http://www.trackshark.com/articles/2004/17.php
Articles : 2004 Indoor Sprints & Hurdles Preview
by Tom Borish (12/29/03)
Lauryn Williams of Miami is coming off a great summer of competition
WOMEN
The Lee factor - Muna Lee of LSU will set her sights on pulling off the sprints double by going after the 60 and 200 meter titles at the 2004 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in Arkansas. The defending champion in both events will want to cap off her indoor collegiate career as the queen of the sprints. The lady Tigers will also be in the hunt for the team title and they’ll need every point they can get.
This is no Campbell soup – She calls Clarendon, Jamaica, her home, but the flashy sprinter just might make her self a household name by the middle of the season. With a personal best of 7.09 in the 60 meters and 22.63 in the 200 meters (22.39 outdoors), Veronica Campbell of Arkansas should give Muna Lee all she can handle with what should be another great SEC rivalry. The former Barton CC star should feel right at home as the NCAA Indoor Championships will be on her turf.
Moore looks for more – Talk about big sprinting additions for the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks. The other Barton CC star and former Ohio High School star, LaShaunte’a Moore, will take her talents to the track in the 60 and 200 meters as well. With an outdoor personal best of 22.81 in the 200 meters, Moore should shine bright and fit right into the SEC battle for the best.
She’s back - After earning All-American honors at Minnesota with second-place finish in the 60-meter dash at the 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships, Tahesia Harrigan transferred to Alabama and sat out the entire 2003 season. With plenty of practice, hard work and patience under her belt, the Virgin Islands native hopes to spoil the party and make it sweet home Alabama once again.
Lauryn sitting pretty – With much of the focus being on Muna Lee this season, perhaps that’s just what Lauryn Williams of Miami wants. As the youngest competitor in the 60 meter final last year, the Pennsylvania native placed 4th in 7.29. Williams will bring back a load of confidence after winning 2 gold medals at the Pan Am Games in the 100 meters and anchoring the 4x100 meter relay this past summer. The Big East competitors will see her for a final time this year as the Hurricanes will join the ACC in 2005.
Brown making waves - Shandria Brown of Lincoln hopes to make it another banner season as the NCAA Division II champion won both the 60, 100 and 200 meters last year. She should represent the Bahamas well in trying to make the Olympic team in Athens this summer. Fans in Boston take note: The NCAA Division II Indoor Championships are there again and you should know Shandria Brown.
What’s her name again – Quick, name the two freshmen who ran at least 7.35 last year over 60 meters. Of course the first one is Texas’ Sanya Richard’s – but who was the other one? For those of you who guessed Jakki Bailey of Stanford, consider yourself a real fan of the sport.
The next Marion Jones? - A tall, talented athlete who stars in several sports, she’s one of America’s best hopes for future Olympic gold medals in the sprints and long jump. Marshevet Hooker of Texas should be one of the top freshmen in the nation this season after a stellar high school career in the Lone Star state. After running 7.33 last season for the 60 meters, she could surprise many people this season.
Speaking of Texas – Do they ever stop reloading? With an incoming class that will include Hooker, Angel Boyd, Michelle Carter, Jerricka Chapple, Carlee Clark and Brooke Stewart, the Longhorns could be hooking their way towards a national title soon.
Why does it seem like whoever gets the inside lanes for the 200 meter indoor final at Arkansas, it takes them forever to get around the track? We all know about the disadvantage in running in this lane, as it has to be the most challenging in all of sports. Perhaps this is why it’s not contested at the NCAA Division II or III national championships? Remember, they also have it right in football.
Felicien says goodbye – Perdita Felicien could have competed for one final go-around this season at Illinois, but the defending World Champion for the 100 meter hurdles decided to make the right decision and turn pro. She’ll get her degree on time and still have plenty to work towards as one of the favorites for the Olympic Gold medal and as one of the more popular athletes in Canada.
LSU’s Lolo Jones will look to repeat as the indoor hurdle queen
Lolo a go-go – Sure, LSU is once again loaded and ready for a run at a national title again and much of that success will fall once again on the back of Lolo Jones. She had a breakthrough season in 2003 and emerged as a superstar on the 60 meter hurdles scene. Sub 8-seconds is right around the corner.
Texas two-step - Nichole Denby and Raasin McIntosh of Texas placed 5 th and 6 th last year, but look for these two to step up and perhaps emerge as a national champion.
Too long of a season? Sanya Richards of Texas had one of the best freshmen campaigns in the history of collegiate track & field. She also had one of the longest. From her debut in January indoors in New York, to the World Championships overseas in September, the sophomore has had little time off to prepare once again for an Olympic year. However, Richards should be just fine as she’s in the hands of one of the best coaches in the country. The 400 meters should be in her favor once again.
They’re not scared at all – Sanya Richards is everyones favorite for the 400 meters. However, you compete to win the race. Nothing is ever given to you. That’s why, the defening indoor champion, LeShinda Demus of South Carolina will not let it go easy. Nadia Davy of LSU, Marsha Dawkins of Oral Roberts and Dee Dee Trotter of Tennessee will make sure to throw their names into the mix as title contenders as well.
DNF – That’s the three letters that have been haunting Lincoln’s Moya Thompson for nearly a year now. The NCAA Division II Outdoor Champion did not finish during the indoor final last season and will look to tear up the track in Boston this year. Can the junior shake off those ghosts?
Hot relays - Texas , South Carolina and LSU. The same three schools will battle once again for who can say they have the best long sprinters in the nation.
MEN
Tyson looks to tear up Tyson – That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. If there is a name you need to know this indoor season for the 60 meters, Tyson Gay of Arkansas should be part of the new breed of NCAA stars. The JUCO Champion last season at Barton CC came through the line in 6.65 seconds not to mention his 10.01 (5.3w) clocking to also claim the 100 meter title outdoors. With the Tyson Center as his home, look for Tyson to step it up and perhaps be one of the favorites for the NCAA Division I title – although there is no clear one at this point.
Scales not a popular choice – For whatever reason, not many people like to even mention Mardy Scales from Middle Tennessee State as a favorite for any title. Perhaps it’s the mid-major school he attends where they get little press or perhaps Scales likes it that way. The 100 meter outdoor champion also boasts a personal best of 6.60 seconds for the 60 meters which was set last season. Working harder than ever in an Olympic year as well, the senior shouldn’t surprise anyone if he takes the indoor short sprint title at Arkansas .
Throwing out some more names – The basket of names could be endless for whom to watch this season in the 60 meters. The days of Justin Gatlin dominating are over. 2004 should boast names such as Marquis Davis of Mississippi State, Sean Lambert of Tennessee, DaBryan Blanton of Oklahoma, Michael Frater of TCU, Larry Griffin of Clemson, Timothy Walls of North Carolina A&T and many, many others. Lerone Clarke of Lincoln had a tremendous season last year as the top Division II freshman with his time of 6.69. It should be an interesting season for the 60 meters.
Booking it – Just give him a couple weeks of training, a few meets in between and he should be just fine to win a national title. Sure, those sound like encouraging words for someone to win, but that’s exactly all Leo Bookman of Kansas needed to win the NCAA Division I indoor title for the 200 meters last season. The senior has decided to give up football to focus on track full-time. Now, instead of having to worry about morning lifting, spring ball and evening practices on the gridiron, Bookman will shift his focus to the track.
Another Barton star looks to make his name – TCU is known for their outstanding sprinters every season and 2004 should be no less. Erick Wilson, who spent his first two collegiate seasons at Barton CC, will give the Horned Frogs that spark they are always looking for. Although Wilson has not competed in the 60 meters very much, he has shown signs of greatness outdoors and it should translate to this indoor season. His personal best times of 9.93 (5.3w) and 20.19 (4.2w) from the outdoor season could put Wilson’s name on the map if he can show that same speed during the indoor season.
Sophomore slump – Sure, it’s just a gimmick, but don’t expect that to happen from the Texas duo of Brendan Christian and Aaron Collins for the 200 meters this season. The Longhorns will look for plenty of points in this hot contested event and don’t be surprised if both can rack up some team points.
The close second - Jerome Mathis from Hampton nearly won the 200 meters over Leo Bookman last season during the outdoor final. After losing by only .01 of a second, Mathis could be the dark horse that no one seems to know about until he shocks everyone once again.
Going auto – Only five athletes hit the NCAA Division I automatic mark of 20.85 last season. Marquis Davis and Glen McFadden of Mississippi State, Kyle Farmer of Florida, Kendrick Triggs of Ole Miss, Kenneth Baxter of Purdue, Robert Parham of LSU, Robert Foster and Stanford Routt of Houston and the names mentioned above should all be in the ballpark of reaching that standard.
Feeling Minnesota – Was it a fluke? Who would have picked Steele? After winning the NCAA Division I outdoor title last season, Adam Steele has emerged as one of the top long sprinters in the world after his sub 45 second performance. Although he has yet to step onto the same scene indoors, his confidence and charisma should boost him to be one of the favorites. His teammate and World Championship training partner, Mitch Potter, is also a name the Golden Gophers are very familiar with. The rest of the nation should know by now that Steele and Potter are two of the best long sprinters.
Hogan’s Heroes – After suffering several injuries last season, Obra Hogans of Seton Hall couldn’t quite establish himself as a title contender when it mattered most. With a strong fall training session and now injury free, the senior who entered the NCAA Division I indoor championships with the top time last season could be a force to be reckoned with. The 45.28 outdoor performer will turn plenty of heads this season.
Don’t forget about USC (east) – The Gamecocks of South Carolina are in no mood for second best. Perhaps the deepest group of sprinters in the nation could score some big points at the national meet in Arkansas . Otis Harris, who finished a nose behind Steele for the outdoor title, is coming off an outstanding outdoor season which saw him run 44.57. Jonathan Fortanberry also suffered some minor injuries which saw his training suffer but should be a big factor as well.
Between a Rock and a hard place – If you don’t know who Andrew Rock of Wisconsin La Crosse is, you should know by now. The defending NCAA Division III Champion and record holder whipped the competition while rolling to a 45.29 clocking last outdoor season. After running 46.96 on a flat 200 meter indoor track, Rock could challenge to be the best collegiate 400 meter runner across all divisions after 2004 is complete.
Young crop will challenge all – Of all the events at the collegiate level, the men’s 400 meters is one of the youngest as only six seniors at least met the NCAA Division I provisional standard last year. Some of the faces back this season you should know include Pete Coley and Kelly Willie of LSU, Darold Williamson and Jeremy Wariner of Baylor, Ashton Collins of Texas and Lewis Banda of Arizona State. The freshman everyone should look out for will be Reggie Witherspoon of Florida who won the National Scholastic indoor title in 46.11 and holds an outdoor best of 46.08 when he was only 17 years old. Don’t forget about 400 meter hurdle specialist and teammate Kerron Clement who owns a sub-50 performance in the hurdles when he was 17 as well.
Harris looks for the title again – Many forget that Rickey Harris of Florida surprised the field during this freshman year while winning the 400 meter indoor title. After rumors of him leaving Florida to go somewhere else, Harris is staying put and should be in great shape for the title once again. The 400 meter hurdle specialist has been making plenty of strides heading into his senior year for the Gators.
Homewood back on track – After blazing the track with his time of 46.17 indoors last season, in which he placed second to Mitch Potter in the same race, Dirk Homewood of Northern Iowa is a name that should not be forgotten for this season.
SEC domination in the hurdles – There is no other way to say it. Total domination. That’s what the SEC owned in the 60 meter hurdles last season as 7 of the 8 finalists came from the conference. Jabari Greer of Tennessee will look to defend his title but may be sidetracked if he wishes to pursue his NFL career with the off season workouts and tryouts. Ken Ferguson of South Carolina will return after a tremendous freshman campaign in which he tied for the second-fastest time heading into the NCAA Division I Championships last season. Names also coming out of the SEC will include Michael Thomas of Arkansas, Shamar Sands of Auburn, Antwon Hicks of Ole Miss and Esteban Guzman of Georgia.
Wait, what about Walker – Florida has a hidden diamond and many people don’t even know about it. Josh Walker, who was the only collegian to make the U.S. Championship final in the 110 meter hurdles last season, is on pace to perhaps be the favorite for the title. With a 7.73 performance indoors as well, the junior Gator is coming off a well rounded outdoor season and summer training program.
Living in Payne - Cincinnati’s David Payne was one of the top hurdlers in the country and he only got to show his talents outdoors in the NCAA. Since the Bearcat program does not support indoor track & field, Payne was unable to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships last year in Arkansas. With a personal best of 7.70 and placing third in the 110 hurdles outdoors, Payne will be one to watch during the indoor season even if he doesn’t get to compete at the big show.
Cooper back in action - After sitting out the 2003 season, Jermaine Cooper of Texas should be healthy and ready then ever to attack the 60 meter hurdles once again.
Oliver on the lookout - David Oliver of Howard hopes to make it a banner year as his senior campaign is upon him. After his 4 th place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last season in the 110 meter hurdles, Oliver is ready to make it a title run.
Moore may be gone, Akpan looks to fill in – St. Augustine’s will miss the great performer from Anwar Moore this season due to graduation, but Unyime Akpan may look to fill in that void. His 7.77 personal best set last season earned him a third place finish at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. However, the defending champion is just as dangerous with Ricardo Moody of Adams State . It should be another hot session up in Boston .
It’s relay time – Perhaps the most exciting event of all the championships, it should be another close contest for the NCAA Division I national title. South Carolina will be back to boast another challenge to win and anchor leg Jonathan Fortanberry is hungrier than ever after missing plenty of practice last season due to an injury. LSU hopes to go off their indoor and outdoor performance from last season after then freshman Kelly Willie anchored to win the 4x400. There will be plenty of schools in for the fight. Minnesota, TCU, Florida and Arizona State should also make it a great event to watch.