NCAA DI Championship Preview and Predictions: 5 Events to Watch
June 7, 2011 by David Pickett
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
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