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Team Titles To be Determined on Last Day - NCAA Outdoor Championships 2014
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The first three days were about qualifying for finals and a full day of finals Friday with tremendous individual accomplishments. The main story of the meet will be the determination of team championships and that will be decided upon today. Before we can speculate on the first three days like quarters in a football game but we know that the final quarter determines the winner. The Oregon men finished off Friday with a hammer blow to the chances of two-time defending champion Florida and now outside contender and SEC champion Texas A&M. Florida coach Mike Holloway keeps with his mantra of focusing only on what his team can do, and he has had great success, so he missed the 5,000. While Lalang and Cheserek dualed up front in a pack of 6, Ducks Trevor Dunbar and Eric Jenkins ran with a group led by Joe Rosa of Stanford as they picked off stragglers from a fast pace led mostly by Kennedy Kithuka of Texas Tech and Lalang. With 200 to go it was down to Lalang and Cheserek and Cheserek made his move. Lalang said later he knew Cheserek had closed in 26 in the 10k and thought "You know what? I can do 26 too." Lalang responded to Cheserek's move and Cheserek, in lane one was slowed coming into the straightaway by a lapped runner (like the wind at Pac-12 delayed his 1500 kick). At the very finish Lalang surpassed Cheserek as they both went under the meet record by running 13:18.36 and 13:18.71. Behind them Dunbar and Jenkins made their moves to finish 3rd and 4th 26.90 and 27.41. Oregon scored 19 points (to go with the 15 in the 10k for 34 points in distance). On the women's side Oregon leads with 43, Texas A&M has 41 and Florida and Texas are tied with 29 points. A&M's unexpected 1-3 finish in the 400 Hurdles may have put them over the top if they compete well today. A&m has been hot and in spite of bonus points from Laura Bobek and Jenna Prandini's win in the Long Jump. It will be tough to beat A&M. Texas' hopes were crushed when Pole Vault favorite Kaitlin Petrillose no-heighted. Today's Men's Scoring Chances: Oregon 53 points 1500 - Mac Fleet Sr (defending champion fresh compared to Lalang) Sam Prakel Fr (US Junior Champ) form chart says Fleet - 2nd, tough to do not on chart 200 - Arthur Delaney Jr (Lane 2 - Unexpected on form chart, 6th fastest semi), looking for redemption after 4x4 flub not on chart, just has to finish to score Steeple - Tanguy Pepiot Jr (Came into season with one of the top three prs) chart says 5th, I think it could be better, possible a lot! 110h - Devon Allen Fr (Quickly adjusted to 42' despite having limited practice time, set school record at regionals 13.27) chart says 4th, fairly accurate but missing charted two points for injured Cabral Javelin - Sam Crouser Jr (Came into season as favorite, won Pac-12 in spite of chronic patellar inflamation, needs a good first throw) chart says 1st, big question mark as he battles injury I think Oregon finishes the day with 77 points. Most scored by any team since 1994 if that happens.
Florida 28 points 4x100 Relay - Favorite 38.29 season best Form Chart 1st, never count out A&M in short relay 200 - Dedric Dukes Jr - Favorite after running 19.97 at Florida Relays but questions about his health Form chart 1st, Brown of USC is ready to roll, I think Brown gets redemption for Florida Relays 110h - Eddie Lovett Sr - Former NCAA champion, favorite coming into the season chart says 3rd Triple Jump - Marquis Dendy Jr - He was struggling in big competitions after winning as a freshman indoors in the long jump but it looks like he is ready after winning the long jump Form Chart 1st 4x400 - Ran 2nd fastest time all-time at Florida Relays (2:59.73) and then injuries have set them back Form chart - 2nd They could be at 70 points by the end of the day. Not much room for improvement. They need to count on Oregon Faltering to win.
Texas A&M 17 1/2 4x100 - Top Heat time of 38.60 Form chart - 2nd, I think they may win 110 Hurdles - Wayne Davis II Sr - Favorite and Team Leader Form Chart - 1st Triple Jump - Olabanji Asekun Jr - not on chart Anything would be a bonus Javelin - Devin Bogert Jr - not on chart Not on chart but good enough to win. 4x400 - May not have an affect on the team race but it could be a lot of fun anyway Form Chart - 1st Prediction: 48 1/2 I think the team will perform better than expected but won't win
Women's Scoring Chances :
Texas A&M 41 Points 4x100 Relay - Collegiate Record Material but possible not possible with current weather. Form Chart - 1st 200 - Kamaria Brown Jr - The Bowerman favorite during a dominant indoor season until she tore her hamstring at the NCAA indoor meet. They have been cautious with her and she is peeking now. Olivia Ekpone Jr - she is the collegiate leader. Form Chart - 1st for Ekpone, 5th for Brown. They could go 1-2 4x400 - With Brown back it makes A&M one of the favorites Form Chart - A&M 3rd, I figure Oregon and A&M will have another classic finish if Spencer does not run for Texas Prediction 73, They could do much more especially if they go 1-2 in 200
Oregon - 43 points 1500 - Sarah Penney rSr - not charted but finally healthy after years of injuries not on form chart but could get 1-2 points 200 - Jenna Prandini rSo - A lot on her plate, ran fastest semi Form Chart - 2nd 5000 - Frida Berge Fr - Took time to adjust with her winter arrival at Oregon, tough to score though not on form chart High Jump - Lauren Crockett Jr - Hamstring problem hurt her at Pac-12, but had looked great early in the year not on form chart but could score 3-4 points especially if the conditions hold Shot Put - Brittany Mann rFr - School Record this year when pressure was off. She loves the Oregon crowd not on form chart - in a deep field she will have to pr to score 4x400 - Oregon is ready to run well Form Chart 2nd, it is not clear about other top contenders Texas and A&M and how they will do
Prediction - 62 points, A&M will have to crash or Oregon will have to go out of their mind to win
Florida - 29 points 4x100 - Ran Season Best in Semis, but USC ran #2 collegiate time in semis. Form chart - 2nd, I think they will finish 3rd as those three (including A&M) are way ahead of the rest 1500 - Cory McGee Sr - Confident she can handle any pace, couldn't handle Lipari indoors but then McGee ran DMR. WC comp is favorite Form Chart - 3rd, if healthy and with the right motivation I think she wins to help push team. 100 Hurdles - Bridgette Owens Jr - Had second fastest semi, Harrison of Kentucky wants to make up for 400h loss though Form Chart 3rd, Could move up 4x400 - Had 6th fastest semi but completely different story likely in final Form Chart says 4th
56 points - Will Challenge for 2nd
Texas - 29 Points 4x100 - Oregon dropping might move them up but USC is running great and Spencer likely not to run, big gap to fifth Form Chart 4th, up one becaude of Oregon, one down because of Spencer and USC 200 - Morolake Akinosun So - Running great as we could see in 100, this is not her best event but could get title Form chart 3rd 100 Hurdles - Morgan Snow Jr - One of 8 to break 13, almost did in semi as 5th fastest when she ran 13.00 Form chart says 6th, I will go with 5th 5,000 - Marielle Hall Sr - Has had many great races but she has not always backed them up. She is a wild card for sure Form chart says 3rd, I think she could be anywhere from 1st (really doubt) to not scoring (not likely) High Jump - Shanay Briscoe Sr - She has jumped really well here in the past, only 6-0 3/4 this year but coaches are confident Form chart says 8th I think she could get as high as third or not score. 4x400 - Who knows, if Spencer runs they are the favorites, Dowie did not look good in 400 hurdles. Healthy they break CR Form Chart says 1st, I say 3rd but they did get 3 of top 4 in 400.
55 points.
A&M very likely to win women's race but they could blow up and 3 teams would fight them for the title all the way to the 4x4.
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