Hello again! I'm back with my NCAA Preview.
But this will be ordered a bit differently than the NBIN Preview!
Instead of strictly following the meet schedule in my ordering of events, I will divide each day into "gender sections"--meaning ALL Women's events for the day, followed by ALL Men's events for that day!
But the running events follow the "Girl-Boy" sequence, so figure that into your enjoyment of the meet!
Read on!
FRIDAY--Women
Pentathlon (4703)
Off her SEC performance--where she "jogged" to a score of 4486 points--Kendell Williams is the clear favorite!
Not to mention that the MR (which is the Collegiate Record!) is her's to break!
I'll give her "just" 75-25 odds, for the sole reason that the Pent has 5 ways to go awry, not just one!
Taliyah Brooks should be her main challenger, but watch for Michelle Atherley and Leigha Brown!
If she begins with a sub-8.00 in the 60H, watch out!!
SP (63-0.75)
Raven Saunders--still with the 2nd best mark in the WORLD this year--is THE favorite--hands down!!
She's primed for another of those foot-long advances she's made a habit of, so this MR (her's!) is given 80-20 odds!
Only caveat is that Raven tends to have "off" days!
Hopefully, this won't be one of them!
Watch for Dannielle Thomas and Maggie Ewen to both challenge the 60 foot mark!
The Women's Mile Heats are scheduled here!
HJ (6-6)
This MR is so safe, it has its own blankie and fuzzy puppy!!
While Tatiana Gusan might be considered a slight favorite, watch closely for Nicole Green, Madaline Fagan, and Eleanora Omaregie to be in the mix!
ZERO odds for the MR!
The 60 and 400 Heats are scheduled here!
LJ (22-8)
The SEC (See my report!) had a monster Women's LJ, with 3 women over 22 feet--a rarity in Collegiate circles!
But none exceeded 22-5!
So give this MR "just" 55-45 odds!
That said, it's gonna be fun to watch!
Quanesha Burks might have a slight lead, but look for Sha'Keela Saunders, Kate Hall, and Hall's TJ Superstar teammate Keturah Orji to challenge!
Hall has yet to come near her OUTdoor HSR 22-5 leap in her 2 years of college!!
The 800 Heats are scheduled here!
5000 (15:14.18)
This baby is---well, STACKED!!
That said, given the nature of most Championship distance races (Read: TACTICAL!!), I see the MR surviving!
Recent OT 15:28 gal Katherine Receveur isn't in this event!
But that still leaves us with Erin Finn--Frontrunner Deluxe--as well as Anna Rohrer, Karissa Schweizer, Lauren LaRocco, Tessa Barrett (who also ran 15:28 in the same race as Receveur!), and Alice Wright!
MR (and CR!!) odds are 30-70!
DMR (10:50.98)
Can Oregon beat their own Collegiate Record, which is over 2 seconds faster than this MR?
Or will they--team points in mind!--opt only for the win?
(Of course, BOTH can happen in a close and well-fought race!!)
Watch also for Indiana, Stanford, and Penn State!
Odds are 40-60!
FRIDAY--Men
The Heptathlon begins the proceedings today!
As always, I'll do my Hept Preview at the time the event ENDS!!
LJ (27-10.25)
This MR also has a little kitty and a nice warm little cubby hole to relax in for another year---or decade!!
ZERO odds!
Julian Harvey is given the "fave" position--but by a hair!
Watch VERY closely for what Hurdle specialist Grant Holloway does!
His PR is 26-5, but I believe he has 27 foot potential!
KeAndra Bates and Demarcus Simpson should be in there somewhere!
PV (19-4.75)
Chris Nilsen has begun to live up to his HSR holding status!
Can he extend that to 19 feet?
Very possible, but unlikely to go much higher---this year!!
So give the odds at 30-70!
Torben Laidig, Deakin Volz, Devin King, Audie Wyatt, and Paulo Benavides should be the main challengers to Nilsen!
Three sets of Heats are scheduled here, in the following order--1 Mile, 60, and the 400.
SP (71-3.50)
Mostafa Hassan "SHOT" forward (HAHA!!) with a massive PR of 69-10.75 recently, so he should be the clear favorite--for the win!
But not for the MR!!
Odds are 40-60 for yet another BIG improvement so soon!!
Filip Miheljivik and Jared Kern should be Mostafa's main competition!
The 800 Heats are here!
5000 (13:25.11)
The King is gonna TRIPLE---and maybe even QUADRUPLE!!
Insane!!
But Ed Cheserek ain't labeled "The King" for nothing!
FULLY capable of running SUB-13:00, he'll likely take the MoBot route, and go for points!
Unless, that is, MJ Erb, Marc Scott, John Dressel, or Colby Gilbert decide to give him a little push!!
SUICIDE, guys!!
LOL
Odds for a new MR are determinant on whether someone FORCES Ches to RUN!!
Give it 30-70---or 80-20 IF someone pushes him!!
DMR (9:27.27)
Pay NO attention to times recorded on Notre Dame's or Seattle's Oversize Tracks when determining odds or predictions for this race!!
Meaningless, IMHO!
Also, the BIG question for Oregon (and their opponents!!) is whether Ches will try to follow his 5000 with the anchor leg here--just minutes later--knowing he has two MORE big races tomorrow!! As of "press" time, his coach was undecided!!
Watch for Ole Miss and UTEP to make their presence known!
SATURDAY--Women
TJ (46-9)
Keturah Orji.
Her name stands alone in Collegiate (AND American!!!) Triple Jump circles!
While she has yet to get into the 47's INdoors, we all know she went 48-3.25 in Rio last summer!!
So the potential for a MASSIVE rewrite of the INdoor CR and AR are there in her gifted legs!!
Give this SUPER stud 90-10 odds!!
Yanis David, while VERY good, is NOT (yet!) in Keturah's class!!
PV (15-2.25)
You'll need a magnifying glass to name the winner of this popular event!
Be certain, however, that her LAST name will be Weeks!!
Whether it's Tori--having by far the finest year of her career--or twin sister Lexi--the Rio Olympian!--is yet to be seen!
Can anyone challenge them?
Sure--IF one or both has a rare off day!!
Don't bet on it!!
Her (THEIR!) nearest rivals should be Kally Long, Annie Rhodes, Olivia Gruver, and the Weeks's teammate, Desiree Freier!
60-40 odds!
1 Mile (4:27.18)
Kaela Edwards went for Jenny (Barringer) Simpson's CR in the Millrose mile, but fell short!
Will she try again here?
She's not listed for any other events, so---maybe!!
While there aren't rabbits in Collegiate races, Eleanor Purrier and/or Danae Rivers might serve as same---unwittingly!!
Odds for the CR are 25-75!
But odds for this Meet Record are a bit stronger--55-45!
60 (7.09)
Someone (NOT me!!) on the T&FN Message Board said Hannah Cunliffe would win in 7.02, breaking her own Collegiate Record set a few weeks ago!
(I DID say I agreed with him!! LOL)
Kidding aside, I give Cunliffe--this year's Jenna Prandini??--75-25 odds of getting this MR--and 60-40 odds of getting her CR!!
Two of her Duck-mates--Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens--will challenge their friend!
So will Javianne Olivier, Teahna Daniels, Aleia Hobbs, and maybe even Ashley Henderson, though I think the latter is better at the longer sprints!
WT (83-10.25)
This MR WAS the World Record--until Gwen Berry went 84-0 at USATF!
But not to fret---no one here has yet reached even 80 feet, let alone 83 or 84!!
Best of them is Janeah Stewart, but she's reached "just" 76 and change!
Another speller's favorite (or nemesis??) is Annette Echikinwoke, who should be given the "best challenger" role!
Watch too for Maggie Ewen, HSR holder Shelby Ashe, as well as SP stud Raven Saunders, who got over 70 feet recently!!
400 (50.46)
Shakima Wimbley should win this, but it seems that sub-51 times are lost in the forest this year!
Chrisann Gordon should be Wimbley's nearest rival!
Look too for Kendell Ellis, Zola Golden, Brittney Ellis, Daina Harper, and Sharrika Barnett to challenge!
A not-so-surprising surprise winner could be the Canadian Sage Watson, who's been having a HOT year!!
60H (7.79)
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is the best Puerto Rico has to offer!
But it's not quite enough for me to give her the Meet Record!
So give that 40-60 odds!
As always, this event is LOADED!!
Sasha Wallace has the fastest time this year among Collegians, plus she has the need to score points for her Ducks squad, so make her a co-favorite with JCQ!
There's so many POSSIBLE finalists here, but not enough lanes!!
So toss these names in---then stir---
Dior Hall, Makiah Brisco, Devynne Charlton, Pedrya Seymour, Ebony Morrison, and Anna Cockrell!!
One missing athlete--who I thought for sure would be here--is Tonea Marshall!
The HSR holder at 8.02, she hasn't yet broken 8.20 as a Frosh, so didn't make the cut!
800 (2:01.64)
The MR should go--with emphasis!!
And this COULD be the Race of the Meet--at least on the Women's side!
Raevyn Rogers vs Jazmin Fray!
The OUTdoor 1:59 girl vs the new INdoor Collegiate Record holder!!
Will it be a blood battle to the death---or an all-out assault on yet another CR??
And by which one??
There are others in the "fray" (sic!), but see them more as backdrop to the main set!
Hanna Green is the most likely to give the top pair a tussle!
Also look for Ruby Stauber, Olivia Baker, and Shea Collinsworth!
Odds for the CR are 50-50, while the MR is given 95-5 odds!!
200 (22.40)
When that guy on the MB (see above) gave his prediction for Hannah Cunliffe in the 60, I commented that I'd add a 22.32 for her in the 200!!
While she should win this, I'd give the odds for a MR as 40-60!
I wasn't joking on the T&FN MB--I just don't see Cunliffe running that fast INdoors!
Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington are back to challenge, but so are JCQ, Deanna Hill, Ashley Henderson, Brittney Brown, and Harvard girl Gaby Thomas!
3000 (8:42.03)
Ms Simpson's (Okay, Barringer's!! LOL) CR is VERY safe!!
Not that one or more of these women aren't CAPABLE of going that fast---eventually!--but, as noted earlier, Championship distance races normally turn into jogfests!!
If she's recovered sufficiently from her 5000, watch for Katherine Receveur to do battle with Freshman sensation Katie Rainsberger for the win!
As with the longer race, there's several women who will be right there for most of the race!
Elise Cranny, Tessa Barrett, Erin Clark, Samantha Nadel, Dani Jones, Allie Buchowski, and Karissa Schweizer are the names to watch!
Zero odds for the MR!
4X400 Relay (3:27.40)
UO has the wheels.
But so do USC, Alabama, Miami, and Texas A&M!!
With the team win aspect in the forefront, give UO the edge!
The MR is given 40-60 odds!
SATURDAY--Men
Heptathlon (6499)
The two Williams's (unrelated!), Harrison and Devon, will be there throughout, but probably NOT the winner!
Lindon Victor--with a Decathlon best of 8446--has to be given the edge, even though he hasn't really shown much this INdoor season!
Brit Tim Duckworth is said to have potential for much more than his PR (and National Record!) of 6006 points!
Karl Saluri and Hunter Price are others to watch!
Don't count out the Williams dudes!!
No MR, with odds at 20-80!
WT (80-10.25)
Gleb Dudorev (See earlier posts!) has been the "find" of the year!
Out of nowhere, he's suddenly throwing this implement 76-11--which became the Frosh Class record!
But he's not alone in that mid-70's range!
Johnnie Jackson, Rudy Winkler, Daniel Haugh, Grant Cartwright, and Adam Kelly have also flirted with those numbers!
Winkler, of course, was a Rio Olympian in the Hammer Throw!!
Meet Record odds are just 20-80, however!
HJ (7-9.25)
NO Meet Record here!
Nowhere near!!
Randall Cunningham (older brother of Vashti!) is the most consistent this year, so I look for him to win this!
Watch for Darius Corbin and Clayton Brown.
1 Mile (3:54.74)
Ches is back for his 2nd---or 3rd??---event!
And being the new CR holder, his trot to the finish line should be without serious challenge!
Ben Saarels, Jonah Koech, Matt Maton, and Zach Perrin will be the ones waiting to hand Ches his victory bouquet!!
The MR is 2.73 slower than Ches's CR, but it should survive.
40-60 odds.
60 (6.47)
Christian Coleman and Kendal Williams have both run 6.51 this season!
But odds for a 6.47 or 6.46 are 15-85!
Give Coleman the edge!
Senaj Jay-Givans, Cameron Burrell, and Darryl Haraway should be their main challengers!
400 (44.57)
NO Meet Record, which happens to double as the WORLD Record!!
That said, Fred Kerley has been both fast AND consistent this season, so make him your SOLID favorite!
(Too bad his fastest race--44.94--was on Vanderbilt's OT!!)
Michael Cherry, Akeem Bloomfield, and Izaiah Brown will follow in Kerley's footsteps---literally!!
Also entered is Kerley's younger brother, Malik!
TJ (57-0)
Chris Pullen had an early season 56-4.75, which still stands as the Collegiate leader!
But his inconsistency could hurt him, with KeAndre Bates in there.
He's a solid 55 footer!
Watch too for Clayton Brown!
The MR gets 5-95 odds!
60H (7.45)
Grant Holloway vs Chad Zallow!
You can throw away the scorecard after those two!
Holloway has been sensational his Frosh year--consistent AND fast!
Zallow's not far behind!
If all the HURDLES survive, this will be a GREAT race!!
Edge goes to Holloway, but by THIS much!!
All that said, NO Meet Record--which is also the CR!!
35-65 odds!
800 (1:45.33)
We have TWO Collegiate Record holders here (and 1 World Record holder!!)--although they held those records a week apart!
Emmanuel Korir ripped a 1:14.97 in the 600, followed a week later by Isaiah Harris's 1:14.96!!
So this race COULD be incredible!
Incredibly FAST??
That's yet to be determined!
Daniel Kuhn is another serious contender.
Watch too for Patrick Joseph, Eliud Rutto, Drew Piazza, and Andres Arroyo, any of whom could steal the race if the front 2 get careless!!
MR odds are a solid 85-15!
200 (20.10)
This event isn't held as much as in the 20th century, at least not INdoors!
Don't know why, as I find a one lap all-out sprint fascinating!!
Maybe it's fear of injury on the sharper INdoor turns!
Jereem Richards sped a FAST 20.34--on an Oversize Track!!
So I'm not sure what he can do on a LEGAL track!
Thus, make Christian Coleman, Just'N Thymes (GREAT name--for a Rapper!!!), and Brit Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake the most serious challengers!
NMB hasn't been as fast as when he first came on the scene, but watch him anyway!
ZERO odds for a new MR!
3000 (7:45.94)
If I read the schedule correctly, this MIGHT be Ed Cheserek's FOURTH event of the meet---and FIFTH race, as he'll have a Mile heat to run also!!
The DMR--which I'd THOUGHT to be the big question mark for Ches, as to whether he'd be needed for that or not--is the final event on Friday!
So that would make THIS his final, and fifth, race---IF he indeed runs on the DMR!!
IF that's the case, give this MR 5-95 odds!
If he's a bit fresher, give it a slightly better 15-85 odds!
Challenging The King here too will be Justyn Knight, Colby Gilbert, Marc Scott, Matt Maton, and John Dressel!
Will any of THEM take on The King in his final INdoor race as a Collegian??
4X400 Relay (3:02.86)
Did you know that Texas A&M ran faster than their LEGAL Collegiate Record at the SEC's--but were not given a new CR, due to Vandy's OT??
So, with TWO times (albeit one illegal!!) faster than the MR, I give the Aggies 95-5 odds of taking this MR down!!
Others in the race with half a chance to win---IF A&M drops the baton!!--are Florida, Texas, LSU, and USC!
Toss a coin!
And that is IT, friends!!!
Enjoy the meet---AND the NBIN!
Then come back here for ALL the results--told in DETAIL--after the meets finish!
See you soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment