USATF Championships Preview

Not the same low level as the Euros--See previous post!---this meet's field of entrants isn't much better!
Many Americans aren't here--and with the recent scratch of Shannon Rowbury from both her races (1 & 2 Mile)--it's gotten even weaker!
As for who IS here, the distance people will probably be slowed by Albuquerque's altitude, while the sprinters might benefit!
That said, this post (both genders covered!) will look at which Meet Records might fall, as well as "name names" of probable contenders!

MEN
60 (6.39)  This MR and American Record AND World Record will survive!  This year's Collegiates are the best speedsters this year, but they're not here!  So look for Ronnie Baker to out-lean Tevin Hester and Clayton Vaughn!

300 (32.87)  Another year of "odd" events!  But with the 300 and 600 having GREAT years, look for both of these races to be among the best here!!  And this one COULD be won by new Professional Noah Lyles--in MR time to boot!!  But Brycen Spratling and Wallace Spearmon will give young Lyles a tussle!  Odds for the MR are 80-20!

600 (1:15.33)  With the new WORLD Record holder here--Casimir Loxsom--give this MR 90-10 odds of going down!!  Erik Sowinski, Donavan Brazier, Russ Dinkins, and Shaquille Walker should make this one HOT!!

1000 (2:19.85)  A weak MR, Robby Andrews, Clayton Murphy, Brannon Kidder, and Andy Wheating SHOULD have no problem erasing it!!  BUT---will the altitude and/or common race tactics prevail??  60-40 odds!

1 Mile (3:52.99)  The rules have changed, but when Noureddine Morceli ran the MR in 1991, foreigners were allowed to race in the American Championships!!  But this field is strong, with a few of the Milers here who ran that fast Boston race recently--See earlier post!  If they decide to time trial, watch for Kyle Merber, Robbie Andrews, Ben Blankenship, Johnny Gregorek, Ford Palmer, Evan Jager, Garrett Heath, Leo Manzano, Christian Soratos, and Lopez Lomong!

2 Mile (8:26.72)  To make my INdoor Top 24 US Performers list, you must run 8:27.6 or faster!  All of the following CAN run that time, but WILL they??  Look for Paul Chelimo, Ryan Hill, Garrett Heath, Ben Blankenship--with the latter two doubling!--as the main contenders!  But Woody Kincaid ran a 30 second PR in the 5000 last week, so watch for him to shock!  Mason Ferlic can stick with some of this crowd!  60-40 odds for the MR!

60H (7.37)  No MR here--ZERO odds!!  I'd love to see Aries Merritt win this, but Aleec Harris and Jarret Eaton might prevent that!

2 Mile Walk ()  It will be between Nick Christie and John Nunn!  Best Americans, but that ain't saying much!
NOTE:  I didn't put the MR up---for the sole reason there isn't any!  They did the 5000 Walk in the past!!

HJ  (7-9.75)  Erik Kynard will win here, but the MR should survive!  I'd give him 50-50 odds!  Others to watch are JaCorian Duffield and Brad Adkins!

LJ (28-2.25)  No MR here either--ZERO odds!  In fact, another of those 0-200 babies!!  NO "names".  Spin the wheel!

TJ  (58-3.25)  Both Christian Taylor and Will Claye are absent, so no MR!  Chris Carter should top the podium!

PV (19-6.50)  Sam Kendricks is the new US King in this event, and the MR COULD fall here!  Give Kendricks 70-30 odds!!  Andrew Irwin could reach 19 feet.  But the interesting one to watch is HS'er Riley Richards!  Number One HS'er Mondo Duplantis isn't eligible for this meet, as he's already competed for another nation--Sweden!  Richards, however, is at 17-7, with 18 feet his next target!!

SP  (72-11.25)  Ryan Crouser isn't here, so the MR is safe!  Ryan Whiting--in his prime--MIGHT be a contender for that Record, but he's NOT in his prime!  Darrell Hill and Jon Jones should join Whiting on the podium!

WT  (84-10.25)  The MR is also the World Record, so will survive!  Sean Donnelly seems like the best one here.

Heptathlon  (6273)  A weak MR, but also a weak field!!  Austin Bahner and Japheth Cato should be the main contenders!  PLEASE, Mr Ashton Eaton, return to the arena!!

WOMEN
60 (6.99)  Candace Hill--18 years old, still in HS, and a new Pro--is gonna double here!!  But with a 60 PR of just 7.30, and with Morolake Akinosun and Dezerea Bryant in the race--she'll have to PR by a whopping amount to contend!

300 (36.52)  Hill is in this event also, and has run 36.86 this season!!  But Ashley Spencer will give her a fight, as will Alysia Montano (WAY out of her comfort zone, however!!), Phyllis Francis, and Jessica Beard!  Still, I'd give that MR 70-30 odds!!

600 (1:26.56) Oh boy!!  What a showdown!!  Courtney Okolo vs Ajee Wilson!!  If both are still standing at the end, we could see a new MR, and maybe even an AR and WORLD Record!!  Give that MR a funeral to remember, Ladies!!  (Cecilia Barowski will be fast, but probably 20-30 meters behind!!)

1000 (2:40.42)  Another GREAT pairing!!  But two distinctly different goals!  While Charlene Lipsey is probably here for the win---and she'll get it!--Sammy Watson is here to FINALLY take down Sarah (Bowman) Brown's HSR of 2:43.40 from 2005!!  Yes, Mary Cain ran LOTS faster (2:39.25, then 2:35.80) while a HS student, BUT she had turned Pro, so those times only gained her my HS PRO record, NOT the Amateur HSR!!  By race's end, that will BE Watson's---95-5 odds!!  But Ms Lipsey could be chasing the American Record!!  30-70 odds for THAT!!

1 Mile (4:25.92)  The altitude could affect the runners here, but remember that some Men went sub-4:00 in Albuquerque a few years ago!!  Shelby Houlihan is listed as doubling, so might not go all out here!  If she decides to RUN, then watch for her and Heather Kampf to do battle---for the win AND the MR!!  Alexa Efraimson--now 20 years old!--will contend, but so will Rachel Schneider and Cory McGee.  60-40 odds!
NOTE: (added March 3rd at 6:15 a.m.---BEFORE the meet starts!---so I'm not cheating!!)  I noticed---AFTER originally posting this!---that Colleen Quigley is entered here!  Have no idea HOW I missed her!!  Anyway, I'm now adding her to the list of top contenders!!  She ALSO has a shot at the MR---same odds as everyone else!

2 Mile (9:28.15)  Lynn Jennings's MR dates from 1986, and SHOULD fall--if the altitude allows!!  Houlihan is doubling, but other good ones are Kampf, Katie Mackey, Katrina Coogan, and Emily Lipari!  To make the US DDD, they need to run 9:45.99!!

60H  (7.74) OUTdoor 100H WR holder Kendra Harrison is here--and believes she can get Lolo Jones's AR of 7.72!!  (She ran 7.75 earlier this season!!)  But Christina Manning has been having a great season, and this IS the 60H in a US Championship meet!!  So don't ignore Sharika Nelvis, Jasmin Stowers, or Jackie Coward!  Another top HS girl is here---Tara Davis!!  Her 8.22 PR pales before these 7.7 to 8.0 types--BUT Davis seems due for a BIG improvement!!  I'd give her chances to run 8.10 about 60-40 odds!!  But will she even make the final??

2 Mile Walk  ()  Maria Michta-Coffey is entered!  Need I say more?  But Miranda Melville is also here--and she's been known to finish close--or even AHEAD!--of MMC in OUTdoor 20K races!!  Katie Burnett and MMC's younger sister Katie are also here!
NOTE:  Didn't put up the MR here either---See my Men's 2 Mile Walk comments!---as the Women Walked the 3000 in the past!!

HJ (6-7.50)  Chaunte Lowe is absent, as is retired Brigetta Barrett!  But Vashti Cunningham--another HS Pro--shouldn't have any problem winning---and maybe even going after the MR!!  Inika McPherson seems the best of the rest, but watch for Liz Patterson and Erica Bougard, who is also in the Multi!!

LJ (24-0.25)  No Meet Record here.  Only High Schooler Tara Davis!  Excuse me!  I meant HSR holder Tara Davis!!  Yes, this HSR holder--at 21-11--is FAVORED here!!  Erica Bougard will contend, but look for young Davis to top the podium!!  (Remember that then-16 year old Mary Cain won the 2013 USATF Mile--in Albuquerque!)

TJ  (46-8.25)  With the NCAA meet a week later, why can't/don't the top Collegiates compete for Top US honors??  This event is missing Keturan Orji!  Without her, just flip a coin!!  April Sinkler and Andrea Geubelle should go 1-2!

PV (16-5.50)  The Collegiate leaders aren't here (See my TJ remarks!!), and Demi Payne is still prepping for a possible Texas Relays OUTdoor season opener.  Nonetheless, we DO have Jenn Suhr vs Sandi Morris!!  And that could be a whopper---IF Suhr is healthy!!  Give that GREAT Meet Record 60-40 odds of going down!!  Katie Nageotte could well top 15 feet also!  Other biggies are Mary Saxer, Megan Clark, Kristin Hixson, and Morgann LeLeux!

SP (66-4.50)  Here's another MR that belongs to a foreigner!  (See my Men's Mile comments!!)  While Raven Saunders's 62-8 leads the World, she probably won't once this meet is done!  Michelle Carter will easily top Raven's mark, and COULD get Illona Briesenick's 1987 MR!!  Janeva Stevens, Brittany Smith, Felicia Johnson, Dani Bunch, Jessica Ramsey, and Kelsey Card could also top 60 feet!

WT (81-3.75)  Gwen Berry and Amber Campbell practically OWN the Age Record list--with a full DOZEN years with their names attached!!  And they'll be the main rivals here too!  Watch for Deanna Price, Stevens, Ramsey, and Johnson as the Back-up Gang!!  MR odds are 60-40!

Pentathlon  (4805)  The MR holder--and American Record holder!--Sharon Day-Monroe is entered, but she's past her prime, so she might not even win!!  Give THAT honor to Barbara Nwaba!!  Sami Spenner, Erica Bougard, Lindsay Lettow, and Lindsay Schwartz will fight for podium spots, along with Day-Monroe!

This meet starts in a few hours also!!
My NCAA and NBIN Previews will be posted by March 10th---even though I have what might be the final heat entry lists already!!

Enjoy the Euros and USATF meets---using these Previews as your constant companion!!