NCAA DI Championship Preview and Predictions: 5 Events to Watch

June 7, 2011 by David Pickett · 1 Comment

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100 Meter Dash
Leading the field in the men’s 100 meter dash are Jeff Demps of Florida, the defending NCAA champion in this event, and Ngonidzashe Makusha of Florida State, the ACC champion. Demps comes in with a season’s best time of 9.96w, while Makusha comes in with a season’s best time of 9.97. Challenging them will be Maurice Mitchell of Florida State, who turned in a season’s best time of 10.03 at the ACC championships. Mitchell is also a co-favorite in the 200 along with Rakieem Salaam of Oklahoma.

Predictions:
1. Jeff Demps - Florida
2. Maurice Mitchell - Florida State
3. Ngonidzashe Makusha - Florida State
4. Gerald Phiri - Texas A&M
5. Rakieem Salaam - Oklahoma

Jeneba Tarmoh of Texas A&M headlines the field for the women’s 100 meter dash. Tarmoh, who has run a wind-aided 10.94 this season, is the Big 12 champion in this event. Her competition will come from Semoy Hackett of LSU. Hackett has turned in a season’s best time of 10.98w, and is the SEC champion in this event. Others to watch out for are Kimberlyn Duncan (LSU), Lakya Brookins (USC) and English Gardner (Oregon). Duncan and Brookins ran identical times of 11.02w at the SEC meet last month, while Gardner broke Gail Devers PAC-10 meet record with a legal 11.03.

Predictions:
1. Jeneba Tarmoh - Texas A&M
2. Lakya Brookins - South Carolina
3. Semoy Hacket - LSU
4. English Gardner - Oregon
5. Kimberlyn Duncan - LSU

400 Meter Dash
Alabama’s Kirani James has done some remarkable things this season. During indoors, James ran the third fastest time in history at 400 meters. You can be assured he will be looking to better his time of 44.80 from indoors this weekend. Texas A&M teammates Demetrius Pinder and Tabarie Henry will look to pull off an upset. Pinder, who has run 44.87 this season, is the defending NCAA indoor champion in this event. Henry comes in with a season’s best time of 44.83. Also keep an out for Oregon’s Mike Berry, who has run 44.91 this season.

Predictions:
1. Kirani James - Alabama
2. Demetrius Pinder - Texas A&M
3. Tabarie Henry - Texas A&M
4. Torrin Lawrence - Georgia
5. Mike Berry - Oregon

Texas A&M’s Jessica Beard comes in as a co-favorite in the women’s 400 meter dash, along with Diamond Dixon of Kansas. Both have run identical times of 51.55 this season. Dixon defeated Beard at the Big 12 meet last month. Beard comes in as the NCAA indoor champion in this event and will be looking to add a outdoor title in her final collegiate meet. Others to watch out for are Joanna Atkins of Auburn (51.83) , Shelise Williams of Arkansas (52.12) and Regina George of Arkansas (52.31).

Predictions:
1. Jessica Beard - Texas A&M
2. Shelise Williams - Arkansas
3. Diamond Dixon - Kansas
4. Joanna Atkins - Auburn
5. Regina George - Arkansas

100 Meter Hurdles
Eleven women have dipped under 13 seconds this season in the 100 meter hurdles. USC’s Nia Ali comes in as one of the favorites, having run a wind-aided 12.74 this season. Her time is identical to Tiffani McReynolds of Baylor. Christina Manning of Ohio State comes in with the third fastest time of 12.86.

Predictions:
1. Nia Ali - USC
2. Christina Manning - Ohio State
3. Tiffani McReynolds - Baylor
4. Kierre Beckles - South Carolina
5. Gabby Mayo - Texas A&M

400 Meter Hurdles
Five men dipped under 50 seconds in 400 meter hurdles at the West Prelim. Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson comes in as the clear favorite in this event. Anderson is currently ranked second in the world in this event, with a season’s best time of 48.13, which he recorded at the PAC-10 championships. If anyone is to challenge Anderson than Bryce Brown of Texas Tech may be the man. Brown has run 49.04 this season, he’s the Big 12 champion in this event.

Predictions:
1. Jeshua Anderson - Washington State
2. Byrce Brown - Texas Tech
3. Jamele Mason - Texas Tech
4. Reggie Wyatt - USC
5. Amaechi Morton - Standford

Ellen Wortham of Tennessee headlines the field for the women’s 400 meter hurdles. Wortham, who has run 55.70 this season, currently ranks number eight in the world in this event. Her competition will come from LaToya James of North Carolina and Turquoise Thompson of UCLA. James has run 55.83 this season, while Thompson has run 55.84.

Predictions:
1. Elllen Wortham - Tennessee
2. Turquoise Thompson - UCLA
3. Ti’erra Brown - Miami
4. LaToya James - North Carolina
5. Cassandra Tate - LSU

Triple Jump
The triple jump should be the most watched field event. Why? Three guys have jumped over 17 meters this season. Florida teammates Will Claye and Christian Taylor probably get enough of each other, since they practice, travel and compete together. Claye and Taylor are the top two triple jumpers in the NCAA this year. Claye has jumped 17.24 meters and Taylor 17.15 meters, respectively.

Predictions:
1. Will Claye - Florida
2. Christian Taylor - Florida
3. Julian Ried - Texas A&M
4. Zedric Thomas - LSU
5. Tyron Stewart - Texas A&M

Filed Under: Meet Coverage, Special Features
Tagged: 2011 ncaa outdoor track & field championships, NCAA D1

2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships D1

June 7, 2011 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment

June 8-11, 2011 - Des Moines, Iowa - Drake Stadium

Full Results
Women’s Start Lists
Men’s Start Lists
Preview

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Texas A&M men’s and women’s track and field 2011. Triple double national titles!
Photo (c) Mike Scott 2011.

Day 3 Highlights - Top Performances
Ngonidzashe Makusha (Florida State) 8.40m/27-6 ¾ + 9.89 CR
Damar Forbes (LSU) 8.23m/27-0
Ti’erra Brown (Miami) [55.642
Turquoise Thompson (UCLA) 55.646
Jeshua Anderson (Washington St.) 48.56
Candyce McGrone (Oklahoma) 11.08
Kimberlyn Duncan (LSU) 11.09
Rakieem Salaam (Oklahoma) 9.97
Maurice Mitchell (Florida State) 10.00
Jessica Beard (Texas A&M) 51.10
Kirani James (Alabama) 45.10
Tony McQuay (Florida) 45.14
Mike Berry (Oregon) 45.18

Photo (c) Mike Scott 2011.

Day 2 Highlights - The remaining events have been delayed till Friday via Flashresults…. Men’s 4×400 and Men’s 10K
M110 Hurdles Prelim - Texas Tech’s Omo Osaghae led all qualifiers with a 13.32 clocking in heat 1. The next fastest time were by Andrew Riley of Illinois (13.37 - Heat 1); Texas’ Keiron Stewart (13.44 - Heat 3); LSU’s Barrett Nugent (13.48 -Heat 1.

W100 Hurdles Prelim - USC’s Nia Ali led all qualifiers with a 12.82 (-0.6m/s) clocking in heat 1. The next fastest times were by Christina Manning of Ohio State (12.92 - Heat 2); Leticia Wright of Ohio State (13.01 - Heat 2); Michaylin Golladay of Clemson (13.01 - Heat 3). A&M teammates, Gabby Mayo and Natasha Ruddock, both failed to advance to the finals.

M200 Prelim - Oklahoma’s Rakieem Salaam led all qualifiers with a 20.29 clocking heat 3. The next fastest times were by Maurice Mitchell of Florida State (20.39 - Heat 2); Marek Nitt of Arkansas (20.43 - Heat 2); Horatio Williams of LSU (20.44 - Heat 1)

W200 Prelim - LSU’s Kimberlyn Duncan led all qualifiers with a 22.38 clocking in heat 1. The next fastest times were by Tiffany Townsend of Baylor (22.77 - Heat 1); Nivea Smith of Auburn (22.80 - Heat 1); Aareon Payne of USC (22.97 - Heat 2).

Day 1 Highlights - Demps, Hackett, Tarmoh out of 100 Finals!
M400 Hurdles Prelim - Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson led all qualifiers with a 49.18 clocking in heat 2. The next fastest times were by Amaechi Morton of Stanford (49.31 - Heat 1); Byrce Brown of Texas Tech (49.95 - Heat 1); Jamele Mason of Texas Tech (50.01 - Heat 3).

W400 Hurdles Prelim - Miami’s Ti’erra Brown led all qualifiers with a season’s best time of 55.59 in heat 1. The next fastest times were by Ryann Krais of Kansas (55.68 - Heat 2); Cassandra Tate of LSU (55.99 - Heat 3); Turquoise Thompson of UCLA (55.99 - Heat 1). Meet favorite - Tennessee’s Ellen Wortham (56.43) failed to advance to the finals.

M100 Prelim - Florida State’s Ngonidzashe Makusha led all qualifiers with a 10.13 clocking into a -1.1 m/s headwind in heat 3. The next fastest times were by Maurice Mitchell of Florida State (10.16 - Heat 1); Rakieem Salaam of Oklahoma (10.26 - Heat 3); Terrell Wilks of Florida (10.27 - Heat 1). Florida’s Jeff Demps (10.40 -Heat 2), who is the defending champion in this event, failed to advance to the finals.

W100 Prelim - Oregon’s English Gardner led all qualifiers with a 11.17 clocking into a -0.4 m/s headwind in heat 3. The next fastest times were by Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU (11.22 - Heat 3); Aurieyall Scott of UCF (11.30 - Heat 2); Jessica Young (11.31 - Heat 2). Co-favorites - Texas A&M’s Jeneba Tarmoh (False Start) and LSU’s Semoy Hackett (11.55) failed to advance to the finals.

M400 Prelim - Florida’s Tony McQuay (photo) posted a career best time of 44.87 in heat 1, to lead all qualifiers. The next fastest times were by Gil Roberts of Texas Tech (45.22 - Heat 1); Mike Berry of Oregon (45.23 - Heat 2); Joey Huges of USC (45.27 - Heat 2).

251334_839071811344_14304428_41473126_4191037_n1 Photo (c) Mike Scott 2011.

W400 Prelim - Texas A&M’s Jessica Beard posted a season’s best time of 51.24 in heat 1, to lead all qualifiers. The next fastest times were by Diamond Dixon of Kansas (51.64 - Heat 3); Joanna Atkins of Auburn (51.69 - Heat 2); Shelise Williams of Arkansas (51.84 - Heat 3).

M4×100 Prelim - Texas A&M posted the fastest qualifying time of 38.33 in heat 3. The next fastest times were by Florida (38.59) Heat 2; Illinois (38.72) Heat 1 ; Florida State (38.75) Heat 1.

Wx4100 Prelim - LSU posted the fastest qualifying time of 42.94 in heat 2. The next fastest times were by Texas A&M (42.99) Heat 1; Houston (43.38) Heat 1; UCF 43.52 Heat 3.

Women’s Long Jump Final - Southern Mississippi jr. Tori Bowie captured her first national title, with a career best mark of 6.64m/21-9 ½. Ti’Anca Mock of Oklahoma (6.64m/21-9 ½.) and Jamesha Youngblood of Oregon (6.59m/21-7 ½) finished second and third, respectively.