Some of the NCAA Championships you had to SEE to believe!
It wasn't the GREAT marks that seemingly fell like hailstones from the roof of the College Station TX arena the past 2 days.
Many were expected.
No, it was the stunning way they happened---or in the case of some, didn't!!
And the depth!
WOW!!
But time's-a-wasting!
I'm sure you want to know what went down---or up--as the case might be, so sit back, relax, and read on!
She did it again!
For long time readers of my blog, you know I've referred to Raven Saunders as a Shot Putter who broke her PR's by FEET, not inches!!
There have been several examples of that--since her Senior year of HS!
But recently, she seemed to have arrived on some sort of plateau, where she didn't PR for awhile--or did so by lesser increments than feet!
Well, not to fear, cause Raven's here!!
After a 2nd round 63-0--one of her best--she fell back into her "average" mode of mere 60 foot throws!
For others, that's reason to break into a dance!
For Saunders, it's reason to cry!
Then came her blast of the ball that fell 64-2.25 from where she stood!
This again added a full FOOT (and a bit more!!) to her previous INdoor best!!
Once leading the WORLD--prior to Anita Marton passing her at the Euros--she's back there again--with exclamation points (Something I know much about!! LOL)---and, since the season has for all intents ended, she's likely to remain!!
An incredible feat for a 20 year old College student--in America, Europe, or anywhere else!!
She breaks her own Collegiate Record.
She gets the Junior Class record, and the Meet Record!
While remaining 1st A-T Collegiate, she moves from 5th to 4th on the A-T US list!
Second was Danniel Thomas, getting a 60-4.50 PR.
She remains 9th A-T Collegiate!
Brittany Mann's 58-0.25 misses the Collegiate list by 0.75 inches!
Inside the Aggies's beautiful arena--pure white & light gray walls splashed with great photos & other Texas A&M mementos, we saw several great sprinters performing at their best!
And none were better than Christian Coleman!
We first witnessed it in the heats of the 60.
Side by side with Kendal Williams and Cameron Burrell, he left both those talents in his wake as he flew down the 60 meter straight with abandon--and ease!
His heat was an 0.01 PR of 6.50.
He moved from 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others, to 7th, tied with 2 others.
He became 23rd A-T US, tied with 4 others!
Burrell ran 6.53, not a PR.
In the 200 heats, Coleman "lost" to Just-N Thymes's 20.49, which missed my Collegiate DDD by 0.03 seconds!
Also missing that list was Jereem Richards's 20.50, which fell short by 0.04 seconds!
Coleman was 3rd fastest, his 20.51 missing the list by 0.05!
On the 2nd day, Coleman outdid himself--to say the least!!
In the 60 final, he blew away his competition--mostly in the last half of the race!--with a Collegiate Record-tying 6.45 shocker!
Even I didn't see this coming!
Besides tying the CR, he nabbed the Junior Class record!
He also tied the Age 21 record--the other guy being one Justin Gatlin!!
(Coleman had just turned 21, being born March 6, 1996!!)
He also got the Meet Record!!
He moved from 7th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, to the top, where he's tied with 1 other!
On the World DDD, he becomes 6th A-T, tied with 7 others!!
He moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 4 others, to 4th, where he's also tied with 4 others!
And he wasn't through yet!!
Watch the final of the Men's 200--with AWE!!
Not letting up for an instant--from the gun to the tape--Christian Coleman tore his feet around the banked oval in 20.11 seconds!!
SO close to the venerable American (and Meet) Record---so so close!!
Claiming the Junior Class record, and the Age 21 record, he's now 2nd A-T Collegiate, 2nd A-T US, and 3rd A-T World!!
But it was the depth that added to your amazement!
Behind Coleman came Jereem Richards, whose 20.34 at the SEC became worthless due to its being run on an OT!
He made up for it here!
His 20.31 was far behind Coleman, but he got a distinct honor even Coleman couldn't claim!
He broke the National Record of Trinidad--that having belonged to Ato Boldon, dating from 1997!!
He is 9th A-T Collegiate!
And 11th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
Then came The Rapper, Just'N Thymes, who "rapped" out a 20.36 in 3rd!
He is 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
He's 13th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
And he's 19th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
Another who lost a great mark to the OT gods was Fred Kerley, 2017's INdoor 400 Master!
But here he ran even faster--with no help from an Oversize Track!
His 44.85 solo run in the final (after a heat of 45.10) did lots of things!
It gave him the Senior Class record, which had been his already!
He also broke his own Age 21 record!
On the various lists, he moved from 4th to 3rd A-T Collegiate, from 4th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 3rd, and from 5th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 4th!
In that heat, 2nd went to Kunle Fasasi's 45.57, which made him 21st A-T Collegiate!
The Women ran some fantastic times in the sprints also--one of which claimed its athlete a DQ!!
In the 200 heats, Deajah Stevens wanted to make a statement!
She did--except it came out for all the world to see--including the officials who see those things that DQ an athlete!
While sprinting once around in 22.28--which would have smashed the CR!--Stevens spread her talents into the lane inside of her--once too many times!!
So--for lane violations--that "CR" died!!
Maybe next time, Deajah!!
Meanwhile, the other Duck women did themselves proud!
In the 60 heats, Hannah Cunliffe cruised to a 7.13 win, with Stevens taking 3rd!
Between them came Javianne Oliver's 7.14, which made her 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others!
Stevens ran 7.17, making her 22nd A-T Collegiate, tied with 5 others!
The DQ, as noted, came in the 200 heats.
Ariana Washington won her section in 22.57 (after the DQ, that is!)
She moves from 24th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 9th!!
She also moves from 22nd A-T US to 10th, tied with 1 other.
And she becomes 22nd A-T World!
Hannah Cunliffe's 22.74 wasn't a PR.
Cunliffe took the final in an average (for her!) 7.14, with Stevens taking 5th in 7.22.
The 200 final was beautiful--for those "waddlers" from Ory-gun territory!
Ariana Washington took the Grand Prize with her PR of 22.42!
She claims the Junior Class record, as well as the Age 20 record!
She moves from 9th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!
She moves from 10th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 3rd.
And she moves from 22nd A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 11th!!
Cunliffe was 2nd in 22.53.
She moves from 12th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 9th.
She gains 11th place on the US list, tied with 1 other, while ending in 22nd place on the World DDD, tied with 1 other!
Deanna Hill of USC got 3rd, just one watch tick behind Cunliffe, her 22.54 getting her 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, 11th A-T US, tied with 1 other, and 23rd A-T World, also tied with 1 other!!
Not needing the points at the end, the Duck Women ran the 4X400 Relay anyway!
And finished 2nd, losing their Collegiate Record in the process!!
In an amazing race--showing how DEEP the College scene is in the United States--here's the numbers!!
USC has muscle!!
Eeking out a win by 0.04 seconds over the Ducks, their 3:27.03 took 0.37 off Oregon's CR!!
They moved from 5th A-T School to 1st!
UO ran a spiffy 3:27.07, but their loss moved them DOWN the scale, from 1st to 2nd A-T School!!
Now get this!
All 12 finishers ran 3:32.34 or faster!!
Has there EVER been a race like this---anywhere??
Texas A&M got 3rd in 3:28.36
This moves them from 8th A-T School to 5th!
Alabama's 3:28.62 moves them from 9th to 6th A-T School!!
Baylor's 5th place 3:30.60 moves them from 16th A-T School to 12th!
Ohio State moves from 24th A-T School to 15th, off their 3:31.23!
No PR's for Miami (3:31.85), Florida (3:31.94), or South Carolina (3:32.14)!
But then we have Purdue's 3:32.34, which makes them 19th A-T School!
(BTW, three schools got the "same" time of 3:32.34--divided by thousandths of a second!!)
But no PR's were awarded for the 3:32.34's of Arkansas and LSU!!
The Men's 4X4 was good too!
The Home Boys won it, time of 3:02.86.
But if you've read my blog, you know that A&M had run faster--at least twice--albeit once on an OT!
So no PR, but their time gets them the Meet Record!
Florida finished 2nd in 3:03.52, while 2 others made my list, or changed their position on it!
Iowa's 3:05.60 was a PR by just 0.03 seconds, but it moved them from 19th A-T School, tied with 1 other, to 19th, but with no ties!!
In 8th, Alabama's 3:06.06 made them 24th A-T school!!
Sasha Wallace gave 10 more points to the Ducks, via her 60H win in 7.90!
But that wasn't her best time!
That came in the heats--where she won in 7.87!
This moved her from 8th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 3rd, tied with 2 others!
She also becomes 23rd A-T US!
Dewynne Charlton took 2nd in the heats with a non-PR 7.98!
But Anna Cockrell's 7.98 WAS a PR, giving her 19th place on the A-T Collegiate list, tied with 6 others!
Much more important, she now is the Frosh Class record holder!!
In the final, Charlton ran 7.93, moving her from 18th A-T Collegiate to 11th, tied with 2 others!
Pedrya Seymour's 7.97 moves her from 19th A-T Collegiate, tied with 6 others, to 19th, but with no ties!
Grant Holloway took the Men's 60H in a PR-tying 7.58.
The Multi's were great!
And Tim Duckworth is for real!
That said, the Brit (via his British parents!) lost!!
Leading by over 200 points after 6 events, he couldn't break 3 minutes in the 1000, while Devon Williams (Kendell's brother!) sped a low-2:40's, edging out the Brit, 6177 to 6165!!
For Williams, he becomes 4th A-T Collegiate, and 10th A-T US!
Duckworth breaks his own National Record of Great Britain--by about 200 points!
Ironic, eh, mate??
Anyway, he also moves from 16th A-T Collegiate to 6th, tied with 1 other!!
Karl Saluri took 3rd with 6051 points, making him 13th A-T Collegiate!
Hunter Price got 5996 points, making him 18th A-T Collegiate, and 21st A-T US!!
Lindon Victor had a great SP of around 55 feet, which helped give him a point total of 5976!
He's 21st A-T Collegiate!
Harrison (No relation!) Williams scored 5970 points,making him 23rd A-T Collegiate.
He also moves up one spot on the US list, from 24th to 23rd!
BTW, Harrison was moved OFF the list by Price's entrance, but then came back on!!
Kendell Williams ALMOST got her own Collegiate Record!
But her HJ ended well below her norm, so she lost just enough points to later deny her another CR!
Nonetheless, her 4682 score was impressive!
And--it gave her her FOURTH Collegiate Class Record, as she now owns ALL of them--plus two from her HS years!!
Taliyah Brooks also performed great, her new PR being 4580 points!
She moves from 8th A-T Collegiate to 4th!
And she moves from 12th to 8th on the A-T US list!!
Nina Schultz took 3rd with 4340 points, making this Canadian 23rd A-T Collegiate!
Michelle Atherley's 4319 points in 4th missed the Collegiate list by 20 points!
But she's now 22nd A-T US!!
In 6th, Stacy Destin's 4186 points included a HJ of 6-2.75!
This misses my Collegiate DDD by a mere quarter-inch!
In the actual HJ, she went over 6-1.50 for 4th in that event--an impressive performance!!
In the open HJ, Logan Boss took 3rd, also getting over 6-2.75!
She's a Junior at Mississippi State!
In case you're interested (HaHa!), Madeline Fagan WON the HJ with a solid 6-4!
She's now 11th A-T Collegiate, tied with 3 others, as well as 19th A-T US, tied with 1 other!!
The distances were good--and interesting!
Mr Edward Cheserek did NOT get the triple he went after, as he lost the Mile to Josh Kerr, a New Mexico Frosh, of all people---and by 2 whole seconds!!
But maybe Ches was tired after winning the 5000 the day before in 13:41 & change, and winning his Mile heat in 3:59.30!
Then he won the 3000 in 7:55 also!
(No leg on the DMR!!)
In the Women's 5000, the pace was pushed by Notre Dame's Anna Rohrer, who figured she'd steal it from flashy kicker Karissa Schweizer!
No dice, Anna!!
After leading Erin Finn and Schweizer for about 23 laps, Schweizer left both far behind, as she sprinted her final 400 in about 65 seconds, her time of 15:19.14 giving her the Junior Class record!!
She moves from 14th A-T Collegiate (from her race in December!!), to 9th!
She also moves from 22nd A-T US to 9th!
Finn stayed together to run a non-PR time of 15:27.36.
Rohrer finished in 15:29.83!
This moves her from 11th to 9th on the A-T Collegiate list!
And she moves up one spot on the A-T US list, from 18th to 17th!
Allie Bucharski's 15:41.69 misses my Collegiate DDD by 0.81 seconds, while Tessa Barrett's 15:42.29 misses that list by 1.41 seconds!
A shock winner came in the Women's Mile also!!
Ever hear of Samford College?
(No, it's NOT a misspelling of Stanford!! LOL)
Well, it's in Birmingham, Alabama!
And that's where the Mile winner--Karissa Nelson--matriculates--AND runs!!
Her 4:31.24 winner took the air out of the balloons of Elinor Purrier (2nd in 4:31.88) and Kaela Edwards (4th in 4:34.27)!!
Nelson becomes 15th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other.
She's in her Junior year at Stanf.....um, I mean SAMford!!
In other NCAA news---
Raevyn Rogers easily sprinted away from CR holder Jazmin Fray, as well as rising star Hanna Green in the 800!
Her 2:01.09 took down the NCAA Meet Record, though it wasn't a PR for her!
Green's 2:02.13 in 2nd moves her from 20th A-T Collegiate to 10th!
Shea Collinsworth ran 2:02.35, claiming 13th spot on the A-T Collegiate list!
Fray faded to 4th, but ran a decent 2:03.00.
Just 0.01 behind her, Ruby Stauber's 2:03.01 claimed the Freshman Class record!!
It also makes her 19th A-T Collegiate!
Chased OFF my Collegiate list was the historic Delisa Walton (Floyd), whose 2:03.24 dated from 1983!!
The Men's 800 was a snoozer, considering there were TWO one-time CR holders, and one one-time WR holder among the finalists!!
Emmanuel Korir got the win in 1:47.83.
Dani Jones took the 3000 in 9:09.21, with Karissa Schweizer and Katie Rainsberger finishing with the number 9:09 to their credit too!
Keturah Orji took just 2 of her 6 rounds to claim an easy TJ win--but no records this time.
Her 46-3.25 was sufficient to beat Yanis David's 45-1.75!
Trey Culver and Kyle Landon both HJ'ed 7-5, with Culver getting the W.
Clive Pullen "pulled" out a TJ win with his 55-3.75!
Shakima Wimbley took the 400 in 51.07, which just squeaked past Kendell Ellis's 51.07!!
For Wimbley, this moves her from 16th A-T Collegiate to 13th, and from 19th A-T US to 12th!
Ellis moves from 19th A-T Collegiate to 13th, where she's "tied" with Wimbley!
She's also tied with Wimbley on the US list--in 12th place!
BTW, Ellis had run 51.59 in her heat, first reaching that 19th spot!
Sage Watson PR'ed in 3rd, her 51.84 missing my Collegiate DDD by 0.07 seconds!
Johnnie Jackson took the Men's WT with 75-0.75!
Grant Cartwright was 2nd with 74-5.25, while Olympian Rudy Winkler was 4th, and 2017 newcomer Gleb Dudarov finished 6th, reaching just 72-1!
Freshman shudders??
KeAndre Bates won the LJ with 26-4.50, while Grant Holloway maybe got those Frosh shudders also, as he ended just 11th, jumping only 24-10!
(Though he recovered--See above!--to win the 60H!)
Mostafa Hassan didn't PR, but his 69-9.50 was an easy winner for him in the Shot Put!
The DMR's were taken by Ole Miss's 9:31.32, with Virginia Tech's 9:33.05 taking 2nd, while the Women's race saw Colorado's 3000 winner Dani Jones sprinting ahead to give her team the win, time of 11:00.34!
They became 16th A-T School!!
But---IMHO!--there's a bit of a question about the split given to Notre Dame's 8th place time of 11:05.76!
NOT their time, or their place, but about the 1600 split given to their anchor, Jessica Harris!
While Dani Jones anchored Colorado with a 4:31.16 split, Harris--whom I'd never heard of before!--was said to have run 4:27.01 for her anchor leg!!
4:27.01--not much slower than the Mile CR of Jenny (Barringer) Simpson!
Or the time Kaela Edwards ran earlier this season!
So should we believe that ND's 800 woman ran a jogger's 2:15 for her 800, while this previous 4:40-type Miler suddenly skips to a 4:27??
If I discover anything different, I'll let you know!!
I'm almost finished--but I think you'll find the rest of my report interesting!
ANOTHER Collegiate Record almost fell!!
The Women's LJ--while not matching the SEC event (See my post about that!)--did deliver a whopper for the winner!
Sha'Keela Saunders leapt 22-7.75, falling just one-quarter inch shy of tying the CR of 22-8!!
She also missed the Senior Class record by the same frustrating amount!!
However, Saunders moves from 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 3rd!
Quanesha Burks jumped 22-0.75 for 2nd, but it wasn't a PR.
FINALLY--WHEW!--the PV's!!
The Men's was won by Chris Nilsen, with a height of 18-8.25.
He then missed his 3 tries at 19-0.75!
But it was the Women's Vault that delighted some, and puzzled many!!
What happened with Lexi and Tori, the Weeks twins?
Both of them 15 footers, Tori could reach just 14-1.25, while Olympian Lexi couldn't get past her 13-9.25!!
They finished 5th and 8th, respectively!!
In their "absence" (Well, not literally! LOL), Lakan Taylor and Annie Rhodes led the bar-toppers!
Both getting over 14-7.25, Taylor won by virtue of fewer misses!
They're both now 17th A-T Collegiate, tied with 8 others, including each other!!
Olivia Gruver took 3rd with her 14-5.25!
Lucy Bryan got a PR with her 4th place mark of 14-5.25!
I'll be back tomorrow with my report on the NBIN meet!
I have LOTS to report already, so determinant on how much MORE of note happens in its last day, I'll decide whether to divide it into TWO posts--one for each gender!
Hope you don't mind the length here, but I just didn't feel I had enough for 2 posts!!
(Gee, Gosh, maybe I DID!! Hee Hee!!)
See you tomorrow!
(Be sure to watch the all-day livestream--on ESPN3--beginning at 5 a.m., Pacific time this morning!!)
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Thursday, March 9, 2017
NCAA Preview--Men & Women
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!
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!
NBIN Preview--Men & Women
Much to do, so let's make it happen!
I'm combining the genders here, unlike last year!
All running events are scheduled for Women first, then the Men!
I'm listing just the Women's Mile and 2 Mile among the MANY Emerging Elite events!
I will preview the events--as close to the FINALS schedule as possible, although some overlap will happen with the field events!
I'll list just the fastest (or elite) sections, as the distance races have slower sections!
I'll list the MEET Record, then the leading contenders, and my odds for whether the MEET Record will be broken!
I'll list the Women's MR first, then the Men's, as the schedule indicates that's how the order will go!
(In the case of the NBIN, several MR's are also the HSR!!)
SOME of the MR's date from the earlier version of this meet, which this blog considers THE Meet Record, even though the NBIN lists ONLY records set since New Balance took over!!
The meet is 3 days long (March 10-12), and will have a FREE livestream for all 3 days--all day!!
They begin early, so West Coast viewers will have to wake up before dawn to see it all!
As I said, much to report, so here we go!!
FRIDAY
EE 2 Mile (Don't have the MR) Watch for Rylee Bowen to win this. It could be fast, as in sub 10:20!
5000 (16:08.83 & 14:06.78))
The Women's race could see the SEVENTH consecutive HSR (all by different runners!) broken in this meet!
Brie Oakley--based on her brilliant XC season, could be the one to do it!
But she's never run a 5000 on a track, INdoors or OUTdoors!!
And I haven't seen her name in results all season!
So watch for Libby Davidson, Annie Hill, and Katherine Lee to challenge.
70-30 odds!
The Men's race has ZERO recognizable names!!
So this could be a wide-open race.
But the odds for a new MR are 0-100!!
DMR (11:34.85 & 10:00.75)
Three teams have big names!
Though I always caution that ONE "star" does NOT a team (or Record!) make!
Watch for North Rockland TC of NY, who has Katelyn Tuohy on anchor!
EC Glass TC of VA has Libby Davidson, while Patriot TC of VA has Rachel McArthur!
Without Kate Murphy and her team here, odds for a MR are 10-90!!
Three Men's teams have known entities!
But watch for the Carlisle TC of PA--with both Noah and Sam Affolder--as the favorite!
Also with stars are the Brentwood TC of TN (Brodey Hasty), and Germantown Friends of PA (Nick Dahl)!
No MR here either!
HJ--Women (6-0.25)
Here again, NO "names" to set my eyes on fire!
The Women's HJ--overall--has been weak the past few years--aside from Vashti Cunningham, that is!!
SATURDAY
Pentathlon (4068 &4307)
Erin Marsh and Antonia Frazier have the 2 "best" marks of the year, but the topper is just 3200 points!
But this event is rarely contested before the NBIN!!
MR odds are 0-100!
As with the Women, the Men's season bests may not be indicative of their potential!
Nonetheless, this MR is safe too.
The top 2 seem to be Danny Renwick and Samuel Rusak.
1 Mile Walk (6:57.36 & 6:06.13)
When you have the HSR holder in the meet, you generally go with her!
And that's the case here, so give Lauren Harris the Gold right now!
Odds for her to break her own Meet and HSR are 90-10!
Same goes for the Men--in one sense!
Cameron Haught is the HSR holder, but not the MR holder!
Nonetheless, give him 40-60 odds to get it!
The 60 Heats are scheduled here!
Following will be the 60H Heats!
Then come the 4X200 Relay heats!
(Be difficult if anyone's running both the 60 and this Relay!)
4X Mile Relay (19:59.24 & 17:07.17)
The Women's race will have Jessica Lawson (who just ran a 4:26 for 1500!) anchoring her Corning TC team of NY!!
But a MR seems unlikely!
30-70 odds!
The Men have NO recognizable names on their teams, so NO Meet Record!!
Still, one of my favorite races to watch!!
SMR (3:52.68 & 3:24.02)
The Women's MR could be in some jeopardy, as Katelyn Tuohy anchors her North Rockland team!
But watch also for South Dade Express TC of FL, who has Symone Mason in the 400, and Bronxville HS of NY (Sound familiar?? LOL), who has Kaitlyn Ryan!
BTW, see my post about Bronxville HS missing Mary Cain from a couple of years ago, where I mention Ms Ryan as a possible future star!!
No Men's team have any "big" names, so it's a free-for-all!
MR odds are ZIP, NADA!!
EE 1 Mile
No MR here either, but watch for Clare Martin to win it.
She's run in the 2:47's over 1000 meters!
The 400 Heats, followed by the 200 Heats, are scheduled here!
4X800 Relay (8:54.11 & 7:36.99)
Sorry, but no names here either!
Another race to watch for the exciting unknowns!!
Ditto for the Men!!
LJ--Men (26-0.25)
Noah (Get your Spelling cap on! LOL) Igbinoghene is the leading LJ'er (and TJ'er!!) of 2017, so give him the top spot on the podium!
But watch for William Henderson to make it close!
MR odds are actually 60-40!!
SP--Women (56-7.50)
Alyssa Wilson.
Need I say more?
I'd be surprised if she doesn't nail this MR (and FORMER High School Record!!) at least once during the competition!
58 feet is her next target!!
Kathleen Young is good, but not in Wilson's World!
Watch also for WT specialist Jill Shippee!
100-0 for Wilson to take the MR down--with emphasis!!
PV--Men (17-11.25)
WOW!!
Having Mondo Duplantis follow Alyssa Wilson should keep EVERYONE in their seats--no bathroom or refreshment breaks!!
Give this WORLD Class PV'er 100-0 odds for DESTROYING this MR!!!
(Warning: He wasn't so great in the 2016 NBIN, despite winning! He reached "just" 17-1 then, even though he'd set the HSR at over 18 feet!!)
Riley Richards, KC Lightfoot, and Zach McWhorter might keep things interesting!
(Richards's poles--ALL of them!--were broken in half (!) by Southwest Airlines enroute to this meet! He'll be vaulting on borrowed poles!!)
LJ--Women (21-3.25)
This one's LOADED!!
But even though she leapt a monster 21-11 for the HSR, Tara Davis's later efforts haven't been close!
Toss the dice to see whether Davis, Jasmine Moore, Titiana Marsh, or Lanae-Tava Thomas comes out on top!!
Odds for a MR are good, however!
65-35!
SP--Men (71-2.75)
Here's another event to sit still for!
Jordan Geist vs Tripp Piperi--the Shot Put Fight at the Armory Corral!!
While Geist is probably favored, due to his 68-4 HSR with the 16 pounder, and his longer Puts with the 12, do NOT go solely on that!!
Either one is capable of taking down the MR---and maybe even Ryan Crouser's HSR with the 12!!
Watch for Nick Lane also!
Odds are 100 to zero for the MR!
HJ--Men (7-5.25)
No MR here!
David Claxton and Kyle Garland lead the season, but just right around 7 feet even!
Flip a coin!
SUNDAY
The 60H Semi's, followed by the 60 Semi's, are scheduled here!
4X200 Relay (1:36.35 & 1:26.21)
Give Team War of VA the edge, as they have Kori Carter (3rd leg) and Syaira Richardson (anchor), while Cheltenham TC of PA has "just" Chanel Brissett (2nd leg!) to offset that pair!
BTW, Ms Carter is no relation to the World Class 400H gal with the same name!
But she's good!!
MR odds are 60-40!
As with a few other Relays, no big names for the Men, so roll the dice!
With Noah Lyles out of HS and a Pro, forget any new MR!!
2 Mile (9:55.92 & 8:40.70) (3000 meter MR's are 9:17.4 & 8:09.57)
Brie Oakley is back, after running the 5K on Friday!
But she'll have some company of a certain quality class!
Watch for Libby Davidson, Annie Hill, Kelsey Chmiel, Jessica Lawson, and Rebecca Story to challenge--in a BIG way!!
After a potential HSR in the 5K (See above!), I don't know how much Oakley (Or??) will have left to get Melody Fairchild's venerable MR, dating from 1991!
Odds are 40-60!
The Men have a solid field too!
Leading the way might be 4:00.97 Miler DJ Principe!
But keep your eyes on Noah Affolder, Nick Dahl, and the guy who gets my vote for Best Hair--Brodey Hasty!
Maybe for Best Name too!! LOL
But the MR should survive!
20-80 odds!
60H (8.02 & 7.53)
How can the 2016 edition of the Women's race be topped??
Read my report from that meet to remember what went down!
And I tell you this---RECORDS went down, NOT hurdles!!
That said, we have a classy trio of Women here--to perhaps challenge that 2016 event!!
Tia Jones is the HSR holder for the OUTdoor 100H.
But she has yet to transfer that over to the shorter INdoor race!
So look for Chanel Brissett and Tara Davis to make Jones have to WORK for the win!
But I see the MR (and HSR!) surviving to 2018--at least!
Like a few others, Trey Cunningham stands alone here!
The HSR holder at 7.49, he looks good as both the winner AND the new MR holder!
But watch for Cory Poole!
Odds are 85-15!
60 (7.26 & 6.57)
The Women's 60 is another LOADED race--which makes this another coin flipper!
But I see Jayla Kirkland and Symone Mason as the leading entrants!
Look too for Syaira Richardson and Thelma Davies.
Lynna Irby is more a long sprinter, so it will be interesting to see what she can do at this "distance"!
MR odds are 40-60!
The Men's MR is the HSR too, so give this one ZERO odds of getting broken!
BUT--we have MISTER Tyrese Cooper here--and he is TRIPLING!!
That said, the short race is his "weakest"--if such a word can be used for the new Usain Bolt!!
William Henderson might actually give Cooper a race!!
400 (51.84 & 46.57)
I have to combine my comments for both genders here!
Why?
Sydney McLaughlin and Ty Cooper, that's why!!
BOTH Meet Records--and BOTH High School Records!!--are in DIRE straits!!
Cooper came THIS close earlier this season, with his 46.01.
And McLaughlin is on FIRE again this season!
(Remember last year, when she followed her HSR with a 51.65 Relay leg an hour later!!)
In the Women's race, watch for Canadian star Victoria Tachinsky, and US runner Syaira Richardson to "challenge"!
For the Men, Rodney Agyare-May, Chantz Sawyers, and Brian Herron might be closer than you think!
Odds for both MR's are 100-0!
1 Mile (4:36.61 & 4:03.84) (1500 meter MR's are 4:17.68 & 3:46.41)
Sammy Watson!!
The ONLY question here is whether she goes after Mary Cain's HSR of 4:28.25!!
She CAN run that fast!
But she won't have anyone close at the end to push her, despite a good field, which includes Lexy Halladay, Rachel McArthur, Sophie Cantine, and Rylee Bowen!
More likely, Watson will end up around 4:32--a MR, but Cain's HSR will survive!
Prove me wrong, Sammy!!
The Men's race is lacking David Principe!
However, XC stud Reed Brown is here, as well as Josh Hoey--who just happened to BEAT Mr Principe in the Millrose race!!
The MR will survive another year, but a sub-4:10 is pretty certain!
800 (2:03.59 & 1:49.94)
Rachel McArthur is listed in BOTH the Mile and 800!
As they're scheduled to follow each other maybe MINUTES apart, I kind of doubt she'll end up doing both!
IF she does, her challengers will be Clare Martin and Bronxville's Kaitlin Ryan!!
I pick Martin to win--unless McArthur skips the Mile!
No MR here!
Brandon McGorty is here!!
He's HEAVILY favored--for the win AND the MR!!
Only "competition" might come from Cameron Cooper!
Even the HSR of 1:49.21 is in danger, with McGorty in the race!!
200 (23.23 & 20.63)
The Women's race should be a "leaner"--meaning that to win, she'll have to LEAN at the tape!!
(Hopefully not go SPLAT on the track as well!! LOL)
Toss that worthless coin to see if Jayla Kirkland, Symone Mason, Lanae-Tava Thomas, or Lynna Irby prevails!
I'll pick LTT!!
Odds for a MR are 60-40!
Tyrese Cooper CAN get Noah Lyles's MR--but by tripling here, he lowers the odds to 50-50!!
His most serious challenger has a GREAT name for an athlete--CHAMPION Allison!!
But with Ty here, Mr Allison won't be no "champion"!!
4X400 Relay (3:40.28 & 3:13.34)
Union Catholic will be here---and is probably the favorite!
I said "probably" because I don't know the woman who's replacing Sydney McLaughlin on anchor!
I'm guessing McLaughlin isn't running this because she wants to concentrate on CRUSHING the 400 HSR!!
Don't know if they allow for last-minute changes (except for emergencies!), so let's take this as a McLaughlin-less race!!
So NO Meet Record!
No "names" on the Men's squads, so it's a toss-up!
And no MR either!
Hang in there, folks!
Got "just" 5 field events left to preview!
Maybe it was the wrong decision to combine the genders??
What's YOUR thinking on that?
WT--Women (68-2.50)
Gianna Rao--steady all season at 60 feet or more!--seems the clear favorite!
But watch to see what SP giant Alyssa Wilson does here--in her SECONDARY event!!
She's good, but not in Rao's class!
In fact, if anyone is to challenge Rao, it will be Jill Shippee, who also has a PR of 60+!
Kathleen Young might be a solid back-up!
No MR, however!
TJ--Men (52-7.50)
That "name" is back--Noah Igbinoghene!
(Did I spell it correctly?)
Hazani Knight is a good one also!
However, the best of 2017 has barely edged past 50 feet, so ZERO odds for the MR!
WT--Men (92-7.50)
Despite Jordan Geist and Jacob Wickey here to do battle, this otherworldly MR will survive---maybe until 2117!!
Challengers include Nick Lane and Brent Fairbanks!
TJ--Women (44-2)
While Tara Davis has an OUTdoor PR of 43-2, she hasn't been "on" in this event this year, so throw her into the mix for a win, but NOT a MR!!
But STRONG contenders will be Jasmine Moore and Titiana Marsh!!
Odds are 20-80!
PV--Women (14-2.75)
A GREAT event to end this meet with!
(And let's hope they jump so high that the "end" of the schedule needs an extension!!)
Rachel Baxter--the only woman with a PR of 14 feet or more still competing, isn't entered!!
So look for Becky Arbive to be the VERY slight favorite going in!
Carson Dingler should be a STRONG challenger to Arbiv!
Others to watch are Colleen Clancy, Katie Jones, and Jenn Suhr-mentored Erica Ellis!!
No MR, but I'll still give the odds at 40-60!
And THAT, my friends, is a WRAP!!
Look for my NCAA Preview--both genders in one again!!--in the next few hours!!
I'm combining the genders here, unlike last year!
All running events are scheduled for Women first, then the Men!
I'm listing just the Women's Mile and 2 Mile among the MANY Emerging Elite events!
I will preview the events--as close to the FINALS schedule as possible, although some overlap will happen with the field events!
I'll list just the fastest (or elite) sections, as the distance races have slower sections!
I'll list the MEET Record, then the leading contenders, and my odds for whether the MEET Record will be broken!
I'll list the Women's MR first, then the Men's, as the schedule indicates that's how the order will go!
(In the case of the NBIN, several MR's are also the HSR!!)
SOME of the MR's date from the earlier version of this meet, which this blog considers THE Meet Record, even though the NBIN lists ONLY records set since New Balance took over!!
The meet is 3 days long (March 10-12), and will have a FREE livestream for all 3 days--all day!!
They begin early, so West Coast viewers will have to wake up before dawn to see it all!
As I said, much to report, so here we go!!
FRIDAY
EE 2 Mile (Don't have the MR) Watch for Rylee Bowen to win this. It could be fast, as in sub 10:20!
5000 (16:08.83 & 14:06.78))
The Women's race could see the SEVENTH consecutive HSR (all by different runners!) broken in this meet!
Brie Oakley--based on her brilliant XC season, could be the one to do it!
But she's never run a 5000 on a track, INdoors or OUTdoors!!
And I haven't seen her name in results all season!
So watch for Libby Davidson, Annie Hill, and Katherine Lee to challenge.
70-30 odds!
The Men's race has ZERO recognizable names!!
So this could be a wide-open race.
But the odds for a new MR are 0-100!!
DMR (11:34.85 & 10:00.75)
Three teams have big names!
Though I always caution that ONE "star" does NOT a team (or Record!) make!
Watch for North Rockland TC of NY, who has Katelyn Tuohy on anchor!
EC Glass TC of VA has Libby Davidson, while Patriot TC of VA has Rachel McArthur!
Without Kate Murphy and her team here, odds for a MR are 10-90!!
Three Men's teams have known entities!
But watch for the Carlisle TC of PA--with both Noah and Sam Affolder--as the favorite!
Also with stars are the Brentwood TC of TN (Brodey Hasty), and Germantown Friends of PA (Nick Dahl)!
No MR here either!
HJ--Women (6-0.25)
Here again, NO "names" to set my eyes on fire!
The Women's HJ--overall--has been weak the past few years--aside from Vashti Cunningham, that is!!
SATURDAY
Pentathlon (4068 &4307)
Erin Marsh and Antonia Frazier have the 2 "best" marks of the year, but the topper is just 3200 points!
But this event is rarely contested before the NBIN!!
MR odds are 0-100!
As with the Women, the Men's season bests may not be indicative of their potential!
Nonetheless, this MR is safe too.
The top 2 seem to be Danny Renwick and Samuel Rusak.
1 Mile Walk (6:57.36 & 6:06.13)
When you have the HSR holder in the meet, you generally go with her!
And that's the case here, so give Lauren Harris the Gold right now!
Odds for her to break her own Meet and HSR are 90-10!
Same goes for the Men--in one sense!
Cameron Haught is the HSR holder, but not the MR holder!
Nonetheless, give him 40-60 odds to get it!
The 60 Heats are scheduled here!
Following will be the 60H Heats!
Then come the 4X200 Relay heats!
(Be difficult if anyone's running both the 60 and this Relay!)
4X Mile Relay (19:59.24 & 17:07.17)
The Women's race will have Jessica Lawson (who just ran a 4:26 for 1500!) anchoring her Corning TC team of NY!!
But a MR seems unlikely!
30-70 odds!
The Men have NO recognizable names on their teams, so NO Meet Record!!
Still, one of my favorite races to watch!!
SMR (3:52.68 & 3:24.02)
The Women's MR could be in some jeopardy, as Katelyn Tuohy anchors her North Rockland team!
But watch also for South Dade Express TC of FL, who has Symone Mason in the 400, and Bronxville HS of NY (Sound familiar?? LOL), who has Kaitlyn Ryan!
BTW, see my post about Bronxville HS missing Mary Cain from a couple of years ago, where I mention Ms Ryan as a possible future star!!
No Men's team have any "big" names, so it's a free-for-all!
MR odds are ZIP, NADA!!
EE 1 Mile
No MR here either, but watch for Clare Martin to win it.
She's run in the 2:47's over 1000 meters!
The 400 Heats, followed by the 200 Heats, are scheduled here!
4X800 Relay (8:54.11 & 7:36.99)
Sorry, but no names here either!
Another race to watch for the exciting unknowns!!
Ditto for the Men!!
LJ--Men (26-0.25)
Noah (Get your Spelling cap on! LOL) Igbinoghene is the leading LJ'er (and TJ'er!!) of 2017, so give him the top spot on the podium!
But watch for William Henderson to make it close!
MR odds are actually 60-40!!
SP--Women (56-7.50)
Alyssa Wilson.
Need I say more?
I'd be surprised if she doesn't nail this MR (and FORMER High School Record!!) at least once during the competition!
58 feet is her next target!!
Kathleen Young is good, but not in Wilson's World!
Watch also for WT specialist Jill Shippee!
100-0 for Wilson to take the MR down--with emphasis!!
PV--Men (17-11.25)
WOW!!
Having Mondo Duplantis follow Alyssa Wilson should keep EVERYONE in their seats--no bathroom or refreshment breaks!!
Give this WORLD Class PV'er 100-0 odds for DESTROYING this MR!!!
(Warning: He wasn't so great in the 2016 NBIN, despite winning! He reached "just" 17-1 then, even though he'd set the HSR at over 18 feet!!)
Riley Richards, KC Lightfoot, and Zach McWhorter might keep things interesting!
(Richards's poles--ALL of them!--were broken in half (!) by Southwest Airlines enroute to this meet! He'll be vaulting on borrowed poles!!)
LJ--Women (21-3.25)
This one's LOADED!!
But even though she leapt a monster 21-11 for the HSR, Tara Davis's later efforts haven't been close!
Toss the dice to see whether Davis, Jasmine Moore, Titiana Marsh, or Lanae-Tava Thomas comes out on top!!
Odds for a MR are good, however!
65-35!
SP--Men (71-2.75)
Here's another event to sit still for!
Jordan Geist vs Tripp Piperi--the Shot Put Fight at the Armory Corral!!
While Geist is probably favored, due to his 68-4 HSR with the 16 pounder, and his longer Puts with the 12, do NOT go solely on that!!
Either one is capable of taking down the MR---and maybe even Ryan Crouser's HSR with the 12!!
Watch for Nick Lane also!
Odds are 100 to zero for the MR!
HJ--Men (7-5.25)
No MR here!
David Claxton and Kyle Garland lead the season, but just right around 7 feet even!
Flip a coin!
SUNDAY
The 60H Semi's, followed by the 60 Semi's, are scheduled here!
4X200 Relay (1:36.35 & 1:26.21)
Give Team War of VA the edge, as they have Kori Carter (3rd leg) and Syaira Richardson (anchor), while Cheltenham TC of PA has "just" Chanel Brissett (2nd leg!) to offset that pair!
BTW, Ms Carter is no relation to the World Class 400H gal with the same name!
But she's good!!
MR odds are 60-40!
As with a few other Relays, no big names for the Men, so roll the dice!
With Noah Lyles out of HS and a Pro, forget any new MR!!
2 Mile (9:55.92 & 8:40.70) (3000 meter MR's are 9:17.4 & 8:09.57)
Brie Oakley is back, after running the 5K on Friday!
But she'll have some company of a certain quality class!
Watch for Libby Davidson, Annie Hill, Kelsey Chmiel, Jessica Lawson, and Rebecca Story to challenge--in a BIG way!!
After a potential HSR in the 5K (See above!), I don't know how much Oakley (Or??) will have left to get Melody Fairchild's venerable MR, dating from 1991!
Odds are 40-60!
The Men have a solid field too!
Leading the way might be 4:00.97 Miler DJ Principe!
But keep your eyes on Noah Affolder, Nick Dahl, and the guy who gets my vote for Best Hair--Brodey Hasty!
Maybe for Best Name too!! LOL
But the MR should survive!
20-80 odds!
60H (8.02 & 7.53)
How can the 2016 edition of the Women's race be topped??
Read my report from that meet to remember what went down!
And I tell you this---RECORDS went down, NOT hurdles!!
That said, we have a classy trio of Women here--to perhaps challenge that 2016 event!!
Tia Jones is the HSR holder for the OUTdoor 100H.
But she has yet to transfer that over to the shorter INdoor race!
So look for Chanel Brissett and Tara Davis to make Jones have to WORK for the win!
But I see the MR (and HSR!) surviving to 2018--at least!
Like a few others, Trey Cunningham stands alone here!
The HSR holder at 7.49, he looks good as both the winner AND the new MR holder!
But watch for Cory Poole!
Odds are 85-15!
60 (7.26 & 6.57)
The Women's 60 is another LOADED race--which makes this another coin flipper!
But I see Jayla Kirkland and Symone Mason as the leading entrants!
Look too for Syaira Richardson and Thelma Davies.
Lynna Irby is more a long sprinter, so it will be interesting to see what she can do at this "distance"!
MR odds are 40-60!
The Men's MR is the HSR too, so give this one ZERO odds of getting broken!
BUT--we have MISTER Tyrese Cooper here--and he is TRIPLING!!
That said, the short race is his "weakest"--if such a word can be used for the new Usain Bolt!!
William Henderson might actually give Cooper a race!!
400 (51.84 & 46.57)
I have to combine my comments for both genders here!
Why?
Sydney McLaughlin and Ty Cooper, that's why!!
BOTH Meet Records--and BOTH High School Records!!--are in DIRE straits!!
Cooper came THIS close earlier this season, with his 46.01.
And McLaughlin is on FIRE again this season!
(Remember last year, when she followed her HSR with a 51.65 Relay leg an hour later!!)
In the Women's race, watch for Canadian star Victoria Tachinsky, and US runner Syaira Richardson to "challenge"!
For the Men, Rodney Agyare-May, Chantz Sawyers, and Brian Herron might be closer than you think!
Odds for both MR's are 100-0!
1 Mile (4:36.61 & 4:03.84) (1500 meter MR's are 4:17.68 & 3:46.41)
Sammy Watson!!
The ONLY question here is whether she goes after Mary Cain's HSR of 4:28.25!!
She CAN run that fast!
But she won't have anyone close at the end to push her, despite a good field, which includes Lexy Halladay, Rachel McArthur, Sophie Cantine, and Rylee Bowen!
More likely, Watson will end up around 4:32--a MR, but Cain's HSR will survive!
Prove me wrong, Sammy!!
The Men's race is lacking David Principe!
However, XC stud Reed Brown is here, as well as Josh Hoey--who just happened to BEAT Mr Principe in the Millrose race!!
The MR will survive another year, but a sub-4:10 is pretty certain!
800 (2:03.59 & 1:49.94)
Rachel McArthur is listed in BOTH the Mile and 800!
As they're scheduled to follow each other maybe MINUTES apart, I kind of doubt she'll end up doing both!
IF she does, her challengers will be Clare Martin and Bronxville's Kaitlin Ryan!!
I pick Martin to win--unless McArthur skips the Mile!
No MR here!
Brandon McGorty is here!!
He's HEAVILY favored--for the win AND the MR!!
Only "competition" might come from Cameron Cooper!
Even the HSR of 1:49.21 is in danger, with McGorty in the race!!
200 (23.23 & 20.63)
The Women's race should be a "leaner"--meaning that to win, she'll have to LEAN at the tape!!
(Hopefully not go SPLAT on the track as well!! LOL)
Toss that worthless coin to see if Jayla Kirkland, Symone Mason, Lanae-Tava Thomas, or Lynna Irby prevails!
I'll pick LTT!!
Odds for a MR are 60-40!
Tyrese Cooper CAN get Noah Lyles's MR--but by tripling here, he lowers the odds to 50-50!!
His most serious challenger has a GREAT name for an athlete--CHAMPION Allison!!
But with Ty here, Mr Allison won't be no "champion"!!
4X400 Relay (3:40.28 & 3:13.34)
Union Catholic will be here---and is probably the favorite!
I said "probably" because I don't know the woman who's replacing Sydney McLaughlin on anchor!
I'm guessing McLaughlin isn't running this because she wants to concentrate on CRUSHING the 400 HSR!!
Don't know if they allow for last-minute changes (except for emergencies!), so let's take this as a McLaughlin-less race!!
So NO Meet Record!
No "names" on the Men's squads, so it's a toss-up!
And no MR either!
Hang in there, folks!
Got "just" 5 field events left to preview!
Maybe it was the wrong decision to combine the genders??
What's YOUR thinking on that?
WT--Women (68-2.50)
Gianna Rao--steady all season at 60 feet or more!--seems the clear favorite!
But watch to see what SP giant Alyssa Wilson does here--in her SECONDARY event!!
She's good, but not in Rao's class!
In fact, if anyone is to challenge Rao, it will be Jill Shippee, who also has a PR of 60+!
Kathleen Young might be a solid back-up!
No MR, however!
TJ--Men (52-7.50)
That "name" is back--Noah Igbinoghene!
(Did I spell it correctly?)
Hazani Knight is a good one also!
However, the best of 2017 has barely edged past 50 feet, so ZERO odds for the MR!
WT--Men (92-7.50)
Despite Jordan Geist and Jacob Wickey here to do battle, this otherworldly MR will survive---maybe until 2117!!
Challengers include Nick Lane and Brent Fairbanks!
TJ--Women (44-2)
While Tara Davis has an OUTdoor PR of 43-2, she hasn't been "on" in this event this year, so throw her into the mix for a win, but NOT a MR!!
But STRONG contenders will be Jasmine Moore and Titiana Marsh!!
Odds are 20-80!
PV--Women (14-2.75)
A GREAT event to end this meet with!
(And let's hope they jump so high that the "end" of the schedule needs an extension!!)
Rachel Baxter--the only woman with a PR of 14 feet or more still competing, isn't entered!!
So look for Becky Arbive to be the VERY slight favorite going in!
Carson Dingler should be a STRONG challenger to Arbiv!
Others to watch are Colleen Clancy, Katie Jones, and Jenn Suhr-mentored Erica Ellis!!
No MR, but I'll still give the odds at 40-60!
And THAT, my friends, is a WRAP!!
Look for my NCAA Preview--both genders in one again!!--in the next few hours!!
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Those Odd Events Lift USATF
Thank you, USATF, for doing something different, an example the Diamond League would do well to emulate!!
It was those odd events--the 1000, 300, and 600 not normally held in Championship meets---anywhere!!---that MADE this meet!
Especially after the dramatic withdrawal of Jenn Suhr, who was expected to have a titanic battle with Sandi Morris!
Suhr posted on Facebook that she was "frustrated" with the way USATF held their Championship PV's!
She said she didn't wish to suffer through it again, and stayed home!
This lit up Social Media (and the T&FN Message Board) with 100's of tweets and comments---most of them NOT showing much love for the Queen of the Vault!
Apparently, the gist of her reasons---unstated in her FB post---was about the "dangers" in her event, and that USATF wasn't doing enough to ease them!
This made Morris's victory much easier.
Her 15-5 was quite enough, though a couple of others got good PR's!
Katie Nageotte took second with her PR of 15-3.
She moves from 11th A-T US to 7th, tied with 2 others.
Mary Saxer also reached 15-3, but no PR!
In 4th was Kortney Ross's 15-1, making her America's 20th INdoor 15 footer!!
She's 13th A-T US, tied with 5 others!
Kristan Brown's 14-11 took 5th.
She's 22nd A-T US, tied with 3 others!
No PR's, but Megan Clark and Morgann LeLeux also both got over 14-11 in 6th and 7th!
Eliminated FROM my US list was Amy Linnen's 14-10 from 2002!
At the time, that had been the Collegiate Record!!
Even minus Suhr, a very good competition!
But, though Suhr's DNS was considered "odd" in its own way, it was the events on the track and field (the Weight Throw also considered odd--at least outside the United States!) that gave this annual meet its life-force!!
And where better to start than with an event that produces a World Record!!
Gwen Berry got her redemption!!
After USATF stole her OUTdoor US Hammer throw of 250-4 after USADA banned her for 3 months---something this blog refused to accept, still listing that as the American Record!!--this was SWEET!!
Berry had an incredible series, getting 3 throws over 82-9, with her best swinging out to 25.60, or 84 feet even, for the World Record!
She also got the American Record, broke her own Age 27 record, and got the Meet Record to boot!
She moves from 3rd to 1st on the A-T World List, matching that movement on the US list!!
Four others got good marks!
Deanna Price got the Age 23 record with her 2nd place toss of 79-8!
She moves from 14th A-T World to 4th!
And from 9th to 4th on the A-T US list!
Felisha Johnson's 79-5.50 moves her from 13th to 6th on the A-T World list, and from 9th to 6th on the US list!
Jessica Ramsey's 78-10.50 moves her from 14th A-T World to 8th, tied with 1 other!
She also moves from 10th A-T US to 7th!
Amber Campbell improved her own Age 35 record to 77-0.50 in 5th!
On the track, another World Record fell!
It was 19 year old Noah Lyles who has that title, his 31.87 nipping the 300 record by 0.01 seconds!
He gets the WR, AR, MR, and Age 19 record!
He ran 32.16 in his heat (!!), which moved him from 16th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 5th.
That time also moved him from 8th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 4th.
His fastest then moved him from 5th to 1st, and from 4th to 1st on the respective lists!!
But this was a DEEP field!
Unknown (to me!) Paul Dedewo stayed close, ending in 31.92.
He gets the Age 25 record.
It puts him 3rd on both the World and US lists!!
Dentavius Wright ran 32.46 for the 3rd fastest time, gaining him 13th A-T World, and 8th A-T US!
Brycen Spratling PR'ed with 32.63, nailing the 19th World list spot, and 11th A-T US!!
In 5th fastest spot came Amir James's 32.79, making him 16th A-T US.
Then came John Lundy's 32.97, giving him 21st A-T US!!
The Women's 300 was pretty good too!!
Run in 2 sections, the winner was Phyllis Francis, her 36.15 just edging Joanna Atkins's 36.18!!
For the former Duck, Francis gets the Meet Record, and winds up 6th A-T World, and 2nd A-T US!!
Atkins gets the Age 28 record, and now stands 7th A-T World, and 3rd A-T US!
Then came Candace Hill's 36.56!
This breaks her own HS PRO record, as well as her HS PRO Senior Class record!!
She also gets the Age 18 record!
Hill is 22nd A-T World, while moving from 17th A-T US to 11th!!
Jessica Beard ran 36.87, but it wasn't a PR.
Robin Reynolds also ran 36.87, her time moving her from 20th A-T US to 18th, tied with 1 other!
Finally, Jordan Lavender's 37.49 misses the US list by 0.07 seconds!!
No WR or AR, but the Women's 600 was HOT also!
It began in the heats!
Ajee Wilson ran 1:26.57, just missing the Meet Record---in her heat!
Courtney Okolo was next in 1:27.10.
McKayla Fricker's 1:27.38 made her 11th A-T US.
Olicia Williams's 1:27.44 moved her from 24th to 13th on the A-T US list!
No PR's for Cecilia Barowski's 1:27.53, or Kendra Chambers's 1:27.76.
But Ce'Aira Brown's 1:27.94 made her 19th A-T US!!
Then came the final!!
Wilson and Okolo had a DUEL, folks!!
Everyone thought Okolo, with her OUTdoor 49.71 in the 400 besting Wilson's PR by about 4 seconds (!), would sprint to the lead, forcing Wilson to react...or not!
But it was Ajee who took charge, and never let Okolo pass her--even though she tried!
This led to a super time of 1:23.94 for Wilson, and 1:24.00 for Okolo!!
Wilson breaks her own Age 22 record, and her own Meet Record!
She moves from 4th A-T World to 3rd, while remaining 2nd on the US list!
Okolo moves from 6th A-T World to 4th, while remaining 3rd A-T US!
Then came Kendra Chambers, her 1:25.46 making her 9th A-T World.
She moves from 7th A-T US to 4th!
Olicia Williams ran 1:26.54, moving from 13th A-T US to 6th.
Cecilia Barowski's 1:27.07 wasn't a PR.
Nor was McKayla Fricker's 1:27.72!
The Men's 600 was just as "useful", as the Brits might say!!
Erik Sowinski--a 600 meter specialist--tore through a 1:15.07 for the win!
He breaks his own Age 27 record!
He nailed the Meet Record too.
He's now 7th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
And he moves from 4th to 3rd on the US list!
Casimir Loxsom's 1:15.18 was 2nd, even though a non-PR--as he's the WR holder with his earlier 1:14.91!
Shaquille Walker ran 1:15.39, becoming 8th A-T World, while moving from 10th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 4th!
Russ Dinkins ran 1:15.86, making him 18th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
He's also 8th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Chris Giesting's 1:15.96 makes him 24th A-T World!
He also gains the 10th spot on the US list, moving up from 13th!
Donavan Brazier ran a good 1:16.10, but no PR for him!
The heats were fast too!
Sowinski's 1:15.51 heat was a PR, later broken!
Dinkins ran 1:16.07, as did Walker!
Loxsom ran 1:16.14, while Giesting's heat time was 1:16.26.
Three who didn't improve in the final were Curtis Beach, his 1:16.38 moving him from 20th to 19th A-T US, Dante Holmes, his 1:16.46 making him 20th A-T US, and Ja'von Hutchison, whose 1:16.59 wasn't a PR!
Finally---in the odd events catalog--we turn to the 1K's!
And we get another HSR---errr, TWO of those babies!!---for the simply amazing Samantha (Sammy) Watson!!
(Might make us forget what Mary Cain did to the HSR book in 2013, while still an amateur!! LOL)
In her HEAT---which she won, BTW!!--Watson finally removed the venerable Sarah (Bowman) Brown from the HSR ledger!!
While Cain ran faster than (then-) Bowman's 2:43.40--twice--both times came as a HS PRO!!
So Ms Bowman Brown frustratingly remained on the books!
Until Sammy decided to pound the track, racing after it!
Watson's 2:43.18 in her heat first nailed the record!
(Also Brown's Senior Class record!)
She then returned in the final, finishing in 4th, but more important was her time!
As Charlene Lipsey crossed the line in 2:37.97, all eyes then turned down the track's last straight, where Watson was trying to hang on, even though looking worn out!
We had to wait for the results board to show to see her time!
2:40.72--crushing her own HSR, and Senior Class record!!
Lipsey moves from 21st A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 11th!
She had run her heat in 2:41.86!!
Lauren Johnson produced a solid 2:38.33, as she stuck to Lipsey like glue!
She's now 12th A-T US!
Hannah Fields ran 2:40.18, making her 20th A-T US!
And yes, Watson also makes the US list---just!---in 24th place!
Making Watson's new HSR even MORE amazing is that Kaela Edwards 2:40.79 was pushed OFF the list---by Watson's entrance!!
You see, Edwards's time is the Collegiate Record, run earlier this season!!
So the HSR---the amateur one---is faster than the Collegiate Record!!
The Men's 1000 was okay---for the front pair of finishers!
Clayton Murphy kicked hard to win in 2:18.60.
It's the Meet Record, and makes him 11th A-T US!
Brannon Kidder's 2:19.10 wasn't a PR!
Everyone else ran in the 2:20's!
The 60's were FAST---for the winners!
Ronnie Baker sped a 6.45, a PR by 0.01 seconds!
He moves from 12th A-T World, tied with 5 others, to 6th, where he's tied with 6 others!!
On the US list, he moves from 7th, tied with 4 others, to 4th, tied with 3 others!
Morolake Akinosun was a shocker---in a way---as she's suddenly a sub-7.10 woman!!
Her 7.08 makes her 13th A-T US!!
Dezerea Bryant also PR'ed, by 0.01, her 7.11 moving her from 23rd A-T US, tied with 3 others, to 19th, tied with 4 others!
After speeding over the 60H in 7.74---in her HEAT!---everyone was talking about an American, and maybe even a World, record for Kendra Harrison!!
But alas, she ran "only" 7.81 in the final!!
However, that 7.74 was a PR by 0.01, giving her sole possession of the Age 24 record, and tying the Meet Record!!
It moved her from 8th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 5th, tied with 3 others!
On the US list, she moved from 3rd to 2nd, tied with 1 other!
Jazmin Stowers was 2nd in the final, running 7.82!
Vashti Cunningham was dominant in the HJ, winning with a 6-5, then taking 3 shots at a PR 2.00, or 6-6.75!
Inika McPherson--Ms Tattoo!-- was 2nd with a 6-2 jump!
My beloved 2 Mile races were---well, let's be honest!---they were BORING!!!
Especially the Women's race, where the gang tried to imitate Mary Cain's Mile win from 2013, also in Albuquerque, when the youngster won in 5:05 and change, after a 2:55 first 880!!
Here, they WALKED through a first mile in 5:39, before lumbering slowly awake!
It wasn't until her sub-30 second final lap that Shelby Houlihan finally said "Screw this shit!", and took off!
The "winning" time was 10:19.14--a time even top HS'ers consider "pedestrian" nowadays!!
Heather Kampf took 2nd in 10:21 and change!
Embarrassing!!
The Men were better, but even there, you can't blame the altitude for their poor showing!
Paul Chelimo---becoming the best American recently---won his Deuce in 8:28.53--respectable, but NOT making my Top 24 A-T Performers list--missing it by 0.93 seconds!!
Worse yet was that he won the race by close to 10 seconds!!
The Mile races were slow too, the Women's winner (Houlihan again!!) running (??) 4:45.18--again a time that top HS'ers would be ashamed of, if run in a Championship meet!!
Her last 400 was 60.46!
Ben Blankenship sprinted past Christian Soratos in the last 100 of the Men's Mile, his 3:59.22 prevailing over Soratos's 3:59.56!
The Men's WT was a good one too---but more on the depth side than by producing WR's, or other such nonsense!!
Alex Young's 78-9.25 took the title.
He moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 14th, tied with 1 other!
On the US list, he moves from 15th, tied with 1 other, to 12th, tied with 1 other!
Colin Dunbar produced a non-PR 77-10.75 in 2nd.
Also a non-PR, Sean Donnelly was still a solid 3rd with his 77-4!
In other events--
Michelle Carter won the SP with her 62-5.25, beating the 60-0.25 by Brittany Smith!
On the Men's side, Darien Moore's 68.2.25 prevailed over Jon Jones's 67-4.25!
Ryan Whiting was a weak 8th!!
The TJ was taken by Chris Carter's 56-1.25, which wasn't a PR.
But Donald Scott's 2nd place mark of 55-9 made him 24th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Tori Franklin won the Women's TJ with 45-5.75!
She moved from 22nd A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 13th!
The 2 Mile Walks---the REAL ones (LOL)---were won by John Nunn in 12:38.37, and by Maria Michta-Coffey in 13:55.27.
Both became the Meet Records, as they held 2 Miles in place of the normal metric races!
Aries Merritt--God bless him!!--took the 60H in 7.51--pretty good for (he says) not having done much speed work!!
Aleec Harris's 7.54 took 2nd!
Erica Bougard had a busy meet!
After taking the Pentathlon with 4558 points--over Sharon Day-Monroe's 4404--Bougard came back to win the LJ with a 21-1.50 leap---even though HS'er Tara Davis was the pre-meet favorite, based on her recent 21-11 HSR jump!
But this meet found Ms Davis off a bit, as her 20-0.25 took just 5th, and her 8.35 in the 60H heats didn't make the cut to the final!
Japhath Cato took the Heptathlon with 5738 points!
Erik Kynard won the Men's HJ easily with his 7-6.50, while Sam Kendricks prevailed in the PV with his topper of 19-2.25!
Logan Cunningham and Chris Pillow jumped 18-6.50!
Well, that puts a wrap on the USATF affair, but I'll end this post with a few stray---but good---marks, from around the world!!
Akani Simbine had a GREAT double in South Africa---OUTdoors!!
On the same day, he sped the 100 in 9.93, wind reading the max of 2.0!
No wind reading on his 19.85 in the 200, but it was offered up as legit, so I presume the wind was legal!
A HS 600 produced a couple of fast times!
Rodney Agyare-May continued his fine INdoor campaign, improving to 1:18.31.
He moves from 4th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 3rd!
But he wasn't alone!
Coming in 2nd was Tyler Gleen's 1:18.52!
He's now 6th A-T HS!
Finally, while not a PR, Joy McArthur threw the Hammer 199-6 to start her OUTdoor season!!
She's thrown it 203-8--so not a bad rust-buster for this HS Senior!
Okay, friends, that is IT!!
But be sure to read my Preview posts for next weekend's NBIN and NCAA, both of which are on track (and field? LOL) for GREATness!!
(I've seen the entry lists---and I can see LOTS of list-making marks---and a few Records--coming from each!!)
I'll have them out a day before the meets begin!!
See you then!
It was those odd events--the 1000, 300, and 600 not normally held in Championship meets---anywhere!!---that MADE this meet!
Especially after the dramatic withdrawal of Jenn Suhr, who was expected to have a titanic battle with Sandi Morris!
Suhr posted on Facebook that she was "frustrated" with the way USATF held their Championship PV's!
She said she didn't wish to suffer through it again, and stayed home!
This lit up Social Media (and the T&FN Message Board) with 100's of tweets and comments---most of them NOT showing much love for the Queen of the Vault!
Apparently, the gist of her reasons---unstated in her FB post---was about the "dangers" in her event, and that USATF wasn't doing enough to ease them!
This made Morris's victory much easier.
Her 15-5 was quite enough, though a couple of others got good PR's!
Katie Nageotte took second with her PR of 15-3.
She moves from 11th A-T US to 7th, tied with 2 others.
Mary Saxer also reached 15-3, but no PR!
In 4th was Kortney Ross's 15-1, making her America's 20th INdoor 15 footer!!
She's 13th A-T US, tied with 5 others!
Kristan Brown's 14-11 took 5th.
She's 22nd A-T US, tied with 3 others!
No PR's, but Megan Clark and Morgann LeLeux also both got over 14-11 in 6th and 7th!
Eliminated FROM my US list was Amy Linnen's 14-10 from 2002!
At the time, that had been the Collegiate Record!!
Even minus Suhr, a very good competition!
But, though Suhr's DNS was considered "odd" in its own way, it was the events on the track and field (the Weight Throw also considered odd--at least outside the United States!) that gave this annual meet its life-force!!
And where better to start than with an event that produces a World Record!!
Gwen Berry got her redemption!!
After USATF stole her OUTdoor US Hammer throw of 250-4 after USADA banned her for 3 months---something this blog refused to accept, still listing that as the American Record!!--this was SWEET!!
Berry had an incredible series, getting 3 throws over 82-9, with her best swinging out to 25.60, or 84 feet even, for the World Record!
She also got the American Record, broke her own Age 27 record, and got the Meet Record to boot!
She moves from 3rd to 1st on the A-T World List, matching that movement on the US list!!
Four others got good marks!
Deanna Price got the Age 23 record with her 2nd place toss of 79-8!
She moves from 14th A-T World to 4th!
And from 9th to 4th on the A-T US list!
Felisha Johnson's 79-5.50 moves her from 13th to 6th on the A-T World list, and from 9th to 6th on the US list!
Jessica Ramsey's 78-10.50 moves her from 14th A-T World to 8th, tied with 1 other!
She also moves from 10th A-T US to 7th!
Amber Campbell improved her own Age 35 record to 77-0.50 in 5th!
On the track, another World Record fell!
It was 19 year old Noah Lyles who has that title, his 31.87 nipping the 300 record by 0.01 seconds!
He gets the WR, AR, MR, and Age 19 record!
He ran 32.16 in his heat (!!), which moved him from 16th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 5th.
That time also moved him from 8th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 4th.
His fastest then moved him from 5th to 1st, and from 4th to 1st on the respective lists!!
But this was a DEEP field!
Unknown (to me!) Paul Dedewo stayed close, ending in 31.92.
He gets the Age 25 record.
It puts him 3rd on both the World and US lists!!
Dentavius Wright ran 32.46 for the 3rd fastest time, gaining him 13th A-T World, and 8th A-T US!
Brycen Spratling PR'ed with 32.63, nailing the 19th World list spot, and 11th A-T US!!
In 5th fastest spot came Amir James's 32.79, making him 16th A-T US.
Then came John Lundy's 32.97, giving him 21st A-T US!!
The Women's 300 was pretty good too!!
Run in 2 sections, the winner was Phyllis Francis, her 36.15 just edging Joanna Atkins's 36.18!!
For the former Duck, Francis gets the Meet Record, and winds up 6th A-T World, and 2nd A-T US!!
Atkins gets the Age 28 record, and now stands 7th A-T World, and 3rd A-T US!
Then came Candace Hill's 36.56!
This breaks her own HS PRO record, as well as her HS PRO Senior Class record!!
She also gets the Age 18 record!
Hill is 22nd A-T World, while moving from 17th A-T US to 11th!!
Jessica Beard ran 36.87, but it wasn't a PR.
Robin Reynolds also ran 36.87, her time moving her from 20th A-T US to 18th, tied with 1 other!
Finally, Jordan Lavender's 37.49 misses the US list by 0.07 seconds!!
No WR or AR, but the Women's 600 was HOT also!
It began in the heats!
Ajee Wilson ran 1:26.57, just missing the Meet Record---in her heat!
Courtney Okolo was next in 1:27.10.
McKayla Fricker's 1:27.38 made her 11th A-T US.
Olicia Williams's 1:27.44 moved her from 24th to 13th on the A-T US list!
No PR's for Cecilia Barowski's 1:27.53, or Kendra Chambers's 1:27.76.
But Ce'Aira Brown's 1:27.94 made her 19th A-T US!!
Then came the final!!
Wilson and Okolo had a DUEL, folks!!
Everyone thought Okolo, with her OUTdoor 49.71 in the 400 besting Wilson's PR by about 4 seconds (!), would sprint to the lead, forcing Wilson to react...or not!
But it was Ajee who took charge, and never let Okolo pass her--even though she tried!
This led to a super time of 1:23.94 for Wilson, and 1:24.00 for Okolo!!
Wilson breaks her own Age 22 record, and her own Meet Record!
She moves from 4th A-T World to 3rd, while remaining 2nd on the US list!
Okolo moves from 6th A-T World to 4th, while remaining 3rd A-T US!
Then came Kendra Chambers, her 1:25.46 making her 9th A-T World.
She moves from 7th A-T US to 4th!
Olicia Williams ran 1:26.54, moving from 13th A-T US to 6th.
Cecilia Barowski's 1:27.07 wasn't a PR.
Nor was McKayla Fricker's 1:27.72!
The Men's 600 was just as "useful", as the Brits might say!!
Erik Sowinski--a 600 meter specialist--tore through a 1:15.07 for the win!
He breaks his own Age 27 record!
He nailed the Meet Record too.
He's now 7th A-T World, tied with 1 other!
And he moves from 4th to 3rd on the US list!
Casimir Loxsom's 1:15.18 was 2nd, even though a non-PR--as he's the WR holder with his earlier 1:14.91!
Shaquille Walker ran 1:15.39, becoming 8th A-T World, while moving from 10th A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 4th!
Russ Dinkins ran 1:15.86, making him 18th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
He's also 8th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Chris Giesting's 1:15.96 makes him 24th A-T World!
He also gains the 10th spot on the US list, moving up from 13th!
Donavan Brazier ran a good 1:16.10, but no PR for him!
The heats were fast too!
Sowinski's 1:15.51 heat was a PR, later broken!
Dinkins ran 1:16.07, as did Walker!
Loxsom ran 1:16.14, while Giesting's heat time was 1:16.26.
Three who didn't improve in the final were Curtis Beach, his 1:16.38 moving him from 20th to 19th A-T US, Dante Holmes, his 1:16.46 making him 20th A-T US, and Ja'von Hutchison, whose 1:16.59 wasn't a PR!
Finally---in the odd events catalog--we turn to the 1K's!
And we get another HSR---errr, TWO of those babies!!---for the simply amazing Samantha (Sammy) Watson!!
(Might make us forget what Mary Cain did to the HSR book in 2013, while still an amateur!! LOL)
In her HEAT---which she won, BTW!!--Watson finally removed the venerable Sarah (Bowman) Brown from the HSR ledger!!
While Cain ran faster than (then-) Bowman's 2:43.40--twice--both times came as a HS PRO!!
So Ms Bowman Brown frustratingly remained on the books!
Until Sammy decided to pound the track, racing after it!
Watson's 2:43.18 in her heat first nailed the record!
(Also Brown's Senior Class record!)
She then returned in the final, finishing in 4th, but more important was her time!
As Charlene Lipsey crossed the line in 2:37.97, all eyes then turned down the track's last straight, where Watson was trying to hang on, even though looking worn out!
We had to wait for the results board to show to see her time!
2:40.72--crushing her own HSR, and Senior Class record!!
Lipsey moves from 21st A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 11th!
She had run her heat in 2:41.86!!
Lauren Johnson produced a solid 2:38.33, as she stuck to Lipsey like glue!
She's now 12th A-T US!
Hannah Fields ran 2:40.18, making her 20th A-T US!
And yes, Watson also makes the US list---just!---in 24th place!
Making Watson's new HSR even MORE amazing is that Kaela Edwards 2:40.79 was pushed OFF the list---by Watson's entrance!!
You see, Edwards's time is the Collegiate Record, run earlier this season!!
So the HSR---the amateur one---is faster than the Collegiate Record!!
The Men's 1000 was okay---for the front pair of finishers!
Clayton Murphy kicked hard to win in 2:18.60.
It's the Meet Record, and makes him 11th A-T US!
Brannon Kidder's 2:19.10 wasn't a PR!
Everyone else ran in the 2:20's!
The 60's were FAST---for the winners!
Ronnie Baker sped a 6.45, a PR by 0.01 seconds!
He moves from 12th A-T World, tied with 5 others, to 6th, where he's tied with 6 others!!
On the US list, he moves from 7th, tied with 4 others, to 4th, tied with 3 others!
Morolake Akinosun was a shocker---in a way---as she's suddenly a sub-7.10 woman!!
Her 7.08 makes her 13th A-T US!!
Dezerea Bryant also PR'ed, by 0.01, her 7.11 moving her from 23rd A-T US, tied with 3 others, to 19th, tied with 4 others!
After speeding over the 60H in 7.74---in her HEAT!---everyone was talking about an American, and maybe even a World, record for Kendra Harrison!!
But alas, she ran "only" 7.81 in the final!!
However, that 7.74 was a PR by 0.01, giving her sole possession of the Age 24 record, and tying the Meet Record!!
It moved her from 8th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 5th, tied with 3 others!
On the US list, she moved from 3rd to 2nd, tied with 1 other!
Jazmin Stowers was 2nd in the final, running 7.82!
Vashti Cunningham was dominant in the HJ, winning with a 6-5, then taking 3 shots at a PR 2.00, or 6-6.75!
Inika McPherson--Ms Tattoo!-- was 2nd with a 6-2 jump!
My beloved 2 Mile races were---well, let's be honest!---they were BORING!!!
Especially the Women's race, where the gang tried to imitate Mary Cain's Mile win from 2013, also in Albuquerque, when the youngster won in 5:05 and change, after a 2:55 first 880!!
Here, they WALKED through a first mile in 5:39, before lumbering slowly awake!
It wasn't until her sub-30 second final lap that Shelby Houlihan finally said "Screw this shit!", and took off!
The "winning" time was 10:19.14--a time even top HS'ers consider "pedestrian" nowadays!!
Heather Kampf took 2nd in 10:21 and change!
Embarrassing!!
The Men were better, but even there, you can't blame the altitude for their poor showing!
Paul Chelimo---becoming the best American recently---won his Deuce in 8:28.53--respectable, but NOT making my Top 24 A-T Performers list--missing it by 0.93 seconds!!
Worse yet was that he won the race by close to 10 seconds!!
The Mile races were slow too, the Women's winner (Houlihan again!!) running (??) 4:45.18--again a time that top HS'ers would be ashamed of, if run in a Championship meet!!
Her last 400 was 60.46!
Ben Blankenship sprinted past Christian Soratos in the last 100 of the Men's Mile, his 3:59.22 prevailing over Soratos's 3:59.56!
The Men's WT was a good one too---but more on the depth side than by producing WR's, or other such nonsense!!
Alex Young's 78-9.25 took the title.
He moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 14th, tied with 1 other!
On the US list, he moves from 15th, tied with 1 other, to 12th, tied with 1 other!
Colin Dunbar produced a non-PR 77-10.75 in 2nd.
Also a non-PR, Sean Donnelly was still a solid 3rd with his 77-4!
In other events--
Michelle Carter won the SP with her 62-5.25, beating the 60-0.25 by Brittany Smith!
On the Men's side, Darien Moore's 68.2.25 prevailed over Jon Jones's 67-4.25!
Ryan Whiting was a weak 8th!!
The TJ was taken by Chris Carter's 56-1.25, which wasn't a PR.
But Donald Scott's 2nd place mark of 55-9 made him 24th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Tori Franklin won the Women's TJ with 45-5.75!
She moved from 22nd A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 13th!
The 2 Mile Walks---the REAL ones (LOL)---were won by John Nunn in 12:38.37, and by Maria Michta-Coffey in 13:55.27.
Both became the Meet Records, as they held 2 Miles in place of the normal metric races!
Aries Merritt--God bless him!!--took the 60H in 7.51--pretty good for (he says) not having done much speed work!!
Aleec Harris's 7.54 took 2nd!
Erica Bougard had a busy meet!
After taking the Pentathlon with 4558 points--over Sharon Day-Monroe's 4404--Bougard came back to win the LJ with a 21-1.50 leap---even though HS'er Tara Davis was the pre-meet favorite, based on her recent 21-11 HSR jump!
But this meet found Ms Davis off a bit, as her 20-0.25 took just 5th, and her 8.35 in the 60H heats didn't make the cut to the final!
Japhath Cato took the Heptathlon with 5738 points!
Erik Kynard won the Men's HJ easily with his 7-6.50, while Sam Kendricks prevailed in the PV with his topper of 19-2.25!
Logan Cunningham and Chris Pillow jumped 18-6.50!
Well, that puts a wrap on the USATF affair, but I'll end this post with a few stray---but good---marks, from around the world!!
Akani Simbine had a GREAT double in South Africa---OUTdoors!!
On the same day, he sped the 100 in 9.93, wind reading the max of 2.0!
No wind reading on his 19.85 in the 200, but it was offered up as legit, so I presume the wind was legal!
A HS 600 produced a couple of fast times!
Rodney Agyare-May continued his fine INdoor campaign, improving to 1:18.31.
He moves from 4th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 3rd!
But he wasn't alone!
Coming in 2nd was Tyler Gleen's 1:18.52!
He's now 6th A-T HS!
Finally, while not a PR, Joy McArthur threw the Hammer 199-6 to start her OUTdoor season!!
She's thrown it 203-8--so not a bad rust-buster for this HS Senior!
Okay, friends, that is IT!!
But be sure to read my Preview posts for next weekend's NBIN and NCAA, both of which are on track (and field? LOL) for GREATness!!
(I've seen the entry lists---and I can see LOTS of list-making marks---and a few Records--coming from each!!)
I'll have them out a day before the meets begin!!
See you then!
Europeans Not So Weak
MUCH better than I expected---or predicted in my Preview!---the 2017 European Championships produced several World-leading marks, plus its usual assortment of National Records!
A HUGE plus was the livestream coverage by EuroVision, allowing me to see the ENTIRE meet--even if some of it was after midnight, Pacific time!!
(And yes, I mean EVERY attempt of every field event, as well as every heat, semi, and final on the track!)
Laura Muir won the 1500 and 3000 in Meet Record times, winning both easily!
But maybe her best moment came AFTER her 1500 win!
Wanting to take her victory lap, a female official tried to stop her, saying there was no time for such trivial nonsense!
Well, la-de-dah!!
Faking a walk-away, she suddenly spins around, then side-steps the official, and sprints off for her lap!!
That woman is still alive--as she let Muir go her merry way!
Aah, those British!!
Back to the meet!
Muir's 1500 went in 4:02.39, after a slow start!
She got the Meet Record, and the National Record of Great Britain!
She's 19th A-T World!
In 2nd came Konstanze Klosterhalfen, whose PR improved to 4:04.45!
But she misses the World DDD by 1.36 seconds!
Knocked OFF the list was Gabriela Szabo, whose mark dated from 1999!
Muir's 3000 time was a modest (for her!) 8:35.67, but still got the Meet Record!
Yasemin Can's 8:43.46 in 2nd (after she took the lead, and sped things up!) gave her Turkey's National Record!
Nuria Fernandez finished well back, but her time of 8:58.20 got her the Age 40 record!
Another Age 40 record fell to Men's TJ 2nd placer Fabrizio Donato!
His record is now 56-2.50!
This was actually his SECOND Age 40 record of the meet, as his Qualifier of 54-9.50 was his first!
The TJ winner was Nelson Evora's 56-5.25!
Max Hess, however, went 57-5.50 in the Q round!
Mel Raffin also measured out to 56-5.25, giving him the Age 18 record!!
This was in Qualifying!
Ivana Spanovic had an AMAZING Long Jump series!
She opened with 23-6.25!
(She'd Q'ed with 23-0.75, reportedly the longest LJ Qualifier EVER!!)
Then she spanned (sic!) 23-9 (7.24), breaking her own National Record of Serbia!
This moved her from 10th to 3rd on the A-T World list!
She followed that with a 23-6 leap!
On her final attempt, she landed in the sand at what appeared to be close to her other big jumps--but already having secured the win, she let herself fall back on the sand, thus losing several inches!
She was laying there, laughing!!
(She had the Belgrade, Serbia crowd mesmerized!!)
Second to Spanovic came Lorraine Ugen, who leapt 22-10.50, breaking her own (and Katerina Johnson-Thompson's!) National Record of Great Britain!
But she missed the World list by one-quarter inch!!
In a great competition, Claudia Salmon-Rath jumped 22-9.25, while Darya Klishina represented Russia well, her best a 22-5.25!
The British got another big win, in the Women's 60.
Asha Philip's 7.06 nabbed herself the National Record, though she missed the World list by 0.03 seconds!
Ukraine's Olanya Povh finished 2nd in 7.10, with Ewe Swoboda also running 7.10 in 3rd!
Konrad Bukowiecki REALLY came of age, as he exploded out to a massive 72-1 in the Shot Put, destroying the Age 19 record by almost THREE FEET!!
In fact, his mark is better than anyone under the age of 22!!
He got Tomas Majewski's National Record, and is now 10th All-Time World!!
Tomas Stanek was 2nd with a Put of 70-3.75, with David Storl reduced to 3rd place!
Tsanko Arnaudov threw the ball 69-2 in 4th, but got Portugal's National Record!
Both Multi's had solid marks, and decent competition!
Nafissatou Thiam seemed on course for a possible 5000-pointer, but fell off pace in the final events.
Her 4870 points was still a PR, and put her on the World list in 10th position!
Her HJ reached 6-5, a European Pentathlon record!
Ivana Dadic scored 4767 points, giving her Austria's National Record.
But she misses the World list by 8 points!
France's Kevin Mayer moved closer to Ashton Eaton territory!
He scored 6479 points, moving him from 16th A-T World, all the way to 2nd---behind Mr Eaton!!
He also got the Age 25 record, the Meet Record, and France's National Record!
Jorge Urena finished 2nd with a non-PR total of 6227 points!
Both PV's were good.
And both were won by Greeks!
Konstadina Filippidis took the Men's title with a jump of 19-2.25.
He broke his own National Record!
Ekaterina Stefanidi won her title with 15-11,
She got the Age 27 record!
Second was Lisa Ryzih's 15-7.
She moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 17th, tied with 1 other!
In 6th came 17 year old Lisa Gunnarsson.
She jumped 14-11, her 2nd PR of the season!!
Other events weren't bad!
Anita Marton eclipsed Raven Saunders as the World leader, her SP winner measuring 63-3.25!
High Jump winner Airine Palsyte got up to 6-7, breaking her own National Record of Lithuania!
She's 19th A-T World, tied with 6 others!
Ruth Beitia was 2nd with 6-4.25!
Kristin Gierisch won a weak TJ with 47-1.75!
Izmir Smojlaj took another weak event, the Men's LJ, his winner measuring 26-6.25!
But he got the National Record of Albania!!
Michel Torneus took 2nd!
Richard Kilty sped the 60 in 6.54 for an expected victory!
In 2nd came Jan Volko, his 6.58 giving him the Slovak Republic's National Record!
Pavel Maslak ran the 400 in 45.77 for the win.
Floria Guei took her 400 in 51.90, with Zuzana Hejnova in 2nd with 52.42.
Marcin Lewandowski jogged the 1500 in 3:44.82 for the win.
Poland's Sylwester (correct spelling!!) Bednarek HJ'ed 7-7.25 for the win.
Selina Buchel's 2:00.38 gave her both the 800 victory, and Switzerland's National Record!
Anita Hinriksdottir got the Bronze!
The 4X400 Relays finished off the 3 days of action!
Poland got both, their Women running 3:29.94, with Great Britain 2nd in 3:31.05.
The Men won in 3:06.99, taking measure of Belgium's Borlee's, their time being 3:07.80!!
All in all, a good meet!
I wish a FREE American livestreamer was around!
We could use great coverage of our favorite sport here, without having to pay out for Flotrack or USATF-TV!!
I'll have my USATF report in a few hours!!
A HUGE plus was the livestream coverage by EuroVision, allowing me to see the ENTIRE meet--even if some of it was after midnight, Pacific time!!
(And yes, I mean EVERY attempt of every field event, as well as every heat, semi, and final on the track!)
Laura Muir won the 1500 and 3000 in Meet Record times, winning both easily!
But maybe her best moment came AFTER her 1500 win!
Wanting to take her victory lap, a female official tried to stop her, saying there was no time for such trivial nonsense!
Well, la-de-dah!!
Faking a walk-away, she suddenly spins around, then side-steps the official, and sprints off for her lap!!
That woman is still alive--as she let Muir go her merry way!
Aah, those British!!
Back to the meet!
Muir's 1500 went in 4:02.39, after a slow start!
She got the Meet Record, and the National Record of Great Britain!
She's 19th A-T World!
In 2nd came Konstanze Klosterhalfen, whose PR improved to 4:04.45!
But she misses the World DDD by 1.36 seconds!
Knocked OFF the list was Gabriela Szabo, whose mark dated from 1999!
Muir's 3000 time was a modest (for her!) 8:35.67, but still got the Meet Record!
Yasemin Can's 8:43.46 in 2nd (after she took the lead, and sped things up!) gave her Turkey's National Record!
Nuria Fernandez finished well back, but her time of 8:58.20 got her the Age 40 record!
Another Age 40 record fell to Men's TJ 2nd placer Fabrizio Donato!
His record is now 56-2.50!
This was actually his SECOND Age 40 record of the meet, as his Qualifier of 54-9.50 was his first!
The TJ winner was Nelson Evora's 56-5.25!
Max Hess, however, went 57-5.50 in the Q round!
Mel Raffin also measured out to 56-5.25, giving him the Age 18 record!!
This was in Qualifying!
Ivana Spanovic had an AMAZING Long Jump series!
She opened with 23-6.25!
(She'd Q'ed with 23-0.75, reportedly the longest LJ Qualifier EVER!!)
Then she spanned (sic!) 23-9 (7.24), breaking her own National Record of Serbia!
This moved her from 10th to 3rd on the A-T World list!
She followed that with a 23-6 leap!
On her final attempt, she landed in the sand at what appeared to be close to her other big jumps--but already having secured the win, she let herself fall back on the sand, thus losing several inches!
She was laying there, laughing!!
(She had the Belgrade, Serbia crowd mesmerized!!)
Second to Spanovic came Lorraine Ugen, who leapt 22-10.50, breaking her own (and Katerina Johnson-Thompson's!) National Record of Great Britain!
But she missed the World list by one-quarter inch!!
In a great competition, Claudia Salmon-Rath jumped 22-9.25, while Darya Klishina represented Russia well, her best a 22-5.25!
The British got another big win, in the Women's 60.
Asha Philip's 7.06 nabbed herself the National Record, though she missed the World list by 0.03 seconds!
Ukraine's Olanya Povh finished 2nd in 7.10, with Ewe Swoboda also running 7.10 in 3rd!
Konrad Bukowiecki REALLY came of age, as he exploded out to a massive 72-1 in the Shot Put, destroying the Age 19 record by almost THREE FEET!!
In fact, his mark is better than anyone under the age of 22!!
He got Tomas Majewski's National Record, and is now 10th All-Time World!!
Tomas Stanek was 2nd with a Put of 70-3.75, with David Storl reduced to 3rd place!
Tsanko Arnaudov threw the ball 69-2 in 4th, but got Portugal's National Record!
Both Multi's had solid marks, and decent competition!
Nafissatou Thiam seemed on course for a possible 5000-pointer, but fell off pace in the final events.
Her 4870 points was still a PR, and put her on the World list in 10th position!
Her HJ reached 6-5, a European Pentathlon record!
Ivana Dadic scored 4767 points, giving her Austria's National Record.
But she misses the World list by 8 points!
France's Kevin Mayer moved closer to Ashton Eaton territory!
He scored 6479 points, moving him from 16th A-T World, all the way to 2nd---behind Mr Eaton!!
He also got the Age 25 record, the Meet Record, and France's National Record!
Jorge Urena finished 2nd with a non-PR total of 6227 points!
Both PV's were good.
And both were won by Greeks!
Konstadina Filippidis took the Men's title with a jump of 19-2.25.
He broke his own National Record!
Ekaterina Stefanidi won her title with 15-11,
She got the Age 27 record!
Second was Lisa Ryzih's 15-7.
She moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 17th, tied with 1 other!
In 6th came 17 year old Lisa Gunnarsson.
She jumped 14-11, her 2nd PR of the season!!
Other events weren't bad!
Anita Marton eclipsed Raven Saunders as the World leader, her SP winner measuring 63-3.25!
High Jump winner Airine Palsyte got up to 6-7, breaking her own National Record of Lithuania!
She's 19th A-T World, tied with 6 others!
Ruth Beitia was 2nd with 6-4.25!
Kristin Gierisch won a weak TJ with 47-1.75!
Izmir Smojlaj took another weak event, the Men's LJ, his winner measuring 26-6.25!
But he got the National Record of Albania!!
Michel Torneus took 2nd!
Richard Kilty sped the 60 in 6.54 for an expected victory!
In 2nd came Jan Volko, his 6.58 giving him the Slovak Republic's National Record!
Pavel Maslak ran the 400 in 45.77 for the win.
Floria Guei took her 400 in 51.90, with Zuzana Hejnova in 2nd with 52.42.
Marcin Lewandowski jogged the 1500 in 3:44.82 for the win.
Poland's Sylwester (correct spelling!!) Bednarek HJ'ed 7-7.25 for the win.
Selina Buchel's 2:00.38 gave her both the 800 victory, and Switzerland's National Record!
Anita Hinriksdottir got the Bronze!
The 4X400 Relays finished off the 3 days of action!
Poland got both, their Women running 3:29.94, with Great Britain 2nd in 3:31.05.
The Men won in 3:06.99, taking measure of Belgium's Borlee's, their time being 3:07.80!!
All in all, a good meet!
I wish a FREE American livestreamer was around!
We could use great coverage of our favorite sport here, without having to pay out for Flotrack or USATF-TV!!
I'll have my USATF report in a few hours!!
Friday, March 3, 2017
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!!
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!!
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Euro Champs Preview (& HSR!)
Of the 4 major Championships coming up in the next 10 days, the European Championships in Belgrade probably has the WEAKEST Cast of Characters since the "Dumb and Dumber" movies!
For that reason, the room needed to Preview this year's edition is rather small.
And when a High School Record happens just days before that meet starts---Well, the decision of what to lead with is easy!!
Alyssa Wilson has done it!
After several meets of knocking on the door, she blasted out a powerful Shot Put of 57-5.50, erasing the name of Raven Saunders from the HSR book!!
(Not forgetting that Ms Saunders in turn erased the name of Michelle Carter from the HSR book just 3 years ago!!)
Wilson gets the Senior Class record, moving from 2nd to 1st on the A-T HS list!
She turned 18 on February 20th!
Several other good marks were uncovered (Most of them from T&FN's eTN!!) in the past few days!
And, per usual, a few came in the WT!
Sultana Frizell had one measure 77-5.50, smashing her own National Record of Canada by over 4 feet!!
She's 9th A-T World!
Annette Echikunwoke sent one out 74-5.50, moving her from 15th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, to 12th!
Grant Cartwright hit 76-5.75, taking the 18th A-T Collegiate spot!
In other field events--
Ivan Horvat PV'ed 18-10.75 for the National Record of Croatia.
Lisa Gunnarson went over 14-9.50, a PR!
Maya Hanks TJ'ed 41-11.75, reaching 18th A-T HS!
Also moving into the 18th A-T HS spot was Jelena Rowe, with her HJ of 5-11.25!
But she's tied with 4 others!
Sydney McLaughlin added one-half inch to her LJ PR, reaching 20-7.75
She moves from 11th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 11th, but with no ties!!
And OUTdoors, Sandra Perkovic opened her season with her now-usual DT in the 230's!
Her 230-5 was not a PR!
In running events, Chanel Brissett upped the ante in the Women's HS 60H, running an 8.14!
She moves from 9th A-T HS, tied with 2 others, to 3rd, tied with 1 other!
Rachel McArthur ran the fastest HS 1000 of the season, her 2:47.02 moving her from 20th A-T HS, all the way to 8th!
Theo Burba (sp?) ran 600 meters in 1:18.87, making him 10th A-T HS.
Ashley Henderson sped a 60 in 7.17.
She's now 21st A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others!
She also ran the 200, her 22.81 missing the Collegiate DDD by just 0.01 seconds!!
Syaira Richardson ran 300 meters in 38.26, moving from 24th to 22nd on the A-T HS list!
Not breaking any records, but interesting nonetheless, Tyrese Cooper went OUTdoors and ran his FIRST race over hurdles, a 300H in 38.31.
He didn't even win the race, but he intends to run MORE races over barriers--including the 400H!!
The mind boggles!
Two more items--
In her 2:19:47 Marathon in Tokyo, Sarah Chepchirchir's splits were 1:10:31 and 1:09:16!!
And it was announced that Galen Rupp and Jordan Hasay will "tune up" for their Boston Marathon debuts by running the Prague Half-Marathon on April 1st!!
Their competition---if winning is the object---might call for VERY fast running!!
Okay, folks, in just a few short hours, the INdoor European Championships opens up in Belgrade!!
But, looking at the entry lists (NOT the final heat sheets!!!), this version doesn't exactly speed one's heart rate in the Records Expectations Department!!
Nonetheless, my blog tries to provide Previews of most major Championship meets, INdoors and OUTdoors!
So let's see what we might expect, shall we?
This Preview---as all of mine are---focuses on which (if any!) Meet Records might be broken!
It also tries to offer up a name or 2 or 3 to keep your eyes on!
Since this Preview is going to be fairly brief (comparatively!!), I'll do BOTH genders in this one post!
MEN
60 (MR is 6.42) The ONLY "name" here is Great Britain's Richard Kilty--and he has ZERO chance to nab the Meet Record!
400 (45.33) The MR holder is back! So give Pavel Maslak 80-20 odds to take down his own MR!
800 (1:44.78) Not many Championship 800's go sub-1:45! But Adam Kszczot and Amel Tuka just might change that!! Give the Pole the edge!
1500 (3:36.70) This field also has a pair of "contenders". Marcel Lewindowski and Filip Ingebrigtsen will likely be that duo!! Flip a coin! The MR gets 40-60 odds!
3000 (7:38.43) Filip's older brother--Henrik--gets the nod here, but watch for Ali Kaya!! If the pace is solid.....!!
60H (7.39) This is the best running event field!! Orlando Ortega, Andrew Pozzi, Pascal Martinot-Legarde, David Omaregie, and Balasz Baji should make up the final! But the MR is VERY tough, so give it just 10-90 odds!
4X400 Relay (3:02.87) The Borlee Boys are back! Will they break their own MR--or are they getting too old? LOL Give this one 60-40 odds! But watch for the Maslak-led Czech Republic team!!
HJ (7-10.50) Jeez!! What a lousy group!! With just GB's Robbie Grabarz a "name" here, forget anyone getting near this MR!
LJ (28-7) Michel Torneus and Andy Howe won't be anywhere near this Meet Record!
TJ (58-9.50) Nor this one!! The two best are veterans Nelson Evora (Age 32) and Fabrizio Donato (Age 40!!)! Donato will get my Age 40 record, since that slot in my Record Book now sits empty!!
PV (19-9.50) Even though Renaud Lavillenie won't be here, this is still the best field event!! Piotr Lisek, Konstadinos Filippidis, Raphael Holzdeppe, and Pawel Wojcieckowski lead the veterans! But watch out for 17 year old Emmanouil Karalis to shock and awe! MR odds are 30-70!
SP (72-9.75) This MR might be approached, but NOT broken!! Give David Storl and Konrad Bulowiecki 40-60 odds! Others to watch are Filip Miheljevic and Stipe Zunic.
Heptathlon (6424) Kevin Mayer is the heavy favorite here---for the win AND for a new Meet Record!! Jiri Zykora and Maicel Uibo are 2 others to keep awake for!
WOMEN
60 (7.00) While the MR is safe (5-95 odds!!), watch for youngster Ewe Swoboda to challenge for Gold! But Asha Philip might argue with that! Others to watch for include Mujinga Kambundji, Ezinne Okparaebo, and new German find, Rebecca Haase!
400 (49.59) The MR--AND World Record!!--are 100% safe!! That said, Elidh Doyle, Lea Sprunger, and Zuzana Hejnova should be the last 3 standing!
800 (1:55.42) Forget the MR!! Even if Joanna Jozwik were here, that MR would still survive---easily!! Without Jozwik, the race is wide open! But perennial-sub-2:00-chaser, Iceland's Anita Hinriksdottir might still end up the winner, even if with yet one more 2:01-ish time! Selina Buchel and Olga Lyakhova are others to watch.
1500 (4:02.54) Laura Muir is here!!! Even though she's doubling, this MR is GONE!! This woman has ONE word in her racing vocabulary--FAST!! But the young German--Konstanze Klosterhalfen (ALSO planning to double!!)--could go faster than her 4:04.91 PR. Look also for Elish McColgan, Sofia Ennaoui, Renata Plis, and Meref Bahta. MR odds (for Muir only!) are 90-10!
3000 (8:39.49) Again, watch what Muir does! If she runs a "normal" race, this MR is gone also!! That KK girl could get a PR too. Plis, Bahta, and Ennaoui are also doubling here! Add Mo Koster and Steph Twell to the mix---then stir!!
60H (7.74) The World Record holder is here, but at 35, and in her "retirement year", put Susanna Kallur on the backburner--FAR back!! Cindy Roleder and Alina Talay would normally be the REAL contenders here, but watch closely for blazing newcomer (went from 8.07 to 7.79 in one race--See earlier post!!) Pamela Dutkiewicz to surprise!
4X400 Relay (3:27.56) In another VERY weak field, Great Britain should win here with ease! But a MR gets just 20-80 odds!
HJ (6-8.50) Only one Russian will be here, and she AIN'T Mariya Kuchina, who leads the World with her recent 6-8 jump!! That leaves 37 year old Ruth Beitia as the likely winner! Kamila Licwinko, Emma Green, Marie Laurence Jungfleisch, Airine Palayte, and Morgan Lake should all reach the 1.90's, metrically speaking!
LJ (23-11.75) Ivana Spanovic should get the Gold, but the MR will elude her! Lorraine Ugen, Darya Klishina (that sole Russian!), and VERY talented singer-songwriter, Jazmin Sawyers, will contend!
TJ (49-9) You gotta be kidding, Europe!! Patricia Mamona the only "name" you got?? Give her ZERO odds for a MR! Heck--give her 0-200 as her odds!!
PV (16-0.75) The MR is safe, but this still sits as the best field event---in an overall shallow field of meet entrants! Ekaterina Stefanidi MIGHT give that MR a shot, so I'm giving her 60-40 odds! Lisa Ryzih, Tina Sutej, Angelica Bengtsson, and teenager Wilma Murto will likely all reach 15 feet!
SP (70-5) Another of 0-200 odds events for a new MR! With WORLD leader Raven Saunders not here (for the reason she's a US citizen!! LOL), the Gold should go to Anita Marton, as Christina Schwanitz is now with baby!! (Due this summer!)
Pentathlon (5000) Katerina Johnson-Thompson got injured, but she was slotted for just the LJ anyway, so no loss here!! Jessica Ennis-Hill is retired, so that's TWO strikes! That leaves Nafissattou Thiam as the CLEAR favorite for Gold--but NOT the MR!! Nadine Broersen, Gyorgyi Zsivoczky-Farkas, and new Age 17 record holder Alina Skukh will fight for the other podium spots!
And that's all she (or in this case, HE!!) wrote!!
BTW, meet begins in less than 3 hours!
Next post--up in a couple of hours!--will be my USATF Preview!!
For that reason, the room needed to Preview this year's edition is rather small.
And when a High School Record happens just days before that meet starts---Well, the decision of what to lead with is easy!!
Alyssa Wilson has done it!
After several meets of knocking on the door, she blasted out a powerful Shot Put of 57-5.50, erasing the name of Raven Saunders from the HSR book!!
(Not forgetting that Ms Saunders in turn erased the name of Michelle Carter from the HSR book just 3 years ago!!)
Wilson gets the Senior Class record, moving from 2nd to 1st on the A-T HS list!
She turned 18 on February 20th!
Several other good marks were uncovered (Most of them from T&FN's eTN!!) in the past few days!
And, per usual, a few came in the WT!
Sultana Frizell had one measure 77-5.50, smashing her own National Record of Canada by over 4 feet!!
She's 9th A-T World!
Annette Echikunwoke sent one out 74-5.50, moving her from 15th A-T Collegiate, tied with 2 others, to 12th!
Grant Cartwright hit 76-5.75, taking the 18th A-T Collegiate spot!
In other field events--
Ivan Horvat PV'ed 18-10.75 for the National Record of Croatia.
Lisa Gunnarson went over 14-9.50, a PR!
Maya Hanks TJ'ed 41-11.75, reaching 18th A-T HS!
Also moving into the 18th A-T HS spot was Jelena Rowe, with her HJ of 5-11.25!
But she's tied with 4 others!
Sydney McLaughlin added one-half inch to her LJ PR, reaching 20-7.75
She moves from 11th A-T HS, tied with 1 other, to 11th, but with no ties!!
And OUTdoors, Sandra Perkovic opened her season with her now-usual DT in the 230's!
Her 230-5 was not a PR!
In running events, Chanel Brissett upped the ante in the Women's HS 60H, running an 8.14!
She moves from 9th A-T HS, tied with 2 others, to 3rd, tied with 1 other!
Rachel McArthur ran the fastest HS 1000 of the season, her 2:47.02 moving her from 20th A-T HS, all the way to 8th!
Theo Burba (sp?) ran 600 meters in 1:18.87, making him 10th A-T HS.
Ashley Henderson sped a 60 in 7.17.
She's now 21st A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others!
She also ran the 200, her 22.81 missing the Collegiate DDD by just 0.01 seconds!!
Syaira Richardson ran 300 meters in 38.26, moving from 24th to 22nd on the A-T HS list!
Not breaking any records, but interesting nonetheless, Tyrese Cooper went OUTdoors and ran his FIRST race over hurdles, a 300H in 38.31.
He didn't even win the race, but he intends to run MORE races over barriers--including the 400H!!
The mind boggles!
Two more items--
In her 2:19:47 Marathon in Tokyo, Sarah Chepchirchir's splits were 1:10:31 and 1:09:16!!
And it was announced that Galen Rupp and Jordan Hasay will "tune up" for their Boston Marathon debuts by running the Prague Half-Marathon on April 1st!!
Their competition---if winning is the object---might call for VERY fast running!!
Okay, folks, in just a few short hours, the INdoor European Championships opens up in Belgrade!!
But, looking at the entry lists (NOT the final heat sheets!!!), this version doesn't exactly speed one's heart rate in the Records Expectations Department!!
Nonetheless, my blog tries to provide Previews of most major Championship meets, INdoors and OUTdoors!
So let's see what we might expect, shall we?
This Preview---as all of mine are---focuses on which (if any!) Meet Records might be broken!
It also tries to offer up a name or 2 or 3 to keep your eyes on!
Since this Preview is going to be fairly brief (comparatively!!), I'll do BOTH genders in this one post!
MEN
60 (MR is 6.42) The ONLY "name" here is Great Britain's Richard Kilty--and he has ZERO chance to nab the Meet Record!
400 (45.33) The MR holder is back! So give Pavel Maslak 80-20 odds to take down his own MR!
800 (1:44.78) Not many Championship 800's go sub-1:45! But Adam Kszczot and Amel Tuka just might change that!! Give the Pole the edge!
1500 (3:36.70) This field also has a pair of "contenders". Marcel Lewindowski and Filip Ingebrigtsen will likely be that duo!! Flip a coin! The MR gets 40-60 odds!
3000 (7:38.43) Filip's older brother--Henrik--gets the nod here, but watch for Ali Kaya!! If the pace is solid.....!!
60H (7.39) This is the best running event field!! Orlando Ortega, Andrew Pozzi, Pascal Martinot-Legarde, David Omaregie, and Balasz Baji should make up the final! But the MR is VERY tough, so give it just 10-90 odds!
4X400 Relay (3:02.87) The Borlee Boys are back! Will they break their own MR--or are they getting too old? LOL Give this one 60-40 odds! But watch for the Maslak-led Czech Republic team!!
HJ (7-10.50) Jeez!! What a lousy group!! With just GB's Robbie Grabarz a "name" here, forget anyone getting near this MR!
LJ (28-7) Michel Torneus and Andy Howe won't be anywhere near this Meet Record!
TJ (58-9.50) Nor this one!! The two best are veterans Nelson Evora (Age 32) and Fabrizio Donato (Age 40!!)! Donato will get my Age 40 record, since that slot in my Record Book now sits empty!!
PV (19-9.50) Even though Renaud Lavillenie won't be here, this is still the best field event!! Piotr Lisek, Konstadinos Filippidis, Raphael Holzdeppe, and Pawel Wojcieckowski lead the veterans! But watch out for 17 year old Emmanouil Karalis to shock and awe! MR odds are 30-70!
SP (72-9.75) This MR might be approached, but NOT broken!! Give David Storl and Konrad Bulowiecki 40-60 odds! Others to watch are Filip Miheljevic and Stipe Zunic.
Heptathlon (6424) Kevin Mayer is the heavy favorite here---for the win AND for a new Meet Record!! Jiri Zykora and Maicel Uibo are 2 others to keep awake for!
WOMEN
60 (7.00) While the MR is safe (5-95 odds!!), watch for youngster Ewe Swoboda to challenge for Gold! But Asha Philip might argue with that! Others to watch for include Mujinga Kambundji, Ezinne Okparaebo, and new German find, Rebecca Haase!
400 (49.59) The MR--AND World Record!!--are 100% safe!! That said, Elidh Doyle, Lea Sprunger, and Zuzana Hejnova should be the last 3 standing!
800 (1:55.42) Forget the MR!! Even if Joanna Jozwik were here, that MR would still survive---easily!! Without Jozwik, the race is wide open! But perennial-sub-2:00-chaser, Iceland's Anita Hinriksdottir might still end up the winner, even if with yet one more 2:01-ish time! Selina Buchel and Olga Lyakhova are others to watch.
1500 (4:02.54) Laura Muir is here!!! Even though she's doubling, this MR is GONE!! This woman has ONE word in her racing vocabulary--FAST!! But the young German--Konstanze Klosterhalfen (ALSO planning to double!!)--could go faster than her 4:04.91 PR. Look also for Elish McColgan, Sofia Ennaoui, Renata Plis, and Meref Bahta. MR odds (for Muir only!) are 90-10!
3000 (8:39.49) Again, watch what Muir does! If she runs a "normal" race, this MR is gone also!! That KK girl could get a PR too. Plis, Bahta, and Ennaoui are also doubling here! Add Mo Koster and Steph Twell to the mix---then stir!!
60H (7.74) The World Record holder is here, but at 35, and in her "retirement year", put Susanna Kallur on the backburner--FAR back!! Cindy Roleder and Alina Talay would normally be the REAL contenders here, but watch closely for blazing newcomer (went from 8.07 to 7.79 in one race--See earlier post!!) Pamela Dutkiewicz to surprise!
4X400 Relay (3:27.56) In another VERY weak field, Great Britain should win here with ease! But a MR gets just 20-80 odds!
HJ (6-8.50) Only one Russian will be here, and she AIN'T Mariya Kuchina, who leads the World with her recent 6-8 jump!! That leaves 37 year old Ruth Beitia as the likely winner! Kamila Licwinko, Emma Green, Marie Laurence Jungfleisch, Airine Palayte, and Morgan Lake should all reach the 1.90's, metrically speaking!
LJ (23-11.75) Ivana Spanovic should get the Gold, but the MR will elude her! Lorraine Ugen, Darya Klishina (that sole Russian!), and VERY talented singer-songwriter, Jazmin Sawyers, will contend!
TJ (49-9) You gotta be kidding, Europe!! Patricia Mamona the only "name" you got?? Give her ZERO odds for a MR! Heck--give her 0-200 as her odds!!
PV (16-0.75) The MR is safe, but this still sits as the best field event---in an overall shallow field of meet entrants! Ekaterina Stefanidi MIGHT give that MR a shot, so I'm giving her 60-40 odds! Lisa Ryzih, Tina Sutej, Angelica Bengtsson, and teenager Wilma Murto will likely all reach 15 feet!
SP (70-5) Another of 0-200 odds events for a new MR! With WORLD leader Raven Saunders not here (for the reason she's a US citizen!! LOL), the Gold should go to Anita Marton, as Christina Schwanitz is now with baby!! (Due this summer!)
Pentathlon (5000) Katerina Johnson-Thompson got injured, but she was slotted for just the LJ anyway, so no loss here!! Jessica Ennis-Hill is retired, so that's TWO strikes! That leaves Nafissattou Thiam as the CLEAR favorite for Gold--but NOT the MR!! Nadine Broersen, Gyorgyi Zsivoczky-Farkas, and new Age 17 record holder Alina Skukh will fight for the other podium spots!
And that's all she (or in this case, HE!!) wrote!!
BTW, meet begins in less than 3 hours!
Next post--up in a couple of hours!--will be my USATF Preview!!
Sunday, February 26, 2017
OT's deny many while Pro's romp!
Not to worry!
I'm not going to rant endlessly about the Oversize Track situation on the Collegiate Conference scene this weekend!
I'll let the numbers speak for themselves, in the same way as the Vietnam Wall of Names slams you in the heart when you realize all the hopes and dreams that were KILLED there!
But that's for later!
There were too many LEGAL marks to make your head spin for me to waste more time on OT's!
Keturah Orji remains more than 15 inches behind her OUTdoor Triple Jump PR set in the Rio Olympics!
What she DID do is crush the Collegiate AND American INdoor records---TWICE!!
In the SEC meet, she offed both records with her 1st effort measuring 46-11.75!
Then she matched it with her second round leap!
She also gets the Senior Class record, and the SEC Meet Record!
The latter 2 broke her own marks!
She moves from 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 1st!
She moves from 4th A-T US to the top!
She would need to come within an inch of her OUTdoor PR to make the World DDD!!
While we're talking about this incredible athlete, let's see what she did in the SEC LJ!
THREE Women made 22 feet!!
Not sure if that's any kind of record, but I'm sure it's a rarity!
Sha'Keela Saunders topped the trio with her 22-4.50!
She moves from 14th to 8th on the A-T US list!
She moves from 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 5th, tied with 1 other!
And guess who she's tied with?
ANOTHER athlete named Saunders!
Daphne Saunders's mark dates from 1994.
(I don't believe they're related! LOL)
Quanesha Burks took 2nd with a jump of 22-2.25, not a PR.
Then came Orji's 22-0.75.
She moves from 23rd A-T Collegiate, to 12th!
Moved OFF my Collegiate list was Angela Thacker, from 1984!
Orji is now 16th A-T US as well!
Another Saunders--Raven--nabbed the SEC Meet Record with her non-PR Shot Put of 62-6.75!
But a day after most Collegiate Conferences were finished, distance running Professionals (and one well-known Collegiate dude!!) took to the super-fast track at Boston University in a "Last Chance" meet!
First indication things would be hopping was Stephanie Schappert's 4:35.39 in the Women's Mile!
Then came the Men's Mile!
Edward (King Ches) Cheserek said he would chase the Collegiate Record.
And for once, he left his normal jog-kick strategy behind, just like his 3:52.01 left behind a stunningly deep field!!
For Ches, he gets the Collegiate Record, the Senior Class Record, AND the National Record of Kenya!
A bit of explanation!
Bernard Lagat ran 3:49.89 in the 2005 INdoor season, but he had already become a citizen of the United States at that time, but wasn't yet eligible to represent the US on their team!
So Cheserek--even while HE waits for his citizenship papers to come through!--gets the Kenya NR!!
He moves from 21st A-T Collegiate to 1st!
And he's now 12th A-T World!
He'll have to wait to make the US list!!
Kyle Merber followed Ches to the line, and it was VERY close!
Merber's 3:52.22 moves him from 21st A-T US to 6th!
And he makes the World list in 16th place!
Johnny Gregorek's 3:53.15 in 3rd makes him 10th A-T US!
And according to sources, he and Daddy John are now the fastest Father-Son duo in the Mile EVER--although I believe John's mark was made OUTdoors!!
Ford Palmer was 4th in 3:54.92.
Except for those finishing ahead of him, he would've made the US list!
As it is, he misses that list by 0.03 seconds!
Seven others broke 4:00, making it as deep as some of those Bowerman Miles at the Prefontaine Classic!!
Among those others came Dan Huling's 3:57.99 in 5th, which bodes well for his Steeple fortunes!
Knocked OFF the US Mile list was the iconic Dick Buerkle, whose 3:54.93 dated from 1978!!
Then came the 5000's!
It was Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson all the way, as they finished about a minute ahead of 3rd!
It was Huddle's Beast Mode that won the day--and the race!
While Huddle's 15:01.64 wasn't a PR, Sisson's 15:02.10 took away 10 seconds from her previous best--which was, and still is, the Collegiate Record!!
She moves from 7th to 4th on the A-T US list!
And she makes the World DDD, in 19th place!
But it was the Men's race which REALLY rewrote the Record Book!!
While Ben True spoke pre-meet about a possible American Record, early pacing set that idea on the back burner!
What emerged was a RACE for the Ages!
(Including--sic!--a couple of AGE Records!! LOL)
It was Mo Ahmed who crossed the line first.
His 13:04.60 destroyed the National Record of Canada, giving Ahmed his 3rd INdoor NR!!
It also makes him 11th A-T World!
Eric Jenkins's 13:05.85 gave him 2nd on the US list, and 12th A-T World!!
Ben True was 3rd in 13:06.74!
He gets the Age 31 record!
He's now 3rd A-T US, and 15th A-T World!!
Ryan Hill's 13:07.61 moves him from 11th A-T US, to 6th!
He's now 18th A-T World!
Remember Woody Kincaid?
While at the U of Portland, he beat Mr Cheserek in an OUTdoor 5000!
Well, he obliterated his PR by 30 seconds, his 13:12.22 taking 5th!
He's all of a sudden 8th on the United States DDD!!
Lopez Lomong grabbed the Age 32 record with his 6th place time of 13:12.27, just inches behind Kincaid
But we're not done yet!
Because Kemoy Campbell's 13:14.45 in 7th took down the National Record of Jamaica!
Chris Derrick's 13:19.75 was not a PR!
The Pole Vault saw the usual volume of good marks!
Perhaps leading the way---at least INdoors!--were the Weeks Twins!!
Tori is now a 15 footer!!
She moves from 7th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 6th--thus obviously becoming the 6th Collegiate Woman to clear 15 feet INdoors!
She moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 19th!
Sister Lexi was once again defeated by her sibling!
Seems her standing as an Olympian doesn't impress Tori enough to scare her into familial submission!!
But Lexi also got over 15 feet, her best mark of 2017!
In 3rd came Olivia Gruver, who PR'ed mightily, all the way to 14-8.75!!
This makes her 16th A-T Collegiate!
But she misses the US list by 1.50 inches!!
Another Olympian--Eliza McCartney--had quite a week in her native New Zealand.
She first went 15-5 in a meet held inside a mall in Auckland!
(At least I THINK it was a mall!!)
Then she went OUTdoors, where her 15-9.75 broke her own OUTdoor National Record!
It also gave her the Age 20 OUTdoor record!
She moves from 15th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 12th, where she's tied with 3 others!
While we're OUTdoors, let's do the other marks I have from there!
Ryan Crouser and NZ's Tom Walsh have had a couple of SP duels!
The best was the most recent, with Crouser covering 72-8 of ground, leaving Walsh's 71-7.25 behind!
For Walsh, this comes toward the end of his summer season.
For Crouser, it's a GREAT early season mark!!
Dani Samuels (now Stevens!) threw the Discus a good 219-1.
And Tara Davis got an OUTdoor PR in the LJ--by one-half inch!
Her 21-1 moves her from 14th A-T HS to 12th!
Also OUTdoors (of course!) was the Tokyo Marathon, where Wilson Kipsang was said to be wanting the World Record!!
And the first 5K split of 14:14 gave fans hope!
But they inevitably slowed, still coming through the Half in 1:01:22!
When the pacers left, he wasn't able to hold it, but his 2nd half of 1:02:36 gave him 2:03:58, the fastest time ever run in Japanese Marathons!!
The Women actually had a better result!
In just her 3rd-ever 26.2 race, Sarah Chepchirchir ran 2:19:47, becoming 16th A-T World!!
In 2nd was Berhane Dibaba, timed in 2:21:19.
Americans did good.
Andrew Bumbalough finished in 2:13:58 in his rookie race!
Sara Hall took 1:40 off her PR to get her first sub-2:30--time of 2:28:26!
She went through 13.1 in 1:13:01, so she slowed to 1:15:25 on the back end!
Still, it makes her 21st A-T US!!
Back to INdoors!
Old news first--
KC Lightfoot PV'ed 17-4.25, making him 16th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
In the Russian Championships, Anzhelika Sidorova PV'ed 15-5 for the win!
It's not a PR.
Emmanouil Karalis PR'ed with a Vault of 18-8.25.
He's still 17 years old, but someone named Mondo is also 17!!
In a good Virginia Tech Challenge meet--
Katie Nageotte and Jenn Suhr went over 15-0 in the PV, Nageotte getting the win!
For Suhr, however, she fills the once-empty slot I had for the Age 35 record!!
Hanna Green sped a 600 in 1:27.39.
She moves from 14th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!!
And she's now 11th A-T US!
Drew Piazza ran 600 meters in 1:17.26, making him 19th A-T Collegiate!
Neil Gourley ran 1000 meters in 2:20.54, for 15th A-T Collegiate!
And Amber Campbell threw the WT out 76-0.75, breaking her own Age 35 record!!
In old foreign news--
Balazs Baji sped a 60H in 7.54, getting the National Record of Hungary!
Mariya Kuchina HJ'ed 6-8 for the Age 24 record!!
She moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 6 others, to 11th, tied with 3 others!!
In an aside, I should report that over 30 Russians have been cleared to compete as "neutrals"!
BUT---only Darya Klishina will be allowed to compete in next week's European Championships!!
The INSANITY of this entire situation!!!
Genzebe Dibaba went after the INdoor WR in the 1000 in Madrid!!
But Laura Muir's earlier 2:31.93 still remains the fastest 1K of 2017!!
Ms WR---aka G-D---hit 400 in 58.76.
She slowed to an 800 in 2:00.62, which was officially timed, making her 3rd on the Ethiopian INdoor list--and is her PR!
Her final time of 2:33.07 gives her the National Record, and makes her 8th A-T World!
Also in that Madrid meet---
Ruth Beitia HJ'ed 6-6, breaking her own Age 37 record!!
Bralon Taplin ran the 400 in 45.19, a PR by 0.01 seconds!
He remains 14th A-T World!!
The remaining LEGAL marks will be divided into running & field events!
Sasha Wallace ran the 60H at the Mountain Pacific Conference in 7.95.
It's the Meet Record!
Hannah Cunliffe tied Jasmine Todd's MR with her 7.15 win in the flat 60.
Sydney McLaughlin had a great Meet of Champions!
She ran the open 400 in 53.17.
Then she came from way behind on the anchor leg of her team's 4X400 Relay, running 51.8!!
In the BU meet, Nicole Sifuentes won the 3000 in 9:02.61.
Rice's Katie Jensen ran one of the best LEGAL Collegiate 3K's of the year, her 9:05.66 behind Sifuentes giving her an NCAA spot!!
Chris Belcher won the 200 in 20.59.
In field events--
Daniel Haugh's 75-8 WT gives him 21st A-T Collegiate!
Mostafa Hassan's SP measured 69-10.75, and made him 9th A-T Collegiate!
In the SEC, Janeah Stewart got her WT out to 76-0.75, getting her on THREE lists!!
She's 7th A-T Collegiate, 11th A-T US, and 14th A-T World!!
Julian Harvey LJ'ed 26-9.75, making him 18th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others!
Randall Cunningham HJ'ed 7-5.25 for the Mountain Pacific Meet Record!
Chris Nilsen PV'ed a non-PR 18-5.50.
Annie Rhodes won the Big 12 meet with a Vault of 14-4.50!
And in the foreign INdoor results department--
Angelica Bengtsson PV'ed a non-PR of 15-1
Ivana Spanovic LJ'ed a mighty 22-10!
Sooooo---what kind of damage did having FIVE Collegiate Conference meets on OT's do??
(The 5 meets were the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Mountain Pacific, and the SEC!!)
The answer to the above question will be based on my own interpretation of a good mark!
I had to draw the line somewhere, but the ones I selected either WOULD have made my Collegiate DDD's, and a few even WOULD have broken one record or another---such as Meet or Class records!!
(NO marks from the Big 12 meet are included, as nothing was run there of list-making quality, even with the ILLEGAL assistance of an OT!!)
The ACC had 8 such good marks!
The Big 10 had 12 marks!
Mountain Pacific had just 7 marks!
And the SEC had 11.
THIRTY EIGHT marks which will NOT make my DDD, nor break any records--of any kind!!
But most significant--and DAMNING!!--is that THIRTY EIGHT athletes can not show their grandkids the A-T Collegiate list---the OFFICIAL LEGAL one--to indicate what Gramps or Granny did back in the day!!
No, they'll have to explain to the young 'uns WHY their GREAT mark does NOT appear on such a list!!
Those 38 are---
(ACC) Patrick Joseph 1:46.23, Drew Piazza 1:46.42, Shakima Wimbley 51.20 & 22.83, Hanna Green 2:02.28, Jessica Harris 4:33.80, Grace Barnett 4:33.86, Anna Rohrer 15:38.11, and Michelle Atherley 4281.
(Big 10) Nate Roese 1:16.25, Moujtaha Mohammed 1:16.55, Anthony Johnson 1:16.57 (in heats), Rachel Weber 1:28.11 & 1:28.72, Kerrrington Winters 1:27.60, Daniel Kuhn 1:15.23, Nate Roese 1:15.55, Anthony Johnson 1:15.99 (in the final), Katherine Receveur 15:28.89, Tessa Barrett 15:28.99, Erin Finn 15:32.45.
(Note--A few athletes are listed twice, due to heats and finals results!)
(Mountain Pacific) Colorado 10:58.58, Stanford 10:59.83, Katie Rainsberger 4:35.60, John Dressel 7:51.44, Garrett Corcoran 7:52.10, Matthew Maton 7:52.51, Olivia Baker 2:03.41.
(SEC) Kendell Williams 4686, Taliyah Brooks 4460, Leigha Brown 4379, Daina Harper 51.77 (heat), Fred Kerley 44.94, Akeem Bloomfield 45.49, Jereem Richards 20.34, Jazmin Fray 2:02.62, Texas A&M 3:02.39, Florida 3:02.73, and Alabama 3:02.92.
Now, aren't you thrilled that Ed Cheserak was SMART enough to forego his Conference meet on Seattle's 307 meter monster, choosing instead to head east 3000 miles to Boston University's Record-Friendly 200 meter track??
I am!
Expect my usual Previews for the USATF meet---and MAYBE for the European Championships also!!
These probably won't be out until March 2nd, the day before the meets begin!!
See you then!!
I'm not going to rant endlessly about the Oversize Track situation on the Collegiate Conference scene this weekend!
I'll let the numbers speak for themselves, in the same way as the Vietnam Wall of Names slams you in the heart when you realize all the hopes and dreams that were KILLED there!
But that's for later!
There were too many LEGAL marks to make your head spin for me to waste more time on OT's!
Keturah Orji remains more than 15 inches behind her OUTdoor Triple Jump PR set in the Rio Olympics!
What she DID do is crush the Collegiate AND American INdoor records---TWICE!!
In the SEC meet, she offed both records with her 1st effort measuring 46-11.75!
Then she matched it with her second round leap!
She also gets the Senior Class record, and the SEC Meet Record!
The latter 2 broke her own marks!
She moves from 5th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 1st!
She moves from 4th A-T US to the top!
She would need to come within an inch of her OUTdoor PR to make the World DDD!!
While we're talking about this incredible athlete, let's see what she did in the SEC LJ!
THREE Women made 22 feet!!
Not sure if that's any kind of record, but I'm sure it's a rarity!
Sha'Keela Saunders topped the trio with her 22-4.50!
She moves from 14th to 8th on the A-T US list!
She moves from 10th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 5th, tied with 1 other!
And guess who she's tied with?
ANOTHER athlete named Saunders!
Daphne Saunders's mark dates from 1994.
(I don't believe they're related! LOL)
Quanesha Burks took 2nd with a jump of 22-2.25, not a PR.
Then came Orji's 22-0.75.
She moves from 23rd A-T Collegiate, to 12th!
Moved OFF my Collegiate list was Angela Thacker, from 1984!
Orji is now 16th A-T US as well!
Another Saunders--Raven--nabbed the SEC Meet Record with her non-PR Shot Put of 62-6.75!
But a day after most Collegiate Conferences were finished, distance running Professionals (and one well-known Collegiate dude!!) took to the super-fast track at Boston University in a "Last Chance" meet!
First indication things would be hopping was Stephanie Schappert's 4:35.39 in the Women's Mile!
Then came the Men's Mile!
Edward (King Ches) Cheserek said he would chase the Collegiate Record.
And for once, he left his normal jog-kick strategy behind, just like his 3:52.01 left behind a stunningly deep field!!
For Ches, he gets the Collegiate Record, the Senior Class Record, AND the National Record of Kenya!
A bit of explanation!
Bernard Lagat ran 3:49.89 in the 2005 INdoor season, but he had already become a citizen of the United States at that time, but wasn't yet eligible to represent the US on their team!
So Cheserek--even while HE waits for his citizenship papers to come through!--gets the Kenya NR!!
He moves from 21st A-T Collegiate to 1st!
And he's now 12th A-T World!
He'll have to wait to make the US list!!
Kyle Merber followed Ches to the line, and it was VERY close!
Merber's 3:52.22 moves him from 21st A-T US to 6th!
And he makes the World list in 16th place!
Johnny Gregorek's 3:53.15 in 3rd makes him 10th A-T US!
And according to sources, he and Daddy John are now the fastest Father-Son duo in the Mile EVER--although I believe John's mark was made OUTdoors!!
Ford Palmer was 4th in 3:54.92.
Except for those finishing ahead of him, he would've made the US list!
As it is, he misses that list by 0.03 seconds!
Seven others broke 4:00, making it as deep as some of those Bowerman Miles at the Prefontaine Classic!!
Among those others came Dan Huling's 3:57.99 in 5th, which bodes well for his Steeple fortunes!
Knocked OFF the US Mile list was the iconic Dick Buerkle, whose 3:54.93 dated from 1978!!
Then came the 5000's!
It was Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson all the way, as they finished about a minute ahead of 3rd!
It was Huddle's Beast Mode that won the day--and the race!
While Huddle's 15:01.64 wasn't a PR, Sisson's 15:02.10 took away 10 seconds from her previous best--which was, and still is, the Collegiate Record!!
She moves from 7th to 4th on the A-T US list!
And she makes the World DDD, in 19th place!
But it was the Men's race which REALLY rewrote the Record Book!!
While Ben True spoke pre-meet about a possible American Record, early pacing set that idea on the back burner!
What emerged was a RACE for the Ages!
(Including--sic!--a couple of AGE Records!! LOL)
It was Mo Ahmed who crossed the line first.
His 13:04.60 destroyed the National Record of Canada, giving Ahmed his 3rd INdoor NR!!
It also makes him 11th A-T World!
Eric Jenkins's 13:05.85 gave him 2nd on the US list, and 12th A-T World!!
Ben True was 3rd in 13:06.74!
He gets the Age 31 record!
He's now 3rd A-T US, and 15th A-T World!!
Ryan Hill's 13:07.61 moves him from 11th A-T US, to 6th!
He's now 18th A-T World!
Remember Woody Kincaid?
While at the U of Portland, he beat Mr Cheserek in an OUTdoor 5000!
Well, he obliterated his PR by 30 seconds, his 13:12.22 taking 5th!
He's all of a sudden 8th on the United States DDD!!
Lopez Lomong grabbed the Age 32 record with his 6th place time of 13:12.27, just inches behind Kincaid
But we're not done yet!
Because Kemoy Campbell's 13:14.45 in 7th took down the National Record of Jamaica!
Chris Derrick's 13:19.75 was not a PR!
The Pole Vault saw the usual volume of good marks!
Perhaps leading the way---at least INdoors!--were the Weeks Twins!!
Tori is now a 15 footer!!
She moves from 7th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 6th--thus obviously becoming the 6th Collegiate Woman to clear 15 feet INdoors!
She moves from 23rd A-T US, tied with 2 others, to 19th!
Sister Lexi was once again defeated by her sibling!
Seems her standing as an Olympian doesn't impress Tori enough to scare her into familial submission!!
But Lexi also got over 15 feet, her best mark of 2017!
In 3rd came Olivia Gruver, who PR'ed mightily, all the way to 14-8.75!!
This makes her 16th A-T Collegiate!
But she misses the US list by 1.50 inches!!
Another Olympian--Eliza McCartney--had quite a week in her native New Zealand.
She first went 15-5 in a meet held inside a mall in Auckland!
(At least I THINK it was a mall!!)
Then she went OUTdoors, where her 15-9.75 broke her own OUTdoor National Record!
It also gave her the Age 20 OUTdoor record!
She moves from 15th A-T World, tied with 1 other, to 12th, where she's tied with 3 others!
While we're OUTdoors, let's do the other marks I have from there!
Ryan Crouser and NZ's Tom Walsh have had a couple of SP duels!
The best was the most recent, with Crouser covering 72-8 of ground, leaving Walsh's 71-7.25 behind!
For Walsh, this comes toward the end of his summer season.
For Crouser, it's a GREAT early season mark!!
Dani Samuels (now Stevens!) threw the Discus a good 219-1.
And Tara Davis got an OUTdoor PR in the LJ--by one-half inch!
Her 21-1 moves her from 14th A-T HS to 12th!
Also OUTdoors (of course!) was the Tokyo Marathon, where Wilson Kipsang was said to be wanting the World Record!!
And the first 5K split of 14:14 gave fans hope!
But they inevitably slowed, still coming through the Half in 1:01:22!
When the pacers left, he wasn't able to hold it, but his 2nd half of 1:02:36 gave him 2:03:58, the fastest time ever run in Japanese Marathons!!
The Women actually had a better result!
In just her 3rd-ever 26.2 race, Sarah Chepchirchir ran 2:19:47, becoming 16th A-T World!!
In 2nd was Berhane Dibaba, timed in 2:21:19.
Americans did good.
Andrew Bumbalough finished in 2:13:58 in his rookie race!
Sara Hall took 1:40 off her PR to get her first sub-2:30--time of 2:28:26!
She went through 13.1 in 1:13:01, so she slowed to 1:15:25 on the back end!
Still, it makes her 21st A-T US!!
Back to INdoors!
Old news first--
KC Lightfoot PV'ed 17-4.25, making him 16th A-T HS, tied with 1 other!
In the Russian Championships, Anzhelika Sidorova PV'ed 15-5 for the win!
It's not a PR.
Emmanouil Karalis PR'ed with a Vault of 18-8.25.
He's still 17 years old, but someone named Mondo is also 17!!
In a good Virginia Tech Challenge meet--
Katie Nageotte and Jenn Suhr went over 15-0 in the PV, Nageotte getting the win!
For Suhr, however, she fills the once-empty slot I had for the Age 35 record!!
Hanna Green sped a 600 in 1:27.39.
She moves from 14th A-T Collegiate, tied with 1 other, to 2nd!!
And she's now 11th A-T US!
Drew Piazza ran 600 meters in 1:17.26, making him 19th A-T Collegiate!
Neil Gourley ran 1000 meters in 2:20.54, for 15th A-T Collegiate!
And Amber Campbell threw the WT out 76-0.75, breaking her own Age 35 record!!
In old foreign news--
Balazs Baji sped a 60H in 7.54, getting the National Record of Hungary!
Mariya Kuchina HJ'ed 6-8 for the Age 24 record!!
She moves from 18th A-T World, tied with 6 others, to 11th, tied with 3 others!!
In an aside, I should report that over 30 Russians have been cleared to compete as "neutrals"!
BUT---only Darya Klishina will be allowed to compete in next week's European Championships!!
The INSANITY of this entire situation!!!
Genzebe Dibaba went after the INdoor WR in the 1000 in Madrid!!
But Laura Muir's earlier 2:31.93 still remains the fastest 1K of 2017!!
Ms WR---aka G-D---hit 400 in 58.76.
She slowed to an 800 in 2:00.62, which was officially timed, making her 3rd on the Ethiopian INdoor list--and is her PR!
Her final time of 2:33.07 gives her the National Record, and makes her 8th A-T World!
Also in that Madrid meet---
Ruth Beitia HJ'ed 6-6, breaking her own Age 37 record!!
Bralon Taplin ran the 400 in 45.19, a PR by 0.01 seconds!
He remains 14th A-T World!!
The remaining LEGAL marks will be divided into running & field events!
Sasha Wallace ran the 60H at the Mountain Pacific Conference in 7.95.
It's the Meet Record!
Hannah Cunliffe tied Jasmine Todd's MR with her 7.15 win in the flat 60.
Sydney McLaughlin had a great Meet of Champions!
She ran the open 400 in 53.17.
Then she came from way behind on the anchor leg of her team's 4X400 Relay, running 51.8!!
In the BU meet, Nicole Sifuentes won the 3000 in 9:02.61.
Rice's Katie Jensen ran one of the best LEGAL Collegiate 3K's of the year, her 9:05.66 behind Sifuentes giving her an NCAA spot!!
Chris Belcher won the 200 in 20.59.
In field events--
Daniel Haugh's 75-8 WT gives him 21st A-T Collegiate!
Mostafa Hassan's SP measured 69-10.75, and made him 9th A-T Collegiate!
In the SEC, Janeah Stewart got her WT out to 76-0.75, getting her on THREE lists!!
She's 7th A-T Collegiate, 11th A-T US, and 14th A-T World!!
Julian Harvey LJ'ed 26-9.75, making him 18th A-T Collegiate, tied with 4 others!
Randall Cunningham HJ'ed 7-5.25 for the Mountain Pacific Meet Record!
Chris Nilsen PV'ed a non-PR 18-5.50.
Annie Rhodes won the Big 12 meet with a Vault of 14-4.50!
And in the foreign INdoor results department--
Angelica Bengtsson PV'ed a non-PR of 15-1
Ivana Spanovic LJ'ed a mighty 22-10!
Sooooo---what kind of damage did having FIVE Collegiate Conference meets on OT's do??
(The 5 meets were the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Mountain Pacific, and the SEC!!)
The answer to the above question will be based on my own interpretation of a good mark!
I had to draw the line somewhere, but the ones I selected either WOULD have made my Collegiate DDD's, and a few even WOULD have broken one record or another---such as Meet or Class records!!
(NO marks from the Big 12 meet are included, as nothing was run there of list-making quality, even with the ILLEGAL assistance of an OT!!)
The ACC had 8 such good marks!
The Big 10 had 12 marks!
Mountain Pacific had just 7 marks!
And the SEC had 11.
THIRTY EIGHT marks which will NOT make my DDD, nor break any records--of any kind!!
But most significant--and DAMNING!!--is that THIRTY EIGHT athletes can not show their grandkids the A-T Collegiate list---the OFFICIAL LEGAL one--to indicate what Gramps or Granny did back in the day!!
No, they'll have to explain to the young 'uns WHY their GREAT mark does NOT appear on such a list!!
Those 38 are---
(ACC) Patrick Joseph 1:46.23, Drew Piazza 1:46.42, Shakima Wimbley 51.20 & 22.83, Hanna Green 2:02.28, Jessica Harris 4:33.80, Grace Barnett 4:33.86, Anna Rohrer 15:38.11, and Michelle Atherley 4281.
(Big 10) Nate Roese 1:16.25, Moujtaha Mohammed 1:16.55, Anthony Johnson 1:16.57 (in heats), Rachel Weber 1:28.11 & 1:28.72, Kerrrington Winters 1:27.60, Daniel Kuhn 1:15.23, Nate Roese 1:15.55, Anthony Johnson 1:15.99 (in the final), Katherine Receveur 15:28.89, Tessa Barrett 15:28.99, Erin Finn 15:32.45.
(Note--A few athletes are listed twice, due to heats and finals results!)
(Mountain Pacific) Colorado 10:58.58, Stanford 10:59.83, Katie Rainsberger 4:35.60, John Dressel 7:51.44, Garrett Corcoran 7:52.10, Matthew Maton 7:52.51, Olivia Baker 2:03.41.
(SEC) Kendell Williams 4686, Taliyah Brooks 4460, Leigha Brown 4379, Daina Harper 51.77 (heat), Fred Kerley 44.94, Akeem Bloomfield 45.49, Jereem Richards 20.34, Jazmin Fray 2:02.62, Texas A&M 3:02.39, Florida 3:02.73, and Alabama 3:02.92.
Now, aren't you thrilled that Ed Cheserak was SMART enough to forego his Conference meet on Seattle's 307 meter monster, choosing instead to head east 3000 miles to Boston University's Record-Friendly 200 meter track??
I am!
Expect my usual Previews for the USATF meet---and MAYBE for the European Championships also!!
These probably won't be out until March 2nd, the day before the meets begin!!
See you then!!
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