NCAA--MEN's Preview

The "separatists" are back!
Yes Sir, we're so happy (SNARK!!) to say that, for a 2nd year, the NCAA has seen fit to SEPARATE the Men's events from the Women's (except, in part, for the Multi's).
In an era where co-ed BATHROOMS are being fomented on the unsuspecting, the Collegiate T&F folks say--Nope!!, we're gonna keep you apart!!
Okay, enough!
You know where I stand, so let's move on.

Following is my NCAA Men's Preview.
(The format will be the same for the Women!)
I'll give you the schedule, but no starting times, in the order of the events.
In the order of the FINALS, I'll then list the Meet Record, the 24th place mark on my Collegiate DDD's, then some key names to watch, plus listing who's currently on my DDD's.
The schedule first, Men only!

Wednesday                                                    Thursday
Decathlon (100,LJ, SP, HJ, 400)                    Decathlon (110H, DT, PV, JT, 1500)
HT (Final)
4X100 Relay (Semi's)
1500 (Semi's)
PV (Final)
3000SC (Semi's)
110H (Semi's)
JT (Final)
100 (Semi's)
LJ (Final)
400 (Semi's)
800 (Semi's)
SP (Final)
400H (Semi's)
200 (Semi's)
10000 (Final)
4X400 Relay (Semi's)

Friday (All Finals!!)
HJ
DT
TJ
4X100 Relay
1500
3000SC
110H
100
400
800
400H
200
5000
4X400 Relay

The Finals, in order!

Decathlon (8457-MR  8116-24th place on DDD)
Based on his stunning 8446 score at the SEC's, Lindon Victor should be a runaway winner, and maybe the new CR holder!!
But we all know that ONE bad event can stifle any Dec record onslaught!
Waiting in the wings will be Pau Tonnesen, Zach Ziemek, Harrison & Devon Williams, and Maicel Uibo!

HT (265-3, 241-4)
If Nick Miller breaks his elbow, he MIGHT lose!  He's that dominant here!  But he's still over 13 feet shy of the MR.
Sean Donnelly and Rudy Winkler are good, but not a match for Brit Miller!  Chuk Enekwechi, Adam Kelly, and Greg Skipper will vie for the lower places!

PV (19-1, 18-8.25)
Jake Blankenship, the sole 19 footer here, would SEEM like the best bet.
But Devin King is starting to emerge in the Collegiate ranks as he did in HS.
Dylan Bell, Deakin Volz, Chris Uhle, Brandon Bray & Torben Laidig might get PR's.

JT (268-7, 258-6)
Early season big marks by Ioannis Kyriazis and Curtis Thompson places them in the forefront.
The MR is within range, and Oregon is a good place to throw!
Watch also for John Ampomah and Emron Gibbs.

LJ (28-0, 27-0)
Jarrion Lawson is a good bet to jump 27, and that should be enough.
Corey Crawford is good---or was last year!--and so is Adoree Jackson.
Watch also for Stefan Brits.

SP (72-2.25, 67-7)
No Crousers here, so that leaves this event wide open.
A bunch of guys in the 66 to 68 foot range should make for a close contest.
Filip Mihaljevic might be a SLIGHT favorite.
But watch for Mr Enekwechi, Mostafa Hassan, Nick Scarvelis, and Ashinia Miller.
Younger guys like Braheme Days, Nick Ponzio, and Willie Morrison could emerge.

10000 (28:01.30, 27:58.3)
Notice how close the MR is to 24th place on my A-T Performers list?
Well, with Ed Cheserek needing to save himself for the 5000, and with NO serious competitors, the MR--AND Ches's becoming one of the 24 fastest Collegians--are about as unlikely as me dating Phoebe Wright (who has a boyfriend!  LOL)!!
Futsam Ziensellassie might go nuts and think he can actually STAY with Ches past the first 3000!!

HJ (7-9.75, 7-7)
Randall Cunningham (Vashti's big brother) is a class act, but not the best here!
Avion Jones and Brad Adkins should be the Golden boys!
The MR is safe!

DT (215-8, 211-9)
Sam Mattis began the year with a giant throw of 221-3!
But he hasn't been close since!
Nonetheless, he should beat Hayden Reed, Phil & Reggie Jagers (brothers!), Gerhard De Beer, and Kord Ferguson.
Mihaljevic, the SP man, could be a factor.

TJ (57-7.75, 55-8.25)
There are no standouts in this weak event.
Certainly no challengers to the MR!
Watch for Matthew O'Neal, Tim White, Felix Obi, Letaris Collie, and the aptly named Brian Leap!!

4X100 Relay (38.04, 39.12)
LSU and TCU have super fast anchors in, respectively, Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake and Ronnie Baker.
Texas has a couple of guys better known as 400 men--Aldrich Bailey on 2nd leg and Zack Bilderback on anchor.
Houston has Cameron Burrell anchoring, while Devon Allen should get the loudest Hayward Field cheers as he anchors UO!
Florida has Ryan Clark on anchor, while Arkansas has Jarrion Lawson on 2nd leg, and Tennessee goes with Christian Coleman on 2nd also.
Now all they have to do is make it to the final!!
The MR appears pretty safe!

1500 (3:35.30, 3:37.29)
People are saying Clayton Murphy is going to win!
Don't bet your last $10 on that!
He DOES have wheels, but so do Brannon Kidder, Jordan Williamz, Izaic Yorks, and Henry Wynne.
On their home turf, and points needed, count on Ducks Blake Haney, Matthew Maton, and Sam Prakel to give it their all!
Few distance races in Championship meets go at CR or MR pace.
This one should continue that trend.

3000SC (8:12.4, 8:26.83)
Mason Ferlic should beat the African contingent!
While the MR is out of range, the DDD list isn't!
Zak Seddon and Troy Reeder might challenge.
Also watch for HSR holder Bailey Roth!

110H (13.16, 13.36)
Devon Allen is going to win!
There, I said it.
Heck, he might even challenge his own Meet Record!!
Dondre Echols, Freddie Crittendon III, Trey Holloway, and Tony Brown will vie for the places.

100 (9.89, 10.01)
Depending on the wind, this could be a blazer, and could easily go sub-10!
While 9.89 might be a bit out of range, Hayward DOES see a lot of speedy 100's!!
Key players include Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake, Cameron Burrell, Ronnie Baker, Tevin Hester, John Teeters, Kenzo Cotton, Jarrion Lawson, and Ryan Clark.
Look for Baker to edge ahead at the line.

400 (44.00, 44.62)
Both the MR and my DDD are safe from intrusion!
Best bets to break 45 are Zack Bilderback, Fred Kerley, Michael Cherry, and Arman Hall.
Also watch for Najee Glass, Kahmari Montgomery, and Wil London.
Ceo Ways could pass one or two of the above!

800 (1:44.70, 1:45.3)
This could be the BEST event of the entire meet--or the worst, depending on your outlook.
If you're a Records person like myself, then anything slower than 51.0 at the 400 will be reason to cry.
This is a STUD field, folks!!
We have TWO men who have gone sub-1:45 this year!!
And a few others who CAN run that fast!!
The 2 fastest are Brandon McBride and Shaquille Walker.
But fiercely challenging--maybe every step of the way!--should be Donavan Brazier, Hector Hernandez, and Eliud Rutto, who recently ran 1:15.40 over 600 meters!
Look for Robert Heppenstall, Jesse Garn, and Austin Mudd to step in where weak men stray!

400H (47.56, 48.61)
A weak event on all levels of the sport, this should make for a good race, but no Records!
Kenny Selmon, Eric Futch, TJ Holmes are probably the best here.
But watch for youngsters Taylor (brother of Sydney) McLaughlin and Rai Benjamin to surprise.

200 (19.87, 20.10)
This MR could be in trouble!!
Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake ran 19.95 earlier this year.
Another 0.09 off his time wouldn't be impossible!
That said, he'd better keep one eye on the ubiquitous Jarrion Lawson, Christian Coleman, Tevin Hester, Duck hero Devon Allen, Reggie Lewis, and Ahmed Ali.
Look also for Brendon Rodney and Jamiel Trimble, who have some fast times under their belt!

5000 (13:18.36, 13:25.38)
With Cheserek doubling, the MR is probably safe.
Yet it happened when Ches did battle with Lawi Lalang, sprinting to the tape!
If Pat Tiernan, Thomas Awad, Justyn Knight, Thomas Curtin, or Cerake Gebrkidane push the pace early on, trying to take the sting from Ches's kick, then a MR is possible.
Watch for Grant Fisher and Sean McGorty!
Also look for Colby Gilbert, who beat Cheserek earlier this year, when Ches was still recovering from a cold.

4X400 Relay (2:59.59, 3:02.47)
In the closing event of the meet, I'll predict the MR will NOT go down!
There's some good teams, but none that have the foursome necessary for a Record!
LSU has Michael Cherry on 2nd leg, while Christian Coleman is 2nd man for Tennessee.
Mississippi State has 800 man Brandon McBride on 3rd leg, while BYU's 800 stud is Shaquille Walker on anchor.
Arizona has Collins Kibet on anchor, while Stephen F Austin is coming off a School record of 3:03.56!
Texas A&M has Fred Kerley on 2nd leg, and Donavan Brazier on 3rd!
Florida might be strongest with Arman Hall (2nd) and Najee Glass (4th).

My DDD's are my lists of the Top 24 All-Time Performers!
Those competing here who are ALREADY ON my lists are listed below.

200 (Mitchell-Blake)
800 (Walker & McBride)
5000 (Cheserek & McGorty)
10000 (Ziensellassie)
110H (Allen)
HJ (A Jones)
LJ (Lawson & Brits)
TJ (Collie)
PV (Blankenship & King)
DT (Mattis)
JT (Kyriazis, Ampomah, and Thompson)
HT (Miller, Donnelly & Winkler)
Dec (Uibo, Victor & Tonnesen)
The Relays have LOTS of competing teams already on my lists.
With NO ONE (of the entrants!) on a list are the---
100, 400, 1500, 3000SC, 400H, and the SP!

Women's Preview coming in a few hours!