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2010 NCAA Indoor Preview
By Bryan Green
Last year when I wrote my 2009 NCAA Indoor Preview, I highlighted some of the records that went down during the indoor season and then wrote the following paragraph:
As the table above shows, the overall quality in the NCAA continues to increase. In the field events, the women's pole vault continues to improve, as well as men's and women's long jumps. On the distance side, the slight decline is probably due to a number of teams qualifying last year in the DMR under questionable circumstances at the Notre Dame Invitational (only 10 ran sub-9:34 this year, as opposed to 27 last year, despite our glut of sub-4 milers). All things considered, though, even the distances seem to have improved slightly this year.
Before I get into the actual events, there are five questions I'll have in mind as I watch the meet this weekend:
Can anyone top Wheating? Despite missing the fall due to injury, he opened with a smokin' 1:46.36 800m and followed it up with a dominant 3:58 mile. The 2008 Olympic qualifier and reigning NCAA Outdoor 800m champ, it's hard to imagine anyone beating him. With that said, he does tend to save it until the last possible moment to go for the win, and that could set him up for disappointment. Similarly, it'll be interesting to see what he can do if he's anchoring the DMR for Oregon. A big performance this weekend will solidify his status as the premiere talent in the NCAAs.
Can an Aussie win a title? There are two very good possibilities in David McNeill and Ryan Foster. Neither can be considered the favorite, despite McNeill's having the top times in both the 3000m and 5000m this season. That's because he'll be facing Sam Chelanga (13:18i/27:28/NCAA XC champ last year) in the 5000m and a loaded field in the 3000m. Foster has the unenviable task of trying to beat Andrew Wheating and a bunch of young upstarts (Greer, Mellon, Andrews) who didn't get the memo that running 1:47 isn't an easy thing to do. I'd say the chances are about 33% that Australia takes home a title this weekend.
Can a freshman win a distance title? I thought last year's freshman crop was amazing, but this year's might actually be stronger, at least in the middle distances. With Rupp, Barringer and Kipyego running last year, there was little hope for a freshman to sneak a title, but Lacey Cramer managed to do it in the 800m. This year, there are some stud middle distance freshman who just might have a chance. Mac Fleet and Elijah Greer are ranked top-3 in the mile and 800m, respectively, for Oregon, as is Jordan Hasay in the mile (she's also entered in the 3000m). In the 800m, we also have Robby Andrews of Virginia and Zach Mellon of Wisconsin. It's unlikely any of them will end up atop the podium, but maybe they can surpass the total distance points earned by last year's freshmen (35, DMRs not included).
Bizzarri or Koll? Bizzarri is the darling of the NCAA, having won the NCAA Outdoor 5000m, finished 3rd at the USATF Championships in the 5000m, and then somehow snuck a victory at the NCAA Cross Country Championships when Barringer and Kuijken faltered. Her times aren't that impressive, but she always finds a way to win. Koll had a down year last year due to injury, but is the American Collegiate 10000m record holder (32:11) and has run some smokin' fast times this season (8:56/15:29), both of which are much faster than Bizzarri's (or anyone else in the field's) personal bests.
Can UCLA win a DMR title? Back in 1999, UCLA entered the NCAA Indoors with an unheralded team. Jess Strutzel and Michael Granville were top 800 meter runners, and Mark Hauser was a 4-minute miler, so they were quite good. But everybody was talking about Stanford and Arkansas. Nobody gave Hauser much of a chance to hang on against the likes of Seneca Lassiter (Arkansas) or Michael Stember (Stanford) on the anchor. They went on to set a then American Record 9:33.17 in the event. This year's squad features a couple solid 800m guys (Cory Primm, Scott Crawford) and an unheralded 4-minute miler (Marlon Patterson) and they've already run faster than that 1999 squad ever did. Could this be the year they rewrite history?
Now let's get to the events!
Women's 800m
Top Returner: Lacey Cramer, BYU (1st place)
Fastest Qualifier: Phoebe Wright, Tennessee (2:01.47)
Favorite: Phoebe Wright (2009 indoor runner-up, #1 qualifying time)
Other Notables: LaTavia Thomas, LSU (2008 indoor champ), Chanelle Price, Tennessee (2:01 in high school)
Darkhorse: Lea Wallace, Sacramento State (coached by my friend Scott Abbott, I'm pulling for Wallace or teammate Renisha Robinson!)
Did you know? Phoebe Wright finished 3rd at USATF's last year but couldn't get the qualifying time to go to Berlin.
Prediction: I think Wright is due for a big win. She's been very good for a couple years, but hasn't put it all together on the right day. This time she will. Wright, Cramer, Beckwith, Thomas.
Men's 800m
Top Returner: Andrew Wheating, Oregon (2nd)
Fastest Qualifier: Andrew Wheating (1:46.36)
Favorite: Andrew Wheating (far and away)
Other Notables: Ryan Foster, Penn State (8th outdoors, #2 qualifier), Chris Gowell (4th outdoors), Elijah Greer, Oregon (freshman is #3 qualifier, 1:47.33)
Darkhorse: Robby Andrews, Virginia (the kid has a stellar kick, so hopefully he'll be within striking range)
Did you know? Penn State qualified four men in the 800 meters! That's nuts!
Prediction: Wheating runs away with 200m to go. Andrews, Foster and Greer both finish well, with freshmen taking tons of points in this event. Wheating, Andrews, Foster, Greer.
Women's mile
Top Returner: Pilar McShine, Florida State (4th)
Fastest Qualifier: Charlotte Browning, Florida (4:31.24)
Favorite: Charlotte Browning (the senior is 3 seconds faster than the #2 qualifier this year)
Other Notables: Jordan Hasay, Oregon (frosh phenom, #3 qualifier),
Darkhorse: Nicole Schappert, Villanova (she'll be dangerous if she's got any more of that cross country mojo left from last year)
Did you know? Charlotte Browning finished 8th at last year's indoor meet, and is the #2 returner behind FSU's McShine.
Prediction: Last year, I didn't believe Hasay would win her first NCAA title as a freshman (unless it was a DMR). But this race is lining up well for her. I think she's going to take the title. McShine, Browning and Follett in 2nd through 4th, respectively.
Men's mile
Top Returner: Lee Emanuel, New Mexico (1st)
Fastest Qualifier: Lee Emanuel (3:57.62)
Favorite: Lee Emanuel (do you really want to bet against a 25 year-old returning champion and #1 qualifier?)
Other Notables: Mac Fleet, Oregon (frosh phenom, #2 qualifier), A.J. Acosta, Oregon (footlocker champ, 3:58), Jeff See, Ohio State (8th outdoors)
Darkhorse: Ben Blankenship, Minnesota (he's young, sub-3:58, and won the Big 10)
Did you know? 22 men broke the 4-minute barrier this year indoors, but only 16 of them entered in the mile at NCAAs. Notables who didn't enter the mile include Wheating, Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas), and Craig Miller (Wisconsin).
Prediction: Last year Emanuel ran away with the race from 600m out. This year, he'll try to do that again, but he won't break away and it'll be a struggle to the end. His experience will win out, however, and Emanuel will repeat as champion. Following him will be See, Blankenship, and Fleet.
Women's 3000m
Top Returner: Angela Bizzarri, Illinois (4th)
Fastest Qualifier: Lisa Koll, Iowa State (8:56.09)
Favorite: Angela Bizzarri (but only because Koll is entered in the 5000m the night before)
Other Notables: Sheila Reid, Villanova (#2 qualifier, 9:04.65); Bridget Franek, Penn State and Nicole Blood, Oregon (perennial NCAA scorers); Jordan Hasay (frosh phenom)
Darkhorse: Marie Lawrence, Washington (known as a steepler, she has run well of late and could surprise)
Did you know? This is my race of the meet. I think it's 50/50 between Bizzarri and Koll, and there are a few other ladies plenty talented enough to sneak a victory.
Prediction: Koll tries to run away with it, but Bizzarri holds on and takes her third NCAA title. Nicole Blood and Sheila Reid eat up Koll in the last lap and finish in that order.
Men's 3000m
Top Returner: Michael Coe, California (2nd)
Fastest Qualifier: David McNeill, Northern Arizona (7:47.52)
Favorite: David McNeill (he's got the resume and the time to warrant being favorite)
Other Notables: Lee Emanuel (2009 mile champ); Dorian Ulrey, Arkansas (3:35 1500m); Craig Miller, Wisconsin (#2 returning miler, #2 qualifier); Brandon Bethke, Arizona State (sub-13:30)
Darkhorse: Brandon Bethke (nobody talks about him, but he's been one of the top collegiate runners the past two years -- 3:59/7:51/13:27)
Did you know? German Fernandez ran 7:51 indoors this year and was set to run in this race before twisting his ankle at his conference championships and having to withdraw.
Prediction: This one's the hardest to predict (says the guy who no doubt failed to predict any of them correctly!). I think McNeill will be hurting after his 5000m battle with Chelanga, opening the door for Coe to take it. Miller will finish strong for 2nd, Bethke 3rd, and Ulrey a dissapointed 4th. The times will all be within one second of each other.
Women's 5000m
Top Returner: Bridget Franek, Penn State (4th)
Fastest Qualifier: Lisa Koll, Iowa State (15:29.65)
Favorite: Lisa Koll (she's far and away the fastest in the field, and she'll be running fresh)
Other Notables: Nicole Blood, Oregon (15:38 PR)
Darkhorse: Janet Jesang, Western Kentucky (7th last year)
Did you know? Lisa Koll's qualifying time is 22 seconds faster than any other athlete's in the field, and 9 seconds faster than Nicole Blood's personal best. This is Koll's race to lose.
Prediction: A slow first half, before Koll gets impatient and throws the hammer down. The top runners go with her, but she's too much for them, winning by half a lap. Blood, Jesang, Franek take the next spots.
Men's 5000m
Top Returner: Sam Chelanga, Liberty (2nd)
Fastest Qualifier: David McNeill, NAU (13:39.32)
Favorite: Sam Chelanga (the guy ran 13:18/27:28 last year...he's the favorite)
Other Notables: a lot of sophomores: Colby Lowe, Oklahoma State (#3 qualifier), Ryan Collins, Virginia (#4 qualifier), Elliott Heath, Stanford (#5 qualifier), Luke Puskedra, Oregon (6th last year as a freshman)
Darkhorse: Colby Lowe (this kid is really really good, but runs under the exceedingly large shadow of German Fernandez at Oklahoma State)
Did you know? Sam Chelanga has never won an NCAA track title. Last year, Jenny Barringer finally won her first Big 12 title, because until last year Sally Kipyego dominated all of their races. Chelanga has been in that same boat with athletes like Galen Rupp. We'll see if this is the year he does it.
Prediction: This is my one big "darkhorse for the victory" prediction. I think Chelanga and McNeill will size each other up for most of the race, allowing a few guys with less top-end speed to hang around. Colby Lowe will be one of them, and he'll hang on just long enough to take down both McNeill and Chelanga in a helluva last lap. Lowe, McNeill, Chelanga, Heath.
Women's Distance Medley Relay
Top Returner: Tennessee (1st, in World Record time)
Fastest Qualifier: Oregon (10:59.64)
Favorite: Oregon (but I don't think Tennessee or Villanova are that far off)
Other Notables: Villanova (#2 qualifier), Georgetown (#4 qualifier)
Darkhorse: BYU (they only qualified with an 11:10, but they could have an NCAA 800m champ anchoring them...they just need to stay close)
Did you know? Tennessee lost their superstar anchor, Sarah Bowman, who graduated last year. They have the top two 800m qualifiers (Wright and Price), but their team isn't nearly as strong on paper this year.
Prediction: The top three teams--Oregon, Villanova and Tennessee--are very strong on both the front and back ends of this relay. They should be able to gain some separation from the rest of the pack. Then it all comes down to who anchors. If it's Wright, I think Tennessee wins. If it's not, I think Reid has the best shot to take down the field. Should be a great race. I'm going with Tennessee, Villanova, Oregon as my top three, with BYU sneaking up for 4th.
Men's Distance Medley Relay
Top Returner: Oregon (1st)
Fastest Qualifier: Oregon (9:29.82)
Favorite: Oregon (they have so many middle distance runners it's scary)
Other Notables: Arkansas (2nd last year, Ulrey anchoring), California (3rd last year, Coe anchoring), Stanford (#2 qualifier)
Darkhorse: UCLA (#3 qualifier flying completely under the radar)
Did you know? The top 5 qualifiers are all from the Pac 10 conference.
Prediction: It's so hard to know what team Oregon will actually put out there. If Wheating anchors, I think Oregon wins. Oregon, Arkansas, Cal, UCLA. If Wheating doesn't anchor, I'm going to go with Ulrey or Coe taking their teams to victory in a big last lap. Arkansas, Cal, Oregon, UCLA.
Last year when I wrote my 2009 NCAA Indoor Preview, I highlighted some of the records that went down during the indoor season and then wrote the following paragraph:Then there's the quantity of fast times being run. I took a look at the qualifying times for all events and saw an amazing statistic. In field events, there were an average of 5.7 automatic qualifiers per event. In sprints, there were only 4.0 autos, on average. In the distance events, however, there were on average 9.2 auto qualifying marks per event, with an amazing 27 auto marks in the DMRs (which is the best indication for overall middle-distance strength). And another 24 marks were within one second of the qualifiers. And I didn't count anyone not entered in a race, like Fernandez and Rupp in the mile. This is very much the result of so many races being run at the University of Washington and Notre Dame, which have large, fast tracks beneficial to distance runners. But it's also likely the result of a general rise in the quality of distance running in the NCAA.This year was even more impressive. Field events saw an average of 7.1 auto qualifiers, sprints 4.6, and distances 7.0 based on this year's standards. That's despite the fact that many standards were raised this year, including faster times in both DMRs, both miles, the women's 3000m, and the men's 60m, as well as tougher qualifiers in the women's long jump, pole vault, and pentathlon. When last year's times are used instead of this year's, those numbers change to 7.6 for field, 5.1 for sprints, and 8.9 for distances. And this year, there were 34 athletes within one second of the auto qualifier in the distances!
| 2009 | 2010 | Y/Y Change | |
| Field | 5.7 | 7.6 | +33% |
| Sprints | 4.0 | 5.1 | +28% |
| Distances | 9.2 | 8.9 | -3% |
| Distance athletes +1 sec | 24 | 34 | +42% |
As the table above shows, the overall quality in the NCAA continues to increase. In the field events, the women's pole vault continues to improve, as well as men's and women's long jumps. On the distance side, the slight decline is probably due to a number of teams qualifying last year in the DMR under questionable circumstances at the Notre Dame Invitational (only 10 ran sub-9:34 this year, as opposed to 27 last year, despite our glut of sub-4 milers). All things considered, though, even the distances seem to have improved slightly this year.
Before I get into the actual events, there are five questions I'll have in mind as I watch the meet this weekend:
Can anyone top Wheating? Despite missing the fall due to injury, he opened with a smokin' 1:46.36 800m and followed it up with a dominant 3:58 mile. The 2008 Olympic qualifier and reigning NCAA Outdoor 800m champ, it's hard to imagine anyone beating him. With that said, he does tend to save it until the last possible moment to go for the win, and that could set him up for disappointment. Similarly, it'll be interesting to see what he can do if he's anchoring the DMR for Oregon. A big performance this weekend will solidify his status as the premiere talent in the NCAAs.
Can an Aussie win a title? There are two very good possibilities in David McNeill and Ryan Foster. Neither can be considered the favorite, despite McNeill's having the top times in both the 3000m and 5000m this season. That's because he'll be facing Sam Chelanga (13:18i/27:28/NCAA XC champ last year) in the 5000m and a loaded field in the 3000m. Foster has the unenviable task of trying to beat Andrew Wheating and a bunch of young upstarts (Greer, Mellon, Andrews) who didn't get the memo that running 1:47 isn't an easy thing to do. I'd say the chances are about 33% that Australia takes home a title this weekend.Can a freshman win a distance title? I thought last year's freshman crop was amazing, but this year's might actually be stronger, at least in the middle distances. With Rupp, Barringer and Kipyego running last year, there was little hope for a freshman to sneak a title, but Lacey Cramer managed to do it in the 800m. This year, there are some stud middle distance freshman who just might have a chance. Mac Fleet and Elijah Greer are ranked top-3 in the mile and 800m, respectively, for Oregon, as is Jordan Hasay in the mile (she's also entered in the 3000m). In the 800m, we also have Robby Andrews of Virginia and Zach Mellon of Wisconsin. It's unlikely any of them will end up atop the podium, but maybe they can surpass the total distance points earned by last year's freshmen (35, DMRs not included).
Bizzarri or Koll? Bizzarri is the darling of the NCAA, having won the NCAA Outdoor 5000m, finished 3rd at the USATF Championships in the 5000m, and then somehow snuck a victory at the NCAA Cross Country Championships when Barringer and Kuijken faltered. Her times aren't that impressive, but she always finds a way to win. Koll had a down year last year due to injury, but is the American Collegiate 10000m record holder (32:11) and has run some smokin' fast times this season (8:56/15:29), both of which are much faster than Bizzarri's (or anyone else in the field's) personal bests.
Can UCLA win a DMR title? Back in 1999, UCLA entered the NCAA Indoors with an unheralded team. Jess Strutzel and Michael Granville were top 800 meter runners, and Mark Hauser was a 4-minute miler, so they were quite good. But everybody was talking about Stanford and Arkansas. Nobody gave Hauser much of a chance to hang on against the likes of Seneca Lassiter (Arkansas) or Michael Stember (Stanford) on the anchor. They went on to set a then American Record 9:33.17 in the event. This year's squad features a couple solid 800m guys (Cory Primm, Scott Crawford) and an unheralded 4-minute miler (Marlon Patterson) and they've already run faster than that 1999 squad ever did. Could this be the year they rewrite history?
Now let's get to the events!
Top Returner: Lacey Cramer, BYU (1st place)
Fastest Qualifier: Phoebe Wright, Tennessee (2:01.47)
Favorite: Phoebe Wright (2009 indoor runner-up, #1 qualifying time)
Other Notables: LaTavia Thomas, LSU (2008 indoor champ), Chanelle Price, Tennessee (2:01 in high school)
Darkhorse: Lea Wallace, Sacramento State (coached by my friend Scott Abbott, I'm pulling for Wallace or teammate Renisha Robinson!)
Did you know? Phoebe Wright finished 3rd at USATF's last year but couldn't get the qualifying time to go to Berlin.
Prediction: I think Wright is due for a big win. She's been very good for a couple years, but hasn't put it all together on the right day. This time she will. Wright, Cramer, Beckwith, Thomas.
Men's 800m
Top Returner: Andrew Wheating, Oregon (2nd)
Fastest Qualifier: Andrew Wheating (1:46.36)
Favorite: Andrew Wheating (far and away)
Other Notables: Ryan Foster, Penn State (8th outdoors, #2 qualifier), Chris Gowell (4th outdoors), Elijah Greer, Oregon (freshman is #3 qualifier, 1:47.33)
Darkhorse: Robby Andrews, Virginia (the kid has a stellar kick, so hopefully he'll be within striking range)
Did you know? Penn State qualified four men in the 800 meters! That's nuts!
Prediction: Wheating runs away with 200m to go. Andrews, Foster and Greer both finish well, with freshmen taking tons of points in this event. Wheating, Andrews, Foster, Greer.
Women's mile
Top Returner: Pilar McShine, Florida State (4th)
Fastest Qualifier: Charlotte Browning, Florida (4:31.24)
Favorite: Charlotte Browning (the senior is 3 seconds faster than the #2 qualifier this year)
Other Notables: Jordan Hasay, Oregon (frosh phenom, #3 qualifier),
Darkhorse: Nicole Schappert, Villanova (she'll be dangerous if she's got any more of that cross country mojo left from last year)
Did you know? Charlotte Browning finished 8th at last year's indoor meet, and is the #2 returner behind FSU's McShine.
Prediction: Last year, I didn't believe Hasay would win her first NCAA title as a freshman (unless it was a DMR). But this race is lining up well for her. I think she's going to take the title. McShine, Browning and Follett in 2nd through 4th, respectively.
Men's mile
Top Returner: Lee Emanuel, New Mexico (1st)
Fastest Qualifier: Lee Emanuel (3:57.62)
Favorite: Lee Emanuel (do you really want to bet against a 25 year-old returning champion and #1 qualifier?)
Other Notables: Mac Fleet, Oregon (frosh phenom, #2 qualifier), A.J. Acosta, Oregon (footlocker champ, 3:58), Jeff See, Ohio State (8th outdoors)
Darkhorse: Ben Blankenship, Minnesota (he's young, sub-3:58, and won the Big 10)
Did you know? 22 men broke the 4-minute barrier this year indoors, but only 16 of them entered in the mile at NCAAs. Notables who didn't enter the mile include Wheating, Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas), and Craig Miller (Wisconsin).
Prediction: Last year Emanuel ran away with the race from 600m out. This year, he'll try to do that again, but he won't break away and it'll be a struggle to the end. His experience will win out, however, and Emanuel will repeat as champion. Following him will be See, Blankenship, and Fleet.
Women's 3000m Top Returner: Angela Bizzarri, Illinois (4th)
Fastest Qualifier: Lisa Koll, Iowa State (8:56.09)
Favorite: Angela Bizzarri (but only because Koll is entered in the 5000m the night before)
Other Notables: Sheila Reid, Villanova (#2 qualifier, 9:04.65); Bridget Franek, Penn State and Nicole Blood, Oregon (perennial NCAA scorers); Jordan Hasay (frosh phenom)
Darkhorse: Marie Lawrence, Washington (known as a steepler, she has run well of late and could surprise)
Did you know? This is my race of the meet. I think it's 50/50 between Bizzarri and Koll, and there are a few other ladies plenty talented enough to sneak a victory.
Prediction: Koll tries to run away with it, but Bizzarri holds on and takes her third NCAA title. Nicole Blood and Sheila Reid eat up Koll in the last lap and finish in that order.
Men's 3000m
Top Returner: Michael Coe, California (2nd)
Fastest Qualifier: David McNeill, Northern Arizona (7:47.52)
Favorite: David McNeill (he's got the resume and the time to warrant being favorite)
Other Notables: Lee Emanuel (2009 mile champ); Dorian Ulrey, Arkansas (3:35 1500m); Craig Miller, Wisconsin (#2 returning miler, #2 qualifier); Brandon Bethke, Arizona State (sub-13:30)
Darkhorse: Brandon Bethke (nobody talks about him, but he's been one of the top collegiate runners the past two years -- 3:59/7:51/13:27)
Did you know? German Fernandez ran 7:51 indoors this year and was set to run in this race before twisting his ankle at his conference championships and having to withdraw.
Prediction: This one's the hardest to predict (says the guy who no doubt failed to predict any of them correctly!). I think McNeill will be hurting after his 5000m battle with Chelanga, opening the door for Coe to take it. Miller will finish strong for 2nd, Bethke 3rd, and Ulrey a dissapointed 4th. The times will all be within one second of each other.
Women's 5000m
Top Returner: Bridget Franek, Penn State (4th)
Fastest Qualifier: Lisa Koll, Iowa State (15:29.65)
Favorite: Lisa Koll (she's far and away the fastest in the field, and she'll be running fresh)
Other Notables: Nicole Blood, Oregon (15:38 PR)
Darkhorse: Janet Jesang, Western Kentucky (7th last year)
Did you know? Lisa Koll's qualifying time is 22 seconds faster than any other athlete's in the field, and 9 seconds faster than Nicole Blood's personal best. This is Koll's race to lose.
Prediction: A slow first half, before Koll gets impatient and throws the hammer down. The top runners go with her, but she's too much for them, winning by half a lap. Blood, Jesang, Franek take the next spots.
Men's 5000m Top Returner: Sam Chelanga, Liberty (2nd)
Fastest Qualifier: David McNeill, NAU (13:39.32)
Favorite: Sam Chelanga (the guy ran 13:18/27:28 last year...he's the favorite)
Other Notables: a lot of sophomores: Colby Lowe, Oklahoma State (#3 qualifier), Ryan Collins, Virginia (#4 qualifier), Elliott Heath, Stanford (#5 qualifier), Luke Puskedra, Oregon (6th last year as a freshman)
Darkhorse: Colby Lowe (this kid is really really good, but runs under the exceedingly large shadow of German Fernandez at Oklahoma State)
Did you know? Sam Chelanga has never won an NCAA track title. Last year, Jenny Barringer finally won her first Big 12 title, because until last year Sally Kipyego dominated all of their races. Chelanga has been in that same boat with athletes like Galen Rupp. We'll see if this is the year he does it.
Prediction: This is my one big "darkhorse for the victory" prediction. I think Chelanga and McNeill will size each other up for most of the race, allowing a few guys with less top-end speed to hang around. Colby Lowe will be one of them, and he'll hang on just long enough to take down both McNeill and Chelanga in a helluva last lap. Lowe, McNeill, Chelanga, Heath.
Women's Distance Medley Relay
Top Returner: Tennessee (1st, in World Record time)
Fastest Qualifier: Oregon (10:59.64)
Favorite: Oregon (but I don't think Tennessee or Villanova are that far off)
Other Notables: Villanova (#2 qualifier), Georgetown (#4 qualifier)
Darkhorse: BYU (they only qualified with an 11:10, but they could have an NCAA 800m champ anchoring them...they just need to stay close)
Did you know? Tennessee lost their superstar anchor, Sarah Bowman, who graduated last year. They have the top two 800m qualifiers (Wright and Price), but their team isn't nearly as strong on paper this year.
Prediction: The top three teams--Oregon, Villanova and Tennessee--are very strong on both the front and back ends of this relay. They should be able to gain some separation from the rest of the pack. Then it all comes down to who anchors. If it's Wright, I think Tennessee wins. If it's not, I think Reid has the best shot to take down the field. Should be a great race. I'm going with Tennessee, Villanova, Oregon as my top three, with BYU sneaking up for 4th.
Men's Distance Medley Relay
Top Returner: Oregon (1st)
Fastest Qualifier: Oregon (9:29.82)
Favorite: Oregon (they have so many middle distance runners it's scary)
Other Notables: Arkansas (2nd last year, Ulrey anchoring), California (3rd last year, Coe anchoring), Stanford (#2 qualifier)
Darkhorse: UCLA (#3 qualifier flying completely under the radar)
Did you know? The top 5 qualifiers are all from the Pac 10 conference.
Prediction: It's so hard to know what team Oregon will actually put out there. If Wheating anchors, I think Oregon wins. Oregon, Arkansas, Cal, UCLA. If Wheating doesn't anchor, I'm going to go with Ulrey or Coe taking their teams to victory in a big last lap. Arkansas, Cal, Oregon, UCLA.
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In 2006, Nick Bromley set his personal best time over 800 metres of 1:47.36 during a heat of the Commonwealth Games. He has a stellar record in the National Championships 800m, finishing 3rd in 2004, 2nd in 2008, and winning in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. He has recently been spotted being paced by a cyclist whilst running the ‘white fence’ at Sydney’s Centennial Park.
Jeff Riseley made up for what he described as his “worst nightmare” Olympic debut in 2008 (when he was suffering from the effects of a virus) by running 1:45.48 for 800m (putting him number 7 on the Australian all-time list) and a scintillating 3:32.93 for 1500m in 2009. This 1500m time is the second fastest on the Australian all-time list, behind Simon Doyle’s 3:31.96 1991 national record. He’s not planning to race at the upcoming Sydney Grand Prix, but will instead race at the Melbourne Grand Prix
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