NCAA--WOMEN's Preview

To save time & space, I refer you to the MEN's Preview for the format to be used here.
But briefly, I'll post the schedule (Women only!), then go event-by-event in the order of the Finals.
For each, I'll list the MR, then the 24th place mark on each event's DDD, then will name names of who's likely to break records and/or win!

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

Saturday (All Finals!!)
Heptathlon (LJ, JT, 800)
HJ
DT
TJ
4X100 Relay
1500
3000SC
100H
100
400
800
400H
200
5000
4X400 Relay

HT (234-6 MR--220-6 24th place on DDD)
When the season began, DeAnna Price proceeded to inch closer & closer to the Collegiate Record, and becoming the odds-on favorite to win at NCAA's.
Then newbie Hammerer (She only began the event last year!!) Maggie Ewen--better known for her SP & DT exploits--EXPLODED out to 231-3, a mere 15 feet better than her previous best, set earlier this year!!
(Which in turn was about 17 feet better than her 2015 best!!)
Does that mean Price might lose?
Maybe.
At best, it makes this a contest!!
(And a Records--CR & MR--chase for both!!)
Valerie Allman, Haley Showalter, Beckie Famurewa, and Julia Reedy will fight for places.

PV (15-5, 14-6.75)
Not quite the same as 2015, when Sandi Morris and Demi Payne seemingly broke the CR like it was a China tea-cup, nonetheless we have a battle of 15-footers, with Megan Clark, Alysha Newman, and Lexi Weeks, to savor.
Take your pick--the Duke veteran, the Canadian NR holder, or the Arkansas Freshman!
But behind this trio, this event is NOT weak!
Watch for Morgann LeLeux, Annie Rhodes, Carolina Carmichael, Emily Grove, Sydney Clute, and Lexi's teammates, her sister Tori, and Ariel Voskamp!

JT (202-10, 183-8)
Another strong event in 2016, this should be a good fight between emerging Hannah Carson, Maggie Malone, and Elizabeth Herrs.
The MR could go in the Javelin-friendly confines of Hayward Field!

LJ (22-9.25, 22-0.75)
This one should belong to Quanesha Burks, who jumped 22-5.25 in 2015.
But TJ'er Supreme Keturah Orji is here too, and could see a breakthrough in her secondary event!
Also look for Taliyah Brooks, Erica Bougard, Chanice Porter, and Tierra Williams.

SP (62-0.50, 58-9.25)
Raven Saunders SHOULD be as sure a bet here as Orji is in the TJ, as she's the INdoor CR holder!!
But she tends to have a "bad" meet every now and then, for no explainable reason!
If she's ON, however, the Collegiate and Meet Records are both vulnerable--and then some!!
Behind the Raven comes a few women worth CROWing about--HaHaHa!!
Start with Kelsey Card, then continue with Nikki Okwelogu, Brittany Mann, Christina Hillman, Dani Winters, Maggie Ewen, and Chase Ealey!

10000 (32:28.57, 32:31.65)
As in the Men's 10K, my 24th best performer on my DDD and the MR time are VERY close!
Will either be touched?
Not likely--but MORE likely than with the Men, as the leading women have some competition!
South African Dominique Scott will be doubling.
She might want to save some energy for her 5000 Collegiate career finale, thus running just to win.
Unless Chelsea Blaase, Alice Wright, Katie Knight, Rachele Schulist, Margo Malone, or Gina Sereno choose to pick a fight!
Watch also for exciting newcomers Lauren LaRocco and Brenna Peloquin!

Heptathlon (6527, 6011)
I placed the Hept here, as its start falls between the 10K (last final on Thursday) and the HJ (1st final after the start of the Hept on Saturday).
The Meet--and Collegiate--Records could fall, as they're one and the same!
We have a GREAT field of Women here!
Leading the way should be Akela Jones, Kendell Williams, and Erica Bougard!
If all 3 are ON, this could be the best Heptathlon finish in NCAA history!!
But there's a group 0f 6000+ pointers not far behind them!
Georgia Ellenwood, Jess Lehman, Payton Stumbaugh, Alex Gochenour, and Annie Kunz are the members of that group.
Watch also for a breakthrough from Greta Sedeiko.

HJ (6-5, 6-2.75)
This is a VERY weak field.
Claudia Garcia will do battle with Erika Hurd and Erica Bougard.

DT (210-10, 197-5)
Another good event, this one pits Shelbi Vaughan against Tera Novy, Kelsey Card, Hannah Carson, Killian Knibb, Daina Levy, Valerie Allman, Katelyn Daniels, Nikki Okwelogu, and the ubiquitous Maggie Ewen.
Vaughan could nab the MR.

TJ (46-7.25, 45-0.50)
Keturah Orji had a wind-aided mark at SEC's that has challenged (at least in a fantasy match-up!!) the World's Best, Caterine Ibarguen--even though Ibarguen's 34 meet winning streak ended recently!!
With that windy 47-11, and her legal Collegiate Record of 46-10.75, only a broken leg can stop Orji!!
Her new CR, the MR, and even the American Record of 47-5 will be in danger of falling here!
See you in Rio, Keturah!
(BTW, Sha'Keela Saunders, Simone Charley, and Marshay Ryan will be left picking up the pieces!)

4X100 Relay (42.36, 43.60)
If the baton gets passed without it bouncing to the track, this should see a good 3-way race between the House Faves, the Ducks, as well as Texas and Tennessee.
Despite the team-leaves taken by MaryBeth Sant and Jasmine Todd recently (See an earlier post!), the Ducks remain strong with Deajah Stevens on 2nd leg, Hannah Cunliffe on 3rd, and anchor Ariana Washington!
But Texas counters with Teahna Daniels, Courtney Okolo, Zola Golden, and Morolake Akinosun!!
Tennessee has Kali Davis-White running 2nd, Felicia Majors on 3rd leg, and Felicia Brown on anchor!
Other teams that should be in the final are Kentucky (Jasmine Camacho-Quinn), San Diego State (Ashley Henderson), and Arkansas (Taylor Ellis-Watson).

1500 (4:06.19, 4:10.66)
A surprise Collegiate leader emerged in the "Regionals", in the name of Marta Freitas, who ran a sub-4:10 there.
But maybe more serious contenders are Kaela Edwards, Elise Cranny, and French-Canadian Duck Annie LeBlanc!
Others to watch are Amy Eloise-Neale, Anna Maxwell, Dani Jones, Dana Giordana, Shannon Osika, and Andrea Keklak!
If they don't dawdle from the gun, the MR could be challenged!

3000SC (9:25.54, 9:48.16)
Courtney Frerichs ran a solo 9:29 earlier this year.
That should give her the speed, as well as the psychological, edge.
However, there's a good group of relative newcomers to watch for.
They include Paige Koube, Jessica Kamilos, Erin Clark, Elinor Purrier, Danielle Winslow, and Lipscomb's Maddie Talbert!
Erin Teschuk, who ran 9:31 last year, is also one to watch.

100H (12.39, 12.76)
Two exciting newbies emerged recently.
Ebony Morrison crashed through the 13 second barrier with her 12.76, while Jasmine Camacho-Quinn nabbed the Frosh Class and World Age 19 records with her 12.69!!
While I don't see them challenging Brianna Rollins's MR, they should prevail here.
However, Tiffany Porter's sister, Cindy Ofili, is VERY dangerous!!
Watch also for Alex Gochenour, Alexis Perry, Erica Bougard, and Payton Stumbaugh!

100 (10.78, 11.08)
The CR & MR are safe!
The quick rise to Number One Collegian by Hannah Cunliffe has been the story of the year in the 100.
With Jenna Prandini gone to the Pro's, and Jasmine Todd off the team, Cunliffe is the main Duck hope to bring enough points for a team win challenge!
(Wasn't helped at all by her NOT qualifying in the 200!!)
Ailayah Brown, Felicia Brown, Shayla Sanders, Ariana Wahington, Mikiah Brisco, Ashley Henderson, Jennifer Madu, and Brenessa Thompson should get a good view of Cunliffe's back!!

400 (50.10, 50.86)
Will Courtney Okolo break her own CR of 49.71 set earlier this year?
Quite possible!!
If she goes for it, there could be no one near her at the tape!
But Shakima Wimbley, Daye Shon Robinson, Felicia Majors, Robin Reynolds, Taylor Ellis-Watson, and Margaret Bamghose are decent one-lappers!

800 (1:59.11, 2:01.37)
Word on the Rumor Mill is that Raevyn Rogers wants to run FAST!!
With a 1:59.7 PR from 2015, she's fully capable of bringing down both the Meet and Collegiate Records--one and the same!
Only thing stopping her would be having no competition!
Oh, there's some good ones here, but no one's broken 2:01 except for Rogers!
Watch for Cecilia Barowski, Claudia Saunders, Olivia Baker, Hanna Green, and Anima Banks.
Two other UO women--Annie LeBlanc and Brooke Feldmeier--will be Hayward faves also.
Sabrina Southerland is a dark horse.

400H (53.21, 54.99)
Shamier Little just might run a Meet Record!
She has the speed, and she wants to show the world she belongs in Rio this summer!
Jaide Stepter and Autumne Franklin are good, but have yet to break 55.
Look for Sage Watson (who HAS a sub-55!!) and Kaila Barber also.

200 (22.04, 22.45)
One of the "Brown's" should take this one!
Either Felicia or Ailiyah--you pick.
It'll be all the easier for them, as two SERIOUS challengers--Cunliffe and Kyra Jefferson--failed to qualify in this event!!
Morolake Akinosun, Ashley Henderson, Deanna Hill, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Jada Martin, Deajah Stevens, Ariana Washington, and Kali Davis-White might be the challengers.

5000 (15:15.08, 15:29.0)
With a 10K already on her legs, I doubt Dominique Scott will shoot for a Record!
But it will be interesting to see if Brenna Peloquin, Lauren LaRocco, Tessa Barrett, Katrina Coogan, Kaitlyn Benner, Ednah Kurgat, or Sandie Raines are brave enough to set a fast pace.
Chelsea Blaase is also coming back from the 10, while Aisling Cuffe is still on the rebound off the injury train!

4X400 Relay (3:24.21, 3:29.41)
Texas's anchor?
Courtney Okolo.
But one sub-50 leg might not be enough to withstand the Ducks assault team of Stevens, Feldmeier, and Rogers!
Tennessee has Felicia Majors and Felicia Brown on 2 and 4, while Texas A&M closes with Ms Little.
Others with fast anchors include Miami (Shakima Wimbley), Notre Dame (Ms Bamghose), USC (Jaide Stepter), South Carolina (Precious Holmes), Stanford (Ms Baker), Kansas State (Akela Jones), and LSU (Jada Martin)!

Following is the list of those entrants here who are ALREADY ON one of my DDD lists!
BTW, unlike the Men, EVERY event has at least one athlete with a Top 24 mark!!

100 (Akinosun, A Brown, Cunliffe, F Brown)
200 (F Brown)
400 (Okolo, Ellis-Watson, Wimbley)
800 (Rogers, Green, Baker, Saunders)
1500 (Freitas)
5000 (Cuffe, Scott)
10000 (Scott, Blaase, Malone)
3000SC (Frerichs, Teschuk, Kamilos, Purrier)
100H (Camacho-Quinn, Ofili, Morrison)
400H (Little, Watson)
HJ (A Jones, Kimberley Williams)
LJ (Burks, Saunders)
TJ (Orji, Charley)
PV (L Weeks, Carmichael, Rhodes, Clark, Newman, LeLeux)
SP (Saunders, Okwelogu, Card)
DT (Vaughan, Card, Novy, Carson, Knibb)
JT (Herrs, Allgood, M Malone, Carson)
HT (Price, Ewen)
Heptathlon (Bougard, Kendell Williams, A Jones, Gochenour, Lehman)
As with the Men, there are TONS of Schools with marks on my lists!!

Watch this blog for FULL results--and other stuff--ASAP after it ends!!
Next post MIGHT be my coverage of the Bislett Games DL in Oslo.
(Based on the amount and quality of the best of the results!!)
Also upcoming are my Previews of the New Balance Nationals, probably on the 10th!!
CORRECTION!!
After posting this, I discovered that the NBN isn't THIS weekend, but NEXT weekend--from the 17th to the 19th!
Thus, my Previews for that meet won't be until the 16th, or VERY early on the 17th!!
My apologies!!