NCAA Championship Favorites

The conferences are done. Only two meets left for the collegiate season – the Regional meets and the NCAA Championships. So it’s time to look at who will be this year’s NCAA Champions.

Last year’s meet was perhaps the best meet of the year in terms of overall excitement. I expect this year’s meet to follow suit. Following are my thoughts on team champions, events to keep an eye on and individual champions.

 

Men’s Team Champion – Florida

Florida has been runner up outdoors the last two years in a row. By 1 point last year, 2 points in ‘09. Both times to Texas A&M. I think that Florida turns the corner this year – but not without a fight! The sprints and relays will be crucial with LSU and Florida State having a lot to say about point distribution. At the end of the day I think it is Florida’s ability to garner field points that should make the difference – especially in the jumps.

 

Women’s Team Champion – Texas A&M

The Aggies are the two time defending champion – and I see them making it a three peat. Oregon will be tough in the distances, and LSU in the sprints and relays. But like Florida on the men’s side, the Lady Aggies are deep and should score points throughout the meet. Keep an eye on the heads to heads with LSU.

 

Events to Keep an Eye On

Men’s 400 - While Kirani James is a strong favorite on the men’s side, several individuals have emerged this year that are capable of running under 45.00. When that happens there are usually fireworks in this event.

Men’s 4x1 – Four teams (all top contenders) are under the 39 second barrier. This race will be crucial in terms of the points that are scored. Look for Florida, Florida St, LSU and Texas A&M to lead what could be one of the fastest finishes ever.

Men’s triple jump – The core of the US triple jump squad for Daegu, and going forward, could be competing in this meet.

Women’s 1500 & 5000 – Look for Oregon’s Jordan Hasay to try to pull off the double. She was successful indoors and is one tough competitor. If Oregon has any hope to unseat A&M for the team title it will have to start with Jordan.

Women’s 100 – This race should come down to the photo. Several young ladies had suddenly dropped into the 11.0x range. And I suspect that we could see one of them make the team for Daegu. This race could be the debut of the core of our women’s sprint troops for the upcoming trifecta.

 

 

Men’s Favorites

Event	Athlete	School
100 Meters	Jeff Demps	Florida
200 Meters	Maurice Mitchell	Florida St
400 Meters	Kirani James	Alabama
800 Meters	Fred Samoie	Alabama
1500 Meters	Miles Batty	BYU
3000 Steeplechase	Steve Finley	Oregon
5000 Meters	Stephen Sambu	Arizona
10000 Meters	Stephen Sambu	Arizona
110 Hurdles	Omo Osaghae	Texas Tech
400 Hurdles	Jeshua Andersen	Washington St
4 x 100 Relay	Lovett, Taylor, Wilks, Demps	Florida
4 x 400 Relay	Miller, Henry, Preble, Pinder	Texas A&M
High Jump	Erik Kynard	Kansas St
Pole Vault	Scott Roth	Washington
Long Jump	Will Claye	Florida
Triple Jump	Christian Taylor	Florida
Shot Put	Mason Finley	Kansas
Discus	Julian Wruck	Texas Tech
Hammer	Marcel Lomnicky	Virginia Tech
Javelin	Sam Humphreys	Texas A&M
Decathlon	Romain Martin	Texas Arlington

 

Women’s Favorites

Event	Athlete	School
100 Meters	Semoy Hacket	LSU
200 Meters	Semoy Hacket	LSU
400 Meters	Jessica Beard	Texas A&M
800 Meters	Anne Kessellring	Oregon
1500 Meters	Jordan Hasay	Oregon
3000 Steeplechase	Emma Coburn	Colorado
5000 Meters	Jordan Hasay	Oregon
10000 Meters	Liz Costello	Tennessee
110 Hurdles	Christina Manning	Ohio St
400 Hurdles	Turquoise Thompson	UCLA
4 x 100 Relay	Mayo, Tarmoh, Duncan, Collier	Texas A&M
4 x 400 Relay	Tarmoh, Mayungbe, Sutherland, Beard	Texas A&M
High Jump	Brigetta Barrett	Arizona
Pole Vault	Tina Sutej	Arkansas
Long Jump	Whitney Gipson	TCU
Triple Jump	Kim Williams	Florida St
Shot Put	Julie Labonte	Arizona
Discus	Anna Jelmini	Arizona St
Hammer	Nikola Lomnicka	Georgia
Javelin	Marissa Tschida	Washington St
Heptathlon	Chelsea Carrier	West Virginia