this group. Errassu claimed the 5,000 meter title at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship and a top returning 3,000 meter runner from last season. Errasu is a distance runner that is capable claiming titles in the mile, 3,000 and 5,000 meter races. Expect to hear his name a lot this year along with his teammate Thomas Farrell in regards to challenging Kithuka.

A great challenger to Errassu and Kithuka is Ryan Dohner of Texas. Dohner a top returning 5,000 and 10,000 meter runner will definitely be a great challenge Errasu and will be counted on to score big points for title hopeful Texas.


FIELD EVENTS

(Ryan Crouser-Texas)

It's champions galore in the field events, as in 5 returning Indoor Champions. Alex Bishop of Kansas leads the way for a very strong group of field athletes as the defending pole vault champion. He will be joined by his teammate Corey Brown. Jharyl Bowry of Kansas State also leads a squad with a great group of field athletes. Bowry is the defending champion in the long jump and his teammate Zack Riley is the top returning high jumper from last season.  Felix Obi of Baylor had perhaps the best freshman season of all field athletes in the conference and was named to the All-Rookie team. Obi is one of the many returning All-Americans. Obi will also look to challenge Bowry in the long jump to complete the double.

In the throwing events Texas has remained at the top in the Shot Put for quite sometime thanks Hayden Baillo. Baillo now gone leaves the responsibility up to Will Spence and Ryan Crouser. Crouser claimed the title last outdoor season over Baillo with a dominating performance, winning by more than 8 feet. He continued that success to the national meet claiming the NCAA Outdoor title as well. Top returnee from last indoor season Kole Weldon of Texas Tech will also be in the mix for the crown as well. In the weight throw another Texas thrower is expected to earn big points in Clint Harris. Harris is the 2nd ranked returnee in the event from last season. Harris will be joined by teammate Spence as well. Both will have there hands full with defending champion Nick Miller of Oklahoma State who won by 5 feet last indoor season.

Another NCAA Champion for the Texas Longhorns was true freshman Johannes Mock. Mock claimed the men's decathlon last outdoor season with a total of 8,267 points. Mock had a well rounded performance. He is also the defending Big 12 Indoor Champion in the pentathlon and looks to continue his success.



TEAM OUTLOOK

Texas returns perhaps the strongest group of athletes, many from the 2013 Indoor title group. There are a few areas that they are weak especially in the sprints and hurdles. But there is a new regime and things will change. A strong challenger will most certainly be Baylor and Oklahoma State, should be a fun meet to watch and a great season for all the athletes.

Big 12 Indoor Preview Women

The Big 12 is in it's second season of containing only 10 teams. However those 10 remaining teams are nationally recognized programs who year in and year out attempt to build their teams to earn national titles.

SPRINTS/HURDLES

(Christy Udoh-TEXAS)

The sprints in the Big 12 are always exciting. The conference is loaded with All-American talent in each sprint event. On the women's side Texas has perhaps the most loaded sprints roster since the championship teams under former head coach Beverly Kearney. New head coach Mario Santega spent the past 10 seasons at the university and clearly knows what it takes to win the Big 12 title and a national title.

Christy Udoh, Courtney Okolo and Brianna Nelson are a few of the big names returning for Texas this season. Udoh finished 2nd last indoor season in the 200 meters at the conference championship and placed 7th overall nationally earning All-American Honors. She is the top returning 200 meter runner and a senior leader for the Lady Longhorns.

In the 60 meter dash Texas received a transfer in the name of Morolake Akinosun. Akinosun followed her coach Tonja Buford-Bailey who became the Asst Head coach and director women's sprints. Akinosun like her coach spent last season in the Big 10. She claimed the Big 10 title as a freshman and her time is the top returning 60 meter performance from last season in the conference. Defending champion Tianna Valentine of Kansas is still a threat to repeat.

In the 400 meter dash Texas has perhaps the most loaded group of 400 runners ever assembled at an American university. Ashley Spencer is another Illinois transfer but she comes with a little more hardware in her trophy case. Spencer burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2012 running a 50.50 to win the world junior title nearly a month after winning the NCAA title as a freshman. What makes her story more interesting is she spent her high school career as a low hurdler. Spencer followed up her freshman campaign by defending her outdoor title with a time of 50.28. Along with Courtney Okolo (51.09), Brianna Nelson (52.18) true freshman Kendall Baisden (52.03) the 4x400 relay record set by Sanya Richards group in 2003 maybe in jeopardy. The lone challenger is defending indoor champion Diamond Dixon. This event should be fantastic to watch.

In the women's hurdles Tiffany McReynolds of Baylor and Morgan Snow of Texas lead this talented group. McReynolds has been a big name in collegiate track and field for quite some time. As a freshman she claimed the big 12 title in excellent fashion and won the Texas Relays 100 meter hurdles en route to All-American honors that same season. She has still been a threat all these years but have been slowed due to injuries. McReynolds looks to put it all together this season against a charging Morgan Snow of Baylor who claimed the outdoor title in the conference last season.



FIELD EVENTS

(Lindsay Vollmer)

This will be another banner year for the Big 12 in the field events. This conference like the sprints/hurdles has produced many All-Americans. Returning champions this season would be Shanae Briscoe in the High Jump and Kaitlin Petrillose in the Pole Vault also from Texas are headlining this talented group.

Lorraine Ugen of TCU is another talented athlete in the Big 12. Ugen is coming off an excellent outdoor season in which she earned her first national title in the women's long jump and earned a personal best jump of 22 feet 2 inches.

Another NCAA Champion returning is Lindsay Vollmer of Kansas. Vollmer won the women's heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Championship after breaking records at the Big 12 conference meet en route to a title there. Vollmer also claimed the conference title indoors in the pentathlon. She looks to make up for a disappointing performance at last season NCAA Indoor Championship to another another title to her trophy case.

A new era will begin in the women's shot put. Last season Tia Brooks a 2012 Olympian, finished her final season at Oklahoma claiming both indoor and outdoor titles for both conference and national. Christina Hillman of Iowa State is the next up to represent the conference. As a sophomore she sat in the shadow of Brooks but looks to use the new beginning as an opportunity to place her stamp on the conference.



DISTANCE

There is a lot of new names in the distance events in this conference. Many All-Conference and All-American athletes have now graduated and moved to the next phase in their careers. One mainstay returning is defending 800 meter champion Nataljia Piliusina of Oklahoma State. Piliusina also stepped to a higher race in the women's 1,500 at the NCAA Outdoor meet and shocked many by claiming the NCAA title in the event. It's fair to say she is the clear headliner in the conference and may be looking for the mid-distance sweep at the conference championship.

Teammates Olicia Williams and Mariah Kelley of Baylor look to challenge Piliusina in both events for conference title. Williams a true freshman last season will also be on the national radar to compete for All-American honors. Top returnee from last outdoor season in the women's 1,500 was Sara Sutherland of Texas who claimed the Big 12 Outdoor title in the event. She will look to challenge Piliusina for the indoor crown in the women's mile.


TEAM RACE

Texas may just have too much fire power for Kansas to compete this season after losing some of their All-Americans to graduation. However they do return a very talented group of athletes in all phases of track and field and will have the aura of defending NCAA Outdoor Champions and Big 12 Indoor Champions along with them. This should be an entertaining season for the Big 12 conference.

ACC Indoor Preview

Well it's that time again. Another great Indoor Season is upon us and with it the next wave of collegiate track and field stars. One of the key conferences in producing those stars is the ACC. This conference over the years has gone from a distance conference to a well rounded conference. Great, sprinters, hurdles, distance runners, throwers and jumpers. Below you will a find a preview of what is to come from each section.

(Dentarious Locke-Florida State)

SPRINTS

Florida State as usual leads off for the men. They recently made headlines but nabbing the top three 100 meter sprinters in the country (Kendall Williams, Trentavis Friday and Mustaqeem Williams). Something that may have never been done. Before those three talented youngsters arrive there is already great talent remaining. Dentarious Locke was ranked number 2 in the country in the 60 meter dash last season and false started in the preliminary round. He is joined by another talented teammate in high jumper and 400 meter runner James Harris who claimed the outdoor title. Adding to the talented two will be footballer Ronald Darby and true freshman Michael Cherry.

On the women's side major changes have occurred. Clemson saw their top ranked coach Lawrence Johnson resign at the beginning of the season. During the off season assistance sprints/hurdles coach Tim Hall also left for a new position at the University of Kentucky. A new coach was hired in the off season, Mark Elliott formerly the assistant coach at LSU. He added another former LSU coach Marvin Gibson to lead the sprints/hurdles. Gibson has had great experience developing championship runners (Trindon Holliday, Kimberlyn Duncan, Kelly Ann Baptiste and Barrett Nugent). He arrives to coach a depleted sprints/hurdle core that saw top sprint returnee Dezera Bryant transfer to Kentucky behind coach Hall along with hurdler Kendra Harrison. However there is still plenty of fire power in the conference. Marecia Pemberton of Florida State is now the top returnee in the women's sprints along with Jordan Lavender of Virginia. This a great opportunity for a true freshman such as Ana Holland of Virginia to take over.



FIELD EVENTS

In the jumping events Florida State will return two superstars. James Harris in the high jump and defending outdoor champion Stefan Britts in the long jump. Joining the duo will be true freshman Jalen Ramsey a football recruit who has been living up to the hype. Another returning champion is triple jumper Johnathan Gardner. Gardner like Harris is a returning NCAA All-American. Isaiah Simmons was true freshman last year that claimed both indoor and outdoor conference titles. More is expected out of Simmons, hopefully in the form of All-American honors.

On the women's side Thea Lamond of Maryland leads a talented returning group. Lamond the defending champion in the pentathlon will not only look to defend her pentathlon title but she is also a top returnee in the high jump and triple jump. Her teammate Amber Melville is the defending champion in the high jump and only returnee with a performance over 6 feet. Martina Schultze of Virginia Tech is also a returning champion and the only pole vaulter over 14 feet. In the throwing events two champions return. In the shot put both indoor and outdoor champions will be competing for the title. Tremanisha Taylor of NC State and Chelsea Whalen of Florida State, Taylor indoors and Whalen outdoors.



DISTANCE

The distance events in conference are going through a change. A few returnees and some incoming stars. On the men's side Thomas Curtis of Virginia Tech and Jakub Zivec of Florida State are the lone champion returnees. Curtis defending his 5,000 meter crown and Zivec defending his 3,000 meter crown. Both are important pieces in the team factor. Florida State is considered the favorite with Virginia Tech close by.

On the women's side Lianne Farber of North Carolina and Juliet Bottorf of Duke are also defending champions looking to push their teams towards the team title. Both will have to fight off a talented group at Florida State. The Seminoles return two great athletes in Colleen Quigley and Jessica Parry along with freshman star Bridget Blake. The Seminoles will also look to build off a successful cross country season were they won the conference title and Quigley earned athlete of the year.



Looks to be an exciting Indoor season for the ACC. Florida State has reigned supreme on the men's side for quite a while can Virginia Tech knock them off? On the women's side Clemson has lost many athletes to transfers and a coaches to different positions. Things should get interesting on the women's side.

THE CHAMPS ARE HERE!

Well hello to you all again, it has been a while. With my blog solely focused on track and field it was quite dead on the collegiate front outside of transfers and new coaching hires.With the Indoor Season less than a month away many teams are now preparing for that very first meet. There are many returning champions this season and new freshman stars that look to create another great indoor season. There are two senior athletes in particular that could have amazing seasons. 

EDDIE LOVETT (FLORIDA-SR/HURDLES):

EDDIE LOVETT arrived at Florida as the top hurdler in the country as a high school senior. Lovett at the time was an athlete who did not have many years in the sport prior to college. As a freshman he did not let that deter him from his goal. Up against the speedy defending champion Barrett Nugent of LSU, Lovett claimed the SEC Indoor 60 meter hurdle title in his freshman season.  

Each of the past three seasons Lovett has been regarding as one of the best, during the indoor season. Last season he set a NCAA Indoor Championship meet record of 7.50 in the 60 meter hurdles. The national record 7.47 set by Reggie Torian of Wisconsin still stands as on obstacle in the way of Lovett. Also standing in the way is the absent of outdoor NCAA title. Lovett has been an All-American for several years, all this missing is the elusive NCAA outdoor title and possibly an NCAA record. Lovett should be pretty exciting to watch this season as his team will also be competing for the NCAA Indoor Title.

Abbey D’Agostino (DARTMOUTH-SR/DISTANCE):

Abbey D’Agostino had one of the best individual seasons for a distance runner in 2013. She dominated the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs during the indoor season claiming the Indoor national title in both events. During the outdoor season D’Agostino competed in the 5,000 meter run at the Outdoor Championship meet and ran a very convincing race winning by about 7 seconds ahead of her closest competitor.

This cross country season she has picked up where she left off. She has won several cross country races even garnishing the top national honor of USTFCCCA early October. As a senior D’Agostino could do something that has been rarely done this indoor season by winning both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter races again this upcoming 2014 Indoor season. She has already proven to overcome many odds and she was not even expected to be an NCAA Champion when recruited to Dartmouth. She is now preparing for a challenging indoor season, but she first must claim an Individual title in Cross Country. 

In our next post will preview the incoming freshman stars. 

*The Best of the Summer*

For many collegiate track and field athletes the summer is a chance to train with previous youth or high school coaches and to get into better shape for the upcoming season. For those who make their countries national team it is now meant for competition.

Historically summer championships for NCAA athletes have been extremely difficult. Many athletes have completed a long indoor and outdoor season and would prefer to rest or lightly train. Instead they are intensely training for either the World Championships or Olympic Games. This year there were quite a few NCAA athletes representing their countries competing at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia. In this post will focus on this year's top performing NCAA athlete.

(Brianna Rollins-Clemson)

BRIANNA ROLLINS (Clemson)

Rollins career has had many up and downs. As a sophomore she won the NCAA Indoor 60 meter hurdle title and in that season was the only athlete under 8 seconds (7.96). Later that season she got injured for the second outdoor season in a row.

Throughout her career that seemed to be a problem that would indicate she would never reach her potential. Rollins is an athlete with tremendous speed, the last hurdler with her speed level was the great Gail Devers. Anyone could tell if she just have one healthy season she could do some real damage.

This season would be the one, Rollins set the NCAA record in her first race clocking in at 7.78. Her time was an all-time top 10 performance in USA history and skyrocketed her to the top in the world. She continued her torrid pace almost breaking the record again at the NCAA meet with a clocking of 7.79.

(Gail Devers- 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist)

The outdoors she was even better, setting the NCAA record with a time of 12.39 at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Two weeks later she was even better breaking Gail Devers American record with a time of 12.26. Right before the world championships in Moscow Rollins injured her knee during training. Were her injury demons returning to haunt her?

Rollins arrived at the World Championship exploding to a 12.55 in the heats and answered the injury question a emphatic no. In the finals against defending world and Olympic champion Rollins again rose to the occasion clocking in 12.44. Rollins is the first American woman to win a world 100 title since Michelle Perry in 2007. Rollins career has started well and we should look to more great success from this talented young woman.

(Brianna Rollins- now professional)

Update

I would like to apologize for my recent absence. There have been interesting changes in my personal life including the loss of my laptop. I hope to be up an running real soon and to discuss my new plans that were delayed due to the recent circumstances. Thank you for your continued patience, I look to posting more great stories about the sport we love.

NCAA Outdoor Championship Review

(2013 CO-NATIONAL CHAMPIONS)

(TEXAS A&M AND FLORIDA)

This past weekend we saw college track and field at its best. It was the best venue, great conditions and great performances all weekend long. The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet is the ultimate team meet on display. This meet introduces many of us to the stars of the future and what programs had just enough to claim the team title. Let's recap an amazing weekend.



SPRINTS/HURDLES

Women:

Each event had it's own unique story line. Oregon superstar English Gardner came in with the nation's top time in 11.00. She also improved her performance in the 200 winning the Pac-12 conference title with a time of 22.62. However in the semi-finals Gardner failed to qualify just running 23.70 and acknowledged an injury she had been suffering all year with her ankle. With the finals the following day there were many doubts going in to day three regarding the hometown favorite Gardner would be able to defend her title. Running out lane 3 Gardner got out to a great start and never led up. Gardner dipped under 11 seconds clocking in at 10.96. Her performance gave the home crowd hope that the Oregon women could women. She then gave a major announcement with plans to go the professional route.

Brianna Rollins has been breaking records all season long. The hurdler from Clemson has spent much of a career facing challenges with injuries. Her talent however has never been a question, her phenomenal speed was noticeable from her freshman year. It took sometime for her technique to come together. This year it was evident all her hard work paid off. She set the indoor collegiate national record in January shocking the world with a time of 7.78. To make sure no one doubted her she broke the outdoor record in the semifinal round clocking in at 12.47 in the 100 meter hurdles. What she did in the finals was even greater, clocking in at 12.39 she has placed her self in truly elite company. She is just .06 off of Gail Devers American record and is one of only 5 American women who have gone under 12.40.

(Brianna Rollins-Clemson)

Men:

Just like the women much of the focus was on the 100 meter dash. There were plenty of big names in the race in with Charles Silmon of TCU, Olympian Isaiah Young of Ole Miss and Dentarious Locke of Florida State. Before the meet started Young had the nations top time with a time of 9.99. His time was the only legal time under 10 seconds. In the first race of the weekend Locke introduced himself to everyone clocking a wind legal 9.97 in the semifinal heat. In the finals however Charles Silmon proved that his wind-aided 9.94 at the beginning of the season was no fluke. Silmon had a great start and fell slightly behind Locke around the 50 meter mark, but in the last 15 meters Silmon surged ahead to surpass Locke for the title with a wind-aided time of 9.89


The 400 has a truly great story. Bryshon Nellum of USC has suffered greatly throughout his track and field career. His freshman year he pulled his hamstring running the third leg of the team's 4x100 relay then before his sophomore season even starts he is shot in the leg months before the season at a Halloween party. With all that behind him Nellum finally was running pain free this season after being granted a 6th year of eligibility Nellum dominated the Pac-12 winning both the 400 and 200. At the outdoor championship Nellum used his superior speed to surpass Deon Lendore of Texas A&M and freshman Arman Hall of Florida down the stretch to win with a time of 44.73.


DISTANCE


Women:

Abbey D'Agostino of Dartmouth has impressed us this season with her amazing times and championship performances. Last season she got her first taste of victory of winning the 5,000 meter run as a sophomore. Early this season she pulled off a distance double winning the 3,000 and 5,000 meter races. D'Agostino joined a very short list of athletes who have successfully defended their titles by winning the 5,000 at the NCAA Outdoor Championship out-kicking Jordan Hasay of Oregon in the last 400 meters to win in 15:43.68. D'Agostino is just a junior and may return to defend her title yet again and further cement herself as a distance legend.


Men:

Lawi Lalang of Arizona has been the story in the distance world all season. He generally dominates his competition and post great times. Lalang who occasionally trains with Olympic Champion Bernard Lagat put on a show this past weekend yet again. Lalang won a hard fought race in the men's 10,000 with a winning time of 29:29.65 over Paul Katam of UNC-Greensboro. In the 5,000 Lalang dominated the race from the gun. His victory was never in doubt as he comfortably ran around the track clocking in at 13:35.19 to defeat Katam's teammate Paul Chelimo who clocked in at 13:40.41.



FIELD


Women:

In the high jump Olympic Silver Medalist Brigetta Barrett of Arizona continued her dominance this season. Barrett early in the season set a collegiate record in the event and used that same magic to claim another NCAA title. Barrett reached a height of 6'4.75, and spent the last remaining jumps of the competition alone.. Barrett did make three attempts another NCAA record but it was not to be. Barrett clearly is the class of any field she competes on the collegiate level. No word yet if she will make the jump to the professional ranks, but with an Olympic Silver Medal already we should more successful performances from Barrett in the future.

Tia Brooks of Oklahoma is another athlete who competed at the 2012 London Olympics who returned to school. Brooks was the defending champion in the women's shot put. Her throw of 62-0.50 proved that her qualification to the Olympic Games was no joke. Brooks was the only athlete to surpass 60 feet and also a NCAA meet record. Many things are expected for Ms. Brooks in the future, including a possible Olympic medal.


Men:

Demar Forbes of LSU has had an outstanding outdoor season his senior year. Forbes has always been at the front and part of the discussion in the men's long jump but has never experienced victory. Forbes shocked the nation defeating indoor champion Marquis Dendy on the last jump at the SEC Outdoor Championships and reach 27 feet. At regionals Dendy failed to qualify for nationals leaving the door wide open for Forbes to claim the NCAA Outdoor title. Forbes won the event on his 2nd jump a wind-aided 27-4.75 mark that leaped Forbes to the top and he was never challenged for the title for the remainder of the competition.


TEAM COMPETITION


Women:

Kansas did not have the depth like many other top teams but they certainly had the championship performances that other teams did not have. The Lady Jayhawks secured the NCAA title well before the women's 4x400 relay and ended up winning the meet with a total of 60 points, 16 more points than runner up Texas A&M.


Men:

Florida and Texas A&M were amongst the top two programs all season. Florida and Texas A&M both had a major loss at Regionals. Texas A&M's number 1 ranked 4x100 relay was disqualified for passing the baton out of the zone. Dendy was the top ranked long jumper and claimed the event at the NCAA Indoor Championship. Dendy who had two fouls early and on his third attempt did not get far enough to reach the regional final or qualify for the NCAA meet. Both team had potentially lost 10 points. In the final event the 4x400 relay Texas A&M does the unthinkable and drops the baton allowing for Florida to win the event in NCAA leading time of 3:01.34 and to tie for the national title.


NEWS: Exciting news about the blog coming in a few weeks....and hopefully some video interviews.