That's what's new about this year's OUTdoor NCAA Championships.
It's different.
Instead of the male and female sides intermingling, they're for the most part segregated.
Except for the Decathlon and Heptathlon, which are today and Thursday, all the other events are divided into Men's and Women's days!
Today and Friday are for the Men.
Tomorrow and Saturday, the Women take over.
However the schedule and format looks, this is still the NCAA's, always one of the most exciting events on the entire year's calendar.
My blog is all about Records & Marks, especially those good enough to make my Top 24 Performers lists.
So in this Preview, I will look at which Collegiate Records might be broken (if any!!), which Meet Records might fall, and which athletes might break them, and whether any athletes might throw, jump, or run their way onto my All Time Collegiate list.
In the following Preview, I will go event by event, list the NCAA Meet Record, then the 24th best mark on my Collegiate DDD lists, then will name some names of whom have the best chance to break those records or reach my lists.
Thus, this is NOT a prediction of which teams will win, or even which individual athletes might win, or medal.
As I said, it's all about Records & Marks.
Because of length, I'll do separate posts for each gender, Men first.
So let's start.
Men
100 (MR 9.89) (24th A-T Collegiate 10.01)
Trayvon Bromell seems the consensus favorite. Andre De Grasse is the fave newcomer. But neither seems ready to dip all the way to 9.89, so the MR seems safe.
Tevin Hester and John Teeters, as well as Dedric Dukes could make my Top 24.
200 (MR 19.87) (24th A-T Collegiate 20.11)
Here too, Bromell and De Grasse seem the favorites.
But Bromell isn't yet on my list. But he COULD make it.
Andre Dukes and De Grasse are already on the list.
As for the MR, the winds often negate fast times at Hayward.
But I believe Bromell is capable of a sub-20.
How far under, I don't know.
400 (MR 44.00) (24th A-T Collegiate 44.62)
Deon Lendore is everyone's pick to win.
And he seems capable of going under 44.
But watch for 44.44 man Vernon Norwood and Najee Glass, whose 21st birthday is the day of the 400 final!
Lendore and Norwood are now on my list.
Glass seems a good candidate to get there.
Also watch out for Michael Cherry.
800 (MR 1:44.70) (24th A-T Collegiate 1:45.31)
Ed Kemboi has already been given the Gold Medal, it seems!
But the 800 can be tricky, especially if the first 400 is above 51.0.
It then becomes a kickers race, and anybody can win those.
Watch for the "B Boys", namely Brandon McBride and Brannon Kidder.
None of them are in my Top 24....yet!
All 3 seem capable.....if the race is fast!
And IF the race is VERY fast, the MR can be broken!
1500 (MR 3:35.30) (24th A-T Collegiate 3:37.33)
Without Mr Cheserek in the field, the race seems to be between Jordan Williamz and Christian Soratos.
But keep your eye on former Duck Chad Noelle.
Rare is the NCAA 1500 run at 3:53 or faster Mile pace (i.e. 3:38 or faster over 1500).
Or at least it SEEMS rare to me!
So I think the MR is safe.
NONE of the key guys are on my list. But all 3 named above CAN run 3:37!
5000 (MR 13:18.36) (24th A-T Collegiate 13:25.58)
Will Ed Cheserek and Eric Jenkins be singing "We are the Champions" as they cross the line after a 200 meter sprint?
Or will they charge forth from the gun, aiming for a 13:10 or faster?
You GOTTA be kidding!!
So expect the MR to remain where it is.
(Shock me, guys!!)
As for a Williamz-type spoiler, watch for Justyn Knight, 3rd Duck Will Georghegan, or Jamaican Kemoy Campbell.
Ches, Jenkins, and Campbell are on the list already.
10000 (MR 28:01.30) (24th A-T Collegiate 27:59.43)
Notice how close the MR is to the 24th fastest Collegiate time?
Come on, DUDES, move your ARSES!!!
That MR is SOOOOO easy, it's pathetic it's still on the books from....1979!!!
Both of the Duck stars can DESTROY that record!!
But WILL they?
(Hell, just take it down by ONE frigging SECOND!!)
As for my Top 24, neither of them are on the list!
It's theirs for the taking!
3000SC (MR 8:12.4) (24th A-T Collegiate 8:26.83)
Henry Rono's MR from 1978 will stand.
As for who might make my list, Stan Kebenai and Anthony Rotich already grace it.
If Zak Seddon has his DAY, he could run 8:25.
110H (MR 13.16) (24th A-T Collegiate 13.38)
The winner, barring a Sally Pearson-type mishap, will be Omar McLeod.
He's that far above the rest.
His PR is 13.21.
He's fully capable of going MUCH faster, so the MR, if the wind is favorable, can be taken down.
Only Jon Cabral seems capable of reaching the Top 24.
400H (MR 47.56) (24th A-T Collegiate 48.61)
The entire World 400H scene has been in a bit of a torpor recently, so don't expect the MR to be broken here.
Michael Stigler's 48.44 is on the list.
Eric Futch might run 48.6 or faster.
Expect a winning time in the 48.2 to 48.8 range.
HJ (MR 7-9.75) (24th A-T Collegiate 7-7)
Expect Jacorian Duffield and Bryan McBride to duke it out.
But don't expect them to go anywhere near the 2.38 metric mark MR.
Duffield is on my list.
McBride could join him.
Only Randall Cunningham can offer any serious challenge, but I doubt he'll be around for any jump-off!
LJ (MR 28-0) (24th A-T Collegiate 26-10)
Marquis Dendy and Jarrion Lawson should be the top two.
Surprisingly, neither has yet made my list.
That COULD happen here!
Again, the Hayward winds (Those Wayward Winds....tra la la!! LOL) could negate good marks.
The MR is definitely safe!!
TJ (MR 57-7.75) (24th A-T Collegiate 55-8.25)
Another safe MR!
Dandy Dendy (Ha!) could reach the MR.
He's had windy marks over 57 feet.
But the TJ in the US (and in its Collegiate system) is also in a "soft" period.
So it would be a surprise to see anyone join Dendy on my A-T list!
PV (MR 19-1) (24th A-T Collegiate 18-7.25)
Shawn Barber.
Will he be doomed, like Demi Payne was at the INdoor NCAA's, and No Height?
Doubtful.
99.9% doubtful!
That said, the MR....and even the Collegiate Record of 19-7.50, is in some jeopardy!
Barber and Jake Blankenship are already on the list.
With depth not happening on the Men's side, I don't see anyone else joining them.
SP (MR 72-2.25) (24th A-T Collegiate 67-7)
Randy Crouser and Stipe Zunic seem the most likely to finish 1-2----whichever way the ball bounces, so to speak! LOL
As for the MR, the POTENTIAL is there, but I believe they'll have to wait a year or two to get to that level.
The field has some talented back-up.
Among them are Nick Ponzio, Nick Vena, Darrell Hill, and Stephen Mozia.
Crouser, Zunic, and Hill are on my list.
DT (MR 215-8) (24th A-T Collegiate 211-8)
Rodney Brown, Hayden Reed, and (?) Young are the main contenders.
But unless the winds prevail, the MR should remain the same.
Only Brown already makes my list.
A fairly weak event.
JT (MR 268-7) (24th A-T Collegiate 257-7)
Ioannis Kiriazos and Sam Crouser are the prime spear chuckers here.
Crouser is currently 24th on my list of 24!
Javelin throws are unpredictable, as witnessed in Birmingham last weekend with the 299-10 throw by Kenyan Julius Yego.
So the MR COULD go.
As for Kiriazos reaching my list....sure!
Anyone else?
Maybe, but probably not.
HT (MR 265-3) (24th A-T Collegiate 239-5)
The Hammer has a fairly strong field.
While I'm not particularly enamored of a SIXTH year Senior being among the contenders, Conor McCullough is widely seen as the favorite.
But do NOT neglect Chuk Enekwechi, Michael Lihrman, Rudy Winkler, Alec Faldemeyer, or Matthias Tayala.
Tayala, McCullough, and Lihrman are already list-makers.
All of the others listed COULD join them!
Dec (MR 8457) (24th A-T Collegiate 8087)
Dakotah Keys might be the prohibitive favorite of the Hayward Field crowd, being a Duck.
But he won't BE the favorite, as that honor is bestowed on Garrett Scantling and Maicel Uibo.
Luca Wieland might challenge if anyone else falters.
The faves already are on my list.
But the Dec is not as deep as the Hept, so don't look for a long list of 8000 pointers.
The MR is safe.
4X100R (MR 38.04) (24th A-T Collegiate 39.12)
I'm not well versed in the details of Relay team members, so can't really predict who's on top or whether records will fall.
Let's just say that 38.04 will NOT be beat here!!
As for teams, watch for TCU, Texas A&M, and Arkansas, among maybe 1 or 2 others.
Three Schools are on my list with times from 2014.
The same could happen here this year.
4X400R (MR 2:59.59) (24th A-T Collegiate 3:02.81)
Last year, Texas A&M came within one-one hundredth of a second of the MR and CR, one and the same!
They're back again, along with Ohio State, Florida, and LSU as challengers.
A&M might be wanting to rectify that near-miss THIS year!
Only Texas A&M's team made my list last year!
There could be 1 or 2.....or 3?....others added this year!
I'll have the Women's Preview posted in about 2 hours!
Watch for it.
Meanwhile, enjoy reading this one!
But the TJ in the US (and in its Collegiate system) is also in a "soft" period.
So it would be a surprise to see anyone join Dendy on my A-T list!
PV (MR 19-1) (24th A-T Collegiate 18-7.25)
Shawn Barber.
Will he be doomed, like Demi Payne was at the INdoor NCAA's, and No Height?
Doubtful.
99.9% doubtful!
That said, the MR....and even the Collegiate Record of 19-7.50, is in some jeopardy!
Barber and Jake Blankenship are already on the list.
With depth not happening on the Men's side, I don't see anyone else joining them.
SP (MR 72-2.25) (24th A-T Collegiate 67-7)
Randy Crouser and Stipe Zunic seem the most likely to finish 1-2----whichever way the ball bounces, so to speak! LOL
As for the MR, the POTENTIAL is there, but I believe they'll have to wait a year or two to get to that level.
The field has some talented back-up.
Among them are Nick Ponzio, Nick Vena, Darrell Hill, and Stephen Mozia.
Crouser, Zunic, and Hill are on my list.
DT (MR 215-8) (24th A-T Collegiate 211-8)
Rodney Brown, Hayden Reed, and (?) Young are the main contenders.
But unless the winds prevail, the MR should remain the same.
Only Brown already makes my list.
A fairly weak event.
JT (MR 268-7) (24th A-T Collegiate 257-7)
Ioannis Kiriazos and Sam Crouser are the prime spear chuckers here.
Crouser is currently 24th on my list of 24!
Javelin throws are unpredictable, as witnessed in Birmingham last weekend with the 299-10 throw by Kenyan Julius Yego.
So the MR COULD go.
As for Kiriazos reaching my list....sure!
Anyone else?
Maybe, but probably not.
HT (MR 265-3) (24th A-T Collegiate 239-5)
The Hammer has a fairly strong field.
While I'm not particularly enamored of a SIXTH year Senior being among the contenders, Conor McCullough is widely seen as the favorite.
But do NOT neglect Chuk Enekwechi, Michael Lihrman, Rudy Winkler, Alec Faldemeyer, or Matthias Tayala.
Tayala, McCullough, and Lihrman are already list-makers.
All of the others listed COULD join them!
Dec (MR 8457) (24th A-T Collegiate 8087)
Dakotah Keys might be the prohibitive favorite of the Hayward Field crowd, being a Duck.
But he won't BE the favorite, as that honor is bestowed on Garrett Scantling and Maicel Uibo.
Luca Wieland might challenge if anyone else falters.
The faves already are on my list.
But the Dec is not as deep as the Hept, so don't look for a long list of 8000 pointers.
The MR is safe.
4X100R (MR 38.04) (24th A-T Collegiate 39.12)
I'm not well versed in the details of Relay team members, so can't really predict who's on top or whether records will fall.
Let's just say that 38.04 will NOT be beat here!!
As for teams, watch for TCU, Texas A&M, and Arkansas, among maybe 1 or 2 others.
Three Schools are on my list with times from 2014.
The same could happen here this year.
4X400R (MR 2:59.59) (24th A-T Collegiate 3:02.81)
Last year, Texas A&M came within one-one hundredth of a second of the MR and CR, one and the same!
They're back again, along with Ohio State, Florida, and LSU as challengers.
A&M might be wanting to rectify that near-miss THIS year!
Only Texas A&M's team made my list last year!
There could be 1 or 2.....or 3?....others added this year!
I'll have the Women's Preview posted in about 2 hours!
Watch for it.
Meanwhile, enjoy reading this one!
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