Olympic Trials Preview--Women

And here we go, Ladies!
Same format, same bunch of stuff!
(See my Men's Preview to see what I mean!)

20000 Walk (1:32:39)
Even though Maria Michta-Coffey is the best American Walker---Men OR Women!--and has Walked faster than this MR several times--the heat, and expectations of a tactical race--should put paid to a new MR.
That said,do NOT bet every penny you own against it happening!!
Erin Gray and Miranda Melville should be the other two who go to Rio!
Recent 50K (!!) completist Erin Taylor-Talcott, and Katie Burnett are ones to watch if disaster strikes any of the top trio.
Maria's kid sister, Katie Michta, is here too, but has the slowest seed time!

DT (216-2, or 65.89)
Two veterans of veterans--Gia Lewis-Smallwood and Stephanie Brown-Trafton--are here, but only GLS has any chance to divide the top 3.
Those should be Shelbi Vaughan, Whitney Ashley, and Liz Podomenick.
Several Collegians had great seasons, but might not be ready to challenge the Profesh's!
They are Kelsey Card, Hannah Carson, Tera Novy, and Valerie Allman.
The MR should survive to the 2020 OT's!

10000 (31:09.65)
Without Shalane Flanagan (or even the injured Erin Finn) to play "Follow the Leader", this race could turn tactical.
(Just remember what happened in the 2012 OT race!!)
Want a LOCK?
Know how to spell Molly Huddle's name??
After her, solid threats include Kim Conley and Marielle Hall.
But American Women's distance running is in the midst of an historic Renaissance, so there's a lengthy list of understudies to the Big 3.
Jordan Hasay, Natosha Rogers, Tara Welling, Kellyn Taylor, Stephanie Bruce (returning from TWO births of babies!!), and Liz Costello are ones to watch.
But Aliphine Tuliamuk and Emily Sisson could surprise.

LJ (23-8.25, or 7.22)
Brittney Reese SEEMS to have moved past her penchant for fouling her way into the abyss, so reserve her ticket for Rio!
Tianna Bartoletta has the necessary speed to hit some big ones, and Jasmine Todd--her problems at school behind her--might shock for the 3rd spot.
Janay DeLoach and Quenesha Burks could surprise.
Watch for HSR holder Kate Hall!
Only Reese has the potential to get that MR.

HJ (6-7, or 2.01)
HSR holder, and newbie Profesh, Vashti Cunningham could deflate the wheels (and the ego's!!) of her older brethren, who nonetheless, are strong candidates to complete the Rio Trio!
They are 3-time Mom Chaunte Lowe, and reformed cocaine bustee, Inika McPherson!
But don't overlook Liz Patterson and Rachel McCoy.
She has ZERO chance to make the team---or even make it out of Qualifying!!--but it will still be fascinating to see Amy Acuff jump, as she turns 41 on July 14th!!

400 (49.28)
No MR today, boys & girls!
But it will still be a fascinating race!
We have "oldies" like Allyson Felix and Fran McCorory.
We also have "other" oldies--DeeDee Trotter and Natasha Hastings!
Then we have a select duo of rookies--Courtney Okolo (who could be considered the prohibitive favorite!!) and Quanera Hayes.
No Sanya Richards-Ross??
Oh, she's here!
But she's also in deep injury recovery---which ain't going well!!
IF she makes the final (or maybe even the semi's!!), I'd be a bit surprised!

100 (10.49)
That 10.49 will still be the MR in 2116!!
That said, you can pretty much hand Rio fares to Tori Bowie and English Gardner right now!
But that 3rd spot (not to mention 4X100 Relay spots!!) is up for grabs.
Will 17 year old Candace Hill make it?
Or Kaylin Whitney?
Of those 2 HS Pro's, Hill is better in the 100.
Barbara Pierre, Jasmine Todd, , Jenna Prandini, and Ariana Washington are dark horses.
Also watch for Super Vet Carmelita Jeter!!

800 (1:57.04)
If this were 2 or 4 years ago, I'd say Ajee Wilson, Alysia Montano, and Brenda Martinez WAS our 800 team, then close the door and lock it!!
But we have a "new" group of contenders now--all of whom have a strong chance to intercept the Rio reservations of the Top 3!
Do NOT be surprised to see Laura Roesler, Raevyn Rogers, or Kate Grace on the podium!
Phoebe Wright is having her best year in a while, and we can't ignore Molly Ludlow!!
Oh yeah, keep your eyes peeled for Fashionista Maggie Vessey!!
The MR should be safe, unless someone (Alysia, you listening??) takes it out in 56 or so!

HT (235-7, or 71.81))
The new American Record holder---GWEN BERRY, folks!!!--is almost 15 feet ahead of this MR, and should DESTROY it!!
She is a L-O-C-K!!!!
Amanda Bingson--the former AR holder, and ESPN Body Issue Icon!!--should be as solid a lock, but she has yet to hit 240 this year!
Amber Campbell is always in the mix.
Oiselle's only HT'er--Brittney Henry--is looking good this year.
Jeneva Stevens and DeAnna Price are ones to watch!

SP (63-5, or 19.33)
Four Americans are in this field who have surpassed this MR at one time or another!
Of those, Jill Camarena-Williams is probably the weakest, currently, as she's coming back from injury and giving birth!
But don't count her out!
More solid contenders are the Shot Diva, Michelle Carter, as well as the suddenly surging Tia Brooks, and that explosive Collegian, Raven(ous!!)Saunders!!
Others with some street cred include Jeneva Stevens, Brittney Smith, and Felicia Johnson.
A wild (Card) is---Kelsey Card!!
(OK, apologies for these lame jokes!!)

TJ  (47-5, or 14.45)
The US of A hasn't had as great a threat to the rest of the world in the Women's TJ in a long time as we do now with 20 year old Collegian Keturah Orji!
She not only broke the Collegiate Record, but the American Record as well, this year!!
And she can only get better, with 48 feet on the horizen!
So the MR is definitely under a blitz attack from this phenom!!
Andrea Geubelle is having maybe her best year ever.
The other team spot is wide open!
Watch for Christina Epps, Bria Matthews, April Sinkler, and Christina Manning.


3000SC (9:27.59)
Besides being a TWO-time American Record breaker, and one of the upcoming group of ESPN Body Issue nudes (Issue comes out July 6th!!), Emma Coburn is also our most reliable female SC'er!!
Always in the race--whichever race you're talking about!!--she's on her way to Rio!!
After her, we have a great group of sub-9:30 women, all of whom have a chance to join Emma in Brazil!!
Courtney Frerichs, Colleen Quigley, Leah O'Connor, Ashley Higginson, Bridget Franek, Stephanie Garcia, and Jamie Cheever all fit that description.
There's the HSR holder, who finally went sub-10:00, down to 9:50--Brianna Nerud.
Also watch for surprises from much-improved Megan Patrignelli and Oiselle's Megan Rolland.
Don't neglect Nicole Bush or Shalaya Kipp, either!

100H (12.33)
The US could stock the teams of maybe a dozen or more other nations with our 100H "leftovers", we're so deep in this event!!
Even the newest group of High School kids (none of whom made it here!!) would be included on such a roster!!
That said, HOW do you choose the 3 who will be heading to Rio??
Let's begin with the 12.24 girl, Kendra Harrison!
Then add a dash of Jasmin Stowers.
Pepper this stew with the Queen--that "other" Ms Harrison!
But don't forget to sprinkle this salad with Brianna Rollins, Sharika Nelvis, Kristi Castlin, and Nia Ali.
And guess what?
That Olympic Bobsledder, notorious celibate, and InstaGram Icon--Lolo Jones--scratched due to lingering injuries!!
And can anyone explain why Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the young 12.69 gal, is here?
She's supposedly Puerto Rican--and in fact, is supposedly the PR record holder!!--yet she's here in the US Trials!!
I realize PR is sort of our "stepchild"--but is Miss C-Q eligible for both??

Heptathlon (7215)
This MR might not make it to the 22nd century, but it'll be close!!
So who's our top candidate?
I'm going to stake my place on the proverbial limb, and say her name is Kendell Williams!
Barbara Nwaba is VERY strong, but I'm also seeing another Collegian--Erica Bougard--preventing the Old School's Sharon Day-Monroe from going to Rio.
Watch for Heather Mills-Koch.

JT (201-9, or 61.50)
This MR should go down--hard!!
Maybe by all 3 of the medalists!
They should be super-vet Kara Winger, and newbies Maggie Malone and Hannah Carson.
Also watch for Brittany Borman, Arianna Ince, and Maggie's younger sister, Audrey Malone!

PV (16-1.75, or 4.92)
Once the surest of Solid Locks--the trio of Jenn Suhr, Sandi Morris, and Demi Payne all have BIG question marks next to their names--all injury related!!
(Morris & Payne because of freakish broken pole accidents, and Suhr for chronic injuries!)
That said, do NOT bet against any or all of them!!
I'm naming Morris & Suhr as---heh, SURE bets!!--with Payne the most doubtful!
IF any of them can't get it done, vets such as Mary Saxer and Kylie Hutson could fill in.
Also watch for Kristin Hixson, Becky Holliday, and Katie Nageotte.
Surprise Collegiate threats could come from Megan Clark and 19 year old Lexi Weeks.
Don't overlook Kristin Brown either!

400H (52.95)
This MR is fairly safe, but not entirely!!
Okay, folks, how good (great!!) is 16 year old Sydney McLaughlin??
(She'll turn 17 on August 7th!)
I'm saying she will win this race, and be on the plane to Brazil!!
Shamier Little--one of the most fascinating Tweeters I know!!--will give the youngster a righteous battle!
Also look for Georgeanne Moline and Ashley Spencer.
Others who might challenge (at least to make the final!!) are Cassandra Tate, Delilah Muhammad, Tiffany McWilliams, Jaide Stepter, and maybe even another HS kid---Anna Cockrell!

5000 (14:45.35)
Despite the strength of this field, and the fact the Number One stud here is the AR holder, I don't see this MR falling!!
(I'd be happy if even just Molly Huddle dips under 15:00!!)
With Huddle doubling back from the 10K, she might have a little mob following her as she strolls around the oval.
The strongest threat might be new 4:03.39 1500 gal, Shelby Houlihan!
But Molly needs to check her rear-view mirror too for Abbey D'Agostino, Nicole Tully, Katie Mackey, Emily Infeld, Marielle Hall, Kim Conley, Emily Sisson, and Natosha Rogers.
One who MIGHT have been a stronger challenger--but who is now on the road back from injury--is young Allie Ostrander.
But she'll be interesting to watch anyway!!
Gabe Grunewald and Lauren Paquette could surprise!

200 (21.69)
That MR is held by Allyson Felix!
(See my 400 comments for more on Felix!)
With Felix possibly not at the top of her game, watch for Tori Bowie to be the tape breaker here!
With Felix STILL a good candidate for a Rio spot, add Jenna Prandini as the most likely 3rd member.
But HS Profeshes Kaylin Whitney and Candace Hill should NOT be ignored!!
Watch too for Candyce McGrone, Ariana Washington, and Jeneba Tarmoh!

1500 (3:58.92)
Maybe THE most fascinating---and deepest!--field here!!
Don't think the MR will fall--unless someone decides to try to throw down the gauntlet to the Major Domos--Shannon Rowbury and Jenny Simpson!!
Who might they be?
Morgan Uceny is having her best year in a long time!!
So is Kate Grace--and she has 1:59.47 speed!!
Treniere Moser, Heather Kampf, Shelby Houlihan, Brenda Martinez (IF she doubles here!!), Cory McGee, and Gabe Grunewald are all strong candidates for that 3rd Rio place.
BUT--we should NOT underestimate the potentials of the youngsters!!
Start with Alexa Efraimson, the most proven AND consistent teenager in the pack, as well as one with the best set of PR's---2:01.11 and 4:03.39!!
Then add HS Junior Kate Murphy, who has a WICKED kick!!
And watch for a couple of 20 year olds, but already "veterans"--Elise Cranny and Mary Cain.
One I will be watching for---and hope she makes the final!!--will be Sarah Brown!
As you know, she gave birth to her 1st child in early March, but has been saying ever since her pregnancy was announced that she intends to try for Rio!
IF she makes the final (and especially if she makes the TEAM!!!), it will be THE most amazing story of the meet---and the Olympic Games itself!!

The first events--the Men's and Women's 20000 meter Walks--begin in less than 4 hours!
Enjoy the meet!
And expect DETAILED coverage of all the results--as often as possible--throughout the meet!!