The Gateway to Sacramento:
The Gun Is Up: An Event-by-Event Preview
This feature is the sixth of a multi-part series highlighting the athletes, coaches, and teams that will attend the NCAA Mideast Track & Field Regional Championships on May 25 and 26, held at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
The fields are set and we are ready to go. With intrigue in every one of the 38 events, the NCAA Mideast Regional in Columbia will have national attention from the first throw of the hammer until the final gun.
By Shawn Davis and McClain Thompson
Missouri Media Relations Student Assistants
The 2007 Mideast Track Regional figures to be one of the most competitive regions nationally. The meet features 15 women's teams and 14 men's teams that are ranked in the top 25 by Trackwire. Highlighted by powerhouses Louisiana State, Arkansas, Auburn and Tennessee, each of the 38 events will be filled with conference champions and national title contenders. The meet gets under way Friday at 11 a.m. with the men's hammer throw and concludes at 7:20 p.m. Saturday night with the women's 4x400-meter relay.
Women's 100-meter dash
In the 100-meter dash, the odds on favorite is Kelly Ann Baptiste of LSU. After posting a qualifying time of 11.22, tops in her native Trinidad, the seven-time All-American is looking to win the Mideast Regional for the second time in her career. Coming in right behind Baptiste is teammate Sherry Fletcher. The senior ran an 11.26 to qualify two weeks ago at the SEC Championships. Coming into the Regional as the Conference USA champion at the 100, Gloria Asumnu of Tulane is also one of the favorites in this event after clocking a 11.31. Auburn's Kerron Stewart qualified with the nation's fastest time in the 100-meter dash at 11.07, but did not declare and will not compete.
Women's 200-meter dash
The 200-meter dash on the women's side is highlighted by returning indoor national champion Kerron Stewart. Stewart was named the 2007 Indoor Track Athlete of the Year this season as she took home the titles in the 200 and 60-meter dashes. Last year's 200-meter outdoor runner-up qualified for the regional with a blistering time of 22.52 (almost .3 seconds faster than the next closest qualifier). Latonia Wilson of Louisiana Tech, and LSU Lady Tigers Samantha Henry and Sherry Fletcher will provide competition for the Auburn senior.
Women's 400-meter dash
Highlighted by Arkansas junior Jessica Cousins, the 400-meter dash will likely be one of the most competitive events at the Mideast Regional. The top 10 qualifiers are all within one second of each other. Improving on a sophomore season that saw her develop into a top competitor, Cousins ran a time of 52.06, second in the region this (South Alabama's Ajoke Odumosu ran a 50.46, but did not declare and will not compete). Senior Najah Floyd of Central Michigan clocked in with a time of 52.29, while two LSU sprinters, Deeonna Lawrence and Cynetheia Rooks, came in with 52.33. Lawrence and Rooks have both won two national championships as members of the Lady Tigers 4x400-meter relay.
Women's 800-meter run
Katie Erdman of Michigan highlights a long list of competitors in the 800-meter run. Erdman, a five time All-American, ran a 2:02.99, the fastest time by more than a full second over the second place qualifier LaTavia Thomas of LSU. (Erdman's teammate at Michigan qualified second with 2:03.94, but did not declare and will not compete). Erdman's time is good for second on the national list and she is coming off a fourth place finish this winter at the Indoor National Championships. Thomas, a freshman, entered the season as the nations top recruit at the 800, and her time of 2:04.38 is good enough for seventh nationally. Becky Horn, a junior from Western Michigan, is the only other runner to clock in at sub 2:05. The top nine runners in the 800 have are among the NCAA's top 25, including Trisha Nickoley of Missouri, who qualified with a time of 2:05.37.
Women's 1500-meter run
Another SEC runner tops the list of competitors in the 1500-meter run. Dacia Barr, a junior from Arkansas, topped won the SEC Championships by a full four seconds to weeks ago with a time of 4:14.97. Her time trails only Brie Felnagle of North Carolina for the top time in the NCAA. Defending Mideast Regional champion Nicole Edwards, finished fourth last season at nationals. The Michigan Wolverine comes in with the second best time at 4:16.47. Two of the regional's top five qualifiers--Michigan's Anna Willard and Notre Dame's Molly Huddle--did not declare and will not compete.
Women's 5000-meter run
The 5000-meter run is an event that owned by Notre Dame's Molly Huddle over the past five seasons. Huddle won the 2003, 2004 and 2006 regional championships. Huddle came four seconds short of a national title last season, and ran a season best 15:32.83 this year to qualify nearly 22 seconds ahead of her closet competitor. New Mideast Regional and Audrey J. Walton stadium records will likely be posted Friday night.
Women's 100-meter hurdles
The top nine competitors in the 100-meter hurdles all own top 25 rankings, including three in the top-10. Fourth ranked Tiffany Ofili of Michigan comes in as the favorite after running the only sub-13 second time this spring with a 12.99. Ofili beat out three LSU runners--Nichieksha Wilson, Jessica Ohanaja and Angel Boyd. Wilson (coming off an SEC championship) and Ohanaja (placed second at Indoor Nationals in the 60-meter hurdles) will likely be the top challengers to Ofili. The qualifying times of Ofili, Wilson and Ohanaja all better Mideast Regional and Walton stadium records.
Women's 400-meter hurdles
LSU NickieshaWilson also checks in as one of the top competitors in the 400-meter hurdles. Only South Alabama's Ajoke Odumosu registering a time better than Wilson's 55.77. After finishing third in the Mideast Regional to two graduated Auburn hurdlers, Odumosu will look to take home the regional title this season as she sports the No. 1 ranking in the NCAA, and is sixth in the IAAF world rankings.
Women's 3000-meter steeplechase
Michigan's Anna Willard qualified for the Mideast Regional in the 800-meter run, 1500-meter run, 5000-meter run and the 3000-meter steeplchase. Willard declared only for the steeplechase where she enters as the only runner to post a time under 10 minutes, with a time of 9:57.90, third in the nation this season. Nicole Bush of Michigan State comes in ranked seventh in the NCAA, but clocked in six seconds behind Willard. The Audrey J. Walton stadium record in the 3000-meter steeplechase was set in 2002 by Lesley Higgins of Colorado with a time of 10:26.16. The top four qualifiers in the steeplechase come in with times better than 10:26.16.
Women's 4x100-meter relay
Two of the nation's top three 4x100-meter relay team's--LSU and Auburn--look to best each other in a rematch of the 1-2 finish a year ago at the Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. Fifteen hundredth's of a second separated the two teams then, and a little over a quarter of a second separates their qualifying times this spring. Fellow SEC members Tennessee, Ole Miss, and the Big 10's Illinois round out the top 5.
Women's 4x400-meter relay
Three of the top four finishing relays at last years NCAA Outdoor Championships hailed from the SEC and the Mideast Regional--LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas. This year should be no different. LSU tops the list after beating Arkansas in the SEC Championships with a time of 3:28.89. Arkansas qualified second, Louisiana Tech third, and Western Michigan fourth. Tennessee, who won the 2004 and 2005 Mideast Regional, qualified sixth.
Women's high jump
Moving to field events, the women's high features one of the most competitive fields. Ten of the NCAA top 25 are in Columbia this weekend , and all fall within three inches of each other. Leading the pack is Alabama's Miruna Mataoanu cleared 6-1 (1.86m). Last season, Mataoanu finished first at the Mideast Regional with a jump of 6-1½ (1.87m) and finished sixth at nationals. Providing competition will be fifth ranked Raevan Harris of Auburn and Renee Hein of Cincinnati. As a sophomore, Harris posted a 6-0¾ (1.85m), as did Hein. Both come in ranked 18th in the United States, while Mataoanu is ranked fourth in the NCAA and 17th in the world. The only other jumpers in the field to break 6-0 (1.83m) are sohpomores Bettie Wade of Michigan and Brittney Reese of Ole Miss. Reese did not declare and will not compete.
Women's pole vault
With vaults of 13-6 (4.12m), Indiana freshman Vera Neuenswander and Arkansas senior Jodi Unger are tied atop the list of qualifers for the pole vault. Neuenswander and Unger are both ranked seventh nationally. Unger placed fourth at the Mideast Regional a a year ago and fifth at Outdoor Nationals. Purdue sophomore Mallory Peck, and two other LadyBack vaulters Stephanie Irwin and Katie Stripling round out the top five.
Women's long jump
Coming in ranked sixth in the world in the long jump Brittney Reese, an Ole Miss sophomore, is the favorite to take home the regional title in long jump. Ranked as the second best long jumper in the NCAA, Reese jumped a 21-11¾ (6.70m), good enough for the third best jump in the United States this season. Reese's qualifying jump tops the Mideast Regional and the Audrey J. Walton stadium records. Providing competition for Reese, Tanika Liburd of Southern Miss comes in ranked seventh in the NCAA.
Women's triple jump
Another LSU Lady Tiger tops the list of competitors in the women's triple jump. Junior Andrea Lipton jumped the fifth farthest in the NCAA this season with a mark of 44-1 (13.44m). Lipton finished fifth at nationals last season after finishing as the runner up at the Mideast regional. With a strong second half to her season, Michelle Vaughn, a senior from Auburn took third place at the Indoor Championships this season, and comes into the regional ranked sixth in the NCAA. Illinoi's Yvonne Mensah won the Mideast Regional a year ago. She qualified sixth this spring with a jump of 42-6 (12.96m).
Women's shot put
The University of Missouri qualified a Mideast Regional best 10 throwers this spring. Junior Shernelle Nichols from Mizzou comes in as the favorite in the women's shot put. With a throw of 56-2¾ (17.14m), Nicholls ranks fifth in the NCAA and first in her native Barbados. Gail Lee, a senior out of Memphis comes in with the 12th best throw in the NCAA this season at 54-0¼ (16.47m). Lee is the top returnee in the Mideast Regional from a year ago.
Women's discus
Astin Steward, a junior from Purdue, is the favorite to bring home the Mideast Regional title in the discus. With a toss of 176-10 (53.90m), good enough for 13th in the NCAA and 22nd in the United States, Steward has thrown over seven feet longer than her closest competiton. Other contenders are Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois and Shanna Dickenson of Tennessee. Dickenson finished fifth at the Mideast regional a season ago. Missouri's Shernelle Nicholls qualified seventh.
Women's hammer throw
Riley is also a top competitor at the women's hammer throw. The Saluki ranks seventh in the world and is tops in the United States this season with a throw of 237-10 (72.51m). That throw measures more than nine meters ahead of the next competitor, Veronica Jastek of Ohio State. Riley took home the 2007 Indoor title in the hammer throw, and finished fourth at Sacramento in the NCAA Outdoors last season. She currently holds Mideast Regional and Walton Stadium records.
Women's javelin
The final women's event, the javelin, is highlighted by Lindsey Blaine. The senior out of Purdue tossed the ninth best throw in the NCAA this season. Coming in at
169-11 (51.81m), Blaine has the sixth best throw by an America this year. Amanda Harmata from LSU and Carly Bloomfield from Arkansas round out the top three. Harmata ranks 19th in the NCAA, while Bloomfield comes in ranked 21st.
Women's overall
LSU has won three of the four previously held Mideast Regionals. This year should be no different as the Lady Tigers qualified competitors among the top eight in 11 of 19 events. They are the favorites in both relays and look to bring home valuable points in the sprints and jumps. LSU sports the No. 1 ranking in the Trackwire top 25. Auburn is also a contender to bring home the team title on the strengh of senior sprinter Kerron Stewart.
Men's 100-meter dash
America's fastest man in 2007 is in Columbia this weekend looking to bring home the 100-meter dash title at the Mideast Regional. Trindon Holiday of LSU ranks fourth in the world with his time of 10.08. J-Mee Samuels of Arkansas has run a wind-aided time of 10.13, good enough for fourth in the NCAA while Demi Omole from Wisconsin has run a 10.19. Ravyn Hayward OF Northwest Louisiana State and Middle Tennessee State's Orlando Reid round out the top five.
Men's 200-meter dash
The 200-meter dash features four of the top 10 athletes in the NCAA. Led by Evander Wells, 12th in the world, and Orlando Reid, 17th in the world, the 200 is likely to be a very competitive event. Wells, a freshman from Tennesses, could claim a regional title in his first season at the collegiate level. Wells took sixth place at the NCAA Indoors this year. Reid, a senior from Middle Tennessee State, took third at last seasons Mideast Regional. Coming off of a runner up performance at the Indoor National Championships, Rubin Williams from Tennessee comes in as the third seed.
Men's 400-meter dash
Lesiba Masheto of Illinois leads the list of competitors in the 400-meter dash. Masheto ran a 45.41, the fourth fastest time in the NCAA this year. All of the top five competitors rank among the top 25 in the NCAA--Cornelius Duncan of southern Miss (10th), Siraj Williams of LSU (13th), James Groce of Wisconsin (14th) and Marvin Stevenson of LSU (25th).
Men's 800-meter run
Two LSU runners are atop the list of the 800-meter run. Freshman Jamaal James turned in the top time in the NCAA this season with a 1:47.00, which ranks him 15th in the world. Teammate Reuben Twijukye, a junior, turned in the second best time in the NCAA this season with a 1:47.11. Andrew Ellerton of Michigan enters the Mideast regional as the runner up in the Indoor Championships this season. Four of the top eight finishers at last season regional return this season, including the top two, Thomas Chamney of Notre Dame and Marcus Mayes of Missouri. Chamney placed sixth at last seasons Outdoor Championships.
Men's 1500-meter run
Vincent Rono from Southern Alabama ran the fifth best time in the NCAA this season at the 1500-meter run. Coming in at 3:41.43, the Kenyan is nearly a second faster than second-seeded Lex Williams from Michigan. The Wolverine ran a 3:42.38, good enough for 15th in the NCAA. (Williams did not declare and will not compete). Other NCAA top-25 runners at the Mideast Regional include Craig Miller of Wisconsin and John Richardson of Kentucky.
Men's 5000-meter run
The men's 5000-meter run features six top-25 competitors. Chris Solinsky of Wisconsin is the class of the field. His time of 13:30.54 is fifth best among collegians, and ranks him 9th nationally and 18th in the world. Sophomore Patrick Smyth of Notre Dame is seeded second and ranked 13th in the NCAA. The Audrey J. Walton Stadium record of 13:56.21 is likely fall at the Regional as the top eight competitors all have better times than that.
Men's 110-meter hurdles
The best time in the NCAA in the men's 110-meter hurdles this season belongs to Mideast Regional competitor John Yarbrough of Ole Miss. Yarbrough ran a 13.43, good enough for 20th in the world. Two Auburn runners round out the top three--Tyron Atkins and Shamar Sands boast the fifth best time in the NCAA this season. Nine qualifiers have NCAA top 25 times.
Men's 400-meter hurdles
Isa Phillips, Jamaica's top 400-meter hurdler and a senior from LSU, ran a 49.54 to qualify, good enough for second in the NCAA. Rueben McCoy of Auburn ran the fifth best time in the NCAA at 49.79. Three of the top seven runners in the NCAA will be on display in this event. Rounding out the top three is Adrian walker of Illinois who ran a 50.29.
Men's 3000-meter steeplechase
The 3000-meter steeplechase will host the top two runners in the NCAA this season--Barnabas Kirui and Corey Nowitzke. Kirui, a sophomore from Ole Miss, ran a 8:33.59, tops in the NCAA and 11th in the world. Nowitzke is a junior from Eastern Michigan who ran an 8:35. He is the fourth ranked steeplechaser in the USA and 17th in the world. 2005 Mideast Regional Champ Peter Kosegi from Arkansas is also in the field.
Men's 4x100-meter relay
Similar to the women's side, the men's 4x100-meter relay is topped by SEC teams. The men from Tennessee posted a time of 38.91 this season, placing them second in the NCAA and sixth in the world. LSU comes in ranked third in the NCAA, right behind Tennessee after running a 39.37 at the SEC Championships. Middle Tennessee State, Arkansas and Western Kentucky round out the top five.
Men's 4x400-meter relay
The 4x400-meter relay features two teams with top 10 international times. LSU once again comes in with the top regional ranking with a time of 3:03.62, good enough for eighth in the world while the team from Kentucky ran a 3:03.96 placing them fourth in the NCAA and 10th in the world.
Men's high jump
The top jump in the world in the men's high jump this season belongs to Mideast Regional competitor Donald Thomas of Auburn. Thomas jumped 7-8 (2.34m), placing him five inches ahead of his next closest competitor, Jayson House of Southern. House ranks sixth in the NCAA as a freshman with a jump of 7-3¼ (2.22m), giving him the 15th best jump in the USA. Tone Belt of the surprise Louisville Cardinals comes in as the third seed in the high jump.
Men's pole vault
The pole vault has only 18 competitors, but is highlighted by one of the best in the nation. Brad Gebauer of McNeese St. is the owner of the third best vault in the NCAA this season, 12th in the USA and 21st internationally. His vault of 18-0¾ (5.51m) is six inches higher than second seed Michael Hogue of Tennessee, who finished with the 18th best jump in the NCAA.
Men's long jump
O'Darrien Bassett of Troy leads a long list of top competitors in the long jump. He comes in with the longest jump in the NCAA this season. The top 11 qualifiers posted top 25 collegiant jumps, with five joing the top 10. Tone Belt of Louisville will likely provide the most competition to Bassett as he is coming off of the Indoor National Championship, the first ever for Louisville track & field. Teammate Andre Black comes in ranked fifth in the nation. The top 12 competitors all have jumps longer than 24-11 (7.61m).
Men's triple jump
The triple jump will feature four of the top-25 best collegiant jumpers this season. Led by Michael Whitehead of Michigan, who had the third best jump in the NCAA and ninth nationally, who leaped 53-4¾ (16.26m). Andre Black of Louisville is coming off of an Indoor National Championship and is the fourth seed at the regional. Sophomore Nkosinza Balumbu of Arkansas holds the fifth longest jump in the NCAA at 53-0½ (13.17m) and will likely challenge for the regional title.
Men's shot put
The men's shot put features one of the best throwers in the NCAA. Cory Martin of Auburn qualified exactly three feet longer than then next competitor, Dave Adamek of Eastern Michigan. His throw of 64-4¾ (19.63m) is the fourth longest in the NCAA this season, and 16th nationally. Adamek is the only other thrower to eclipse 61 feet, coming in at 61-4¾ (18.70m).
Men's discus
Discus is one of the most wide open events at the Mideast Regional; only two throwers rank among the NCAA's top 25. John Harper comes in as the top seed with a throw of 190-9 (58.15m), placing him 16th in the NCAA. Auston Papay of Akron threw 187-6 (57.16m) placing him 24th in the NCAA.
Men's hammer throw
The men's hammer throw features the top throw in the NCAA this season and the fourth best in the United States. Cory Martin, who is the favorite to win the shot put, also comes in as the favorite to win the hammer. Martin tossed a 234-3 (71.42m), nearly six feet ahead of the closest competitor. Coming in with the fourth longest throw this season, Jake Dunkleberger, Martin's teammate at Auburn, will likely be the only one who can challenge Martin. Andy Nichols of Kent State is also a top-10 thrower as he came in seventh with a throw of 223-4 (68.09m), good enough for seventh in the nation. Jason Morris of Missouri is also a possibility to take home the regional title. Morris and Memphis' Steffen Nerdal round out the top five qualifiers.
Men's javelin
LSU features the top Javelin thrower at the Mideast Regional. Chad Radgowski ranks third in the NCAA and fifth in the United States this season with a throw of 239-8 (73.06m). The top six competitors in the event have top 10 throws this season. Chris Hill of McNeese St. ranks fifth, Cody Fillich of NW Louisiana ranks sixth, Preston Chatman of LSU ranks seventh, Curtis moss of SE Louisiana ranks eighth and matthew Maloney ranks 10th.
Men's overall
The Mideast Regional has been won by an SEC school since 2003. LSU won the event last year, while Arkansas won in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Nine of the 19 events feature an LSU athlete among the top five qualifers in 2007, and there's no reason not to pick another favorite besides the Bayou Bengals. Louisville, Arkansas and Tennessee lead a host of other contenders.
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