More in my series of conference championship previews…
Previously I looked at meets in the northeast and west. Now we go to the south central region.
Remember, all references to team rankings, either national or regional, are my own rankings and not those of the USTFCCCA.
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Big 12 | Conference USA | Southland
Big 12 Championships
Friday and Saturday at Texas A&M’s Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium
Championship Central
Live webcast link, Friday at 3:00 PM ET and Saturday at 3:50 PM ET
Schedule
Men’s meet
Nationally-ranked teams: # 3 Texas A&M, # 10 Texas, #20 Kansas State
Regionally-ranked teams: #2 Texas A&M, #4 Texas #5 Texas Tech, #6 Oklahoma, #6 (Midwest) Kansas State, #8 Baylor, #12 (Midwest) Missouri, #13 Oklahoma State, #13 (Midwest) Iowa State, #21 (Midwest) Kansas
Analysis
Defending conference champions Texas A&M may not have the firepower to win the NCAA Championships this year, but the Aggies’ depth is unrivaled anywhere and are overwhelming favorites to win here. Texas is probably the next best team.
Events to watch
Long jump (7:00 PM Friday). Texas’ Marquise Goodwin, the defending USATF outdoor champion, leads a field that includes three of the NCAA’s top five: Goodwin, Bryce Lamb (Texas Tech) and Malcom Pennix (Missouri).
60 Hurdles (3:20 PM Saturday). Three of the NCAA’s top ten are here in Mantas Silkauskas (Kansas State), Wayne Davis II (Texas A&M), and Malcolm Anderson (Oklahoma).
High jump (3:00 PM Saturday). Any time Kansas State’s Erik Kynard is jumping, you should pay attention.
800 meters (5:15 PM Saturday). Texas A&M’s strength has shifted from the long sprints to the middle distances. The Aggies’ Joey Roberts and Michael Preble are both in the NCAA’s top five, and Baylor’s Patrick Shoenball is also in the top ten.
Shot Put (5:30 PM Saturday). Texas should go 1-2-3, but in what order? Jacob Thormaehlen and Hayden Baillo were All-Americans last spring, and Ryan Crouser is the best freshman thrower since Michael Carter came to SMU over three decades ago.
Women’s meet
Nationally-ranked teams: #5 Texas A&M, #11 Texas, #14 Kansas, #18 Texas Tech, #21 Iowa State, #23 Kansas State
Regionally-ranked teams: # 3 Texas A&M, #3 (Midwest) Kansas, #4 Texas, #5 Texas Tech, #6 Oklahoma, #6 (Midwest) Iowa State, #7 Baylor, #8 (Midwest) Kansas State, #18 (Midwest) Missouri, #21 Oklahoma State
Analysis
Texas A&M’s depth is such that they are going to be very tough to beat. Last year, Nebraska broke a four-year A&M win streak, but the Huskers are now part of the Big Ten. Kansas and Texas are the most likely combatants for runner-up honors.
Events to watch
Shot Put (3:00 PM Saturday). Oklahoma’s Tia Brooks is the NCAA leader and ranks in the all-time collegiate top ten.
400 meters (4:25 PM Saturday). Q: Who was the only collegian to beat Jessica Beard, last year’s Bowerman Award winner, in a 400 meter race? A: Kansas’ Diamond Dixon.
200 meters (5:25 PM Saturday). This should be a tight race between Texas A&M’s Dominique Duncan and Kamaria Brown and Texas’ Allison Peter. All three are in the NCAA’s top six and have run sub-23.50.
Conference USA Championships
Saturday and Sunday at Birmingham’s Crossplex
Championship Central
Schedule
Live results
Men’s meet
Nationally-ranked teams: none
Regionally-ranked teams: #7 Houston, #14 (Southeast) Memphis, #15 Rice, #17 Tulsa, #18 UTEP, #20 (Southeast) East Carolina
Analysis: Houston has won this meet five years in a row, and only twice did the Cougars win by less than 50 points (and never by less than 30). It looks like more of the same this year.
Events to watch400 meters. Houston’s Errol Nolan is the current NCAA leader, and could go faster on the Crossplex’s fantastic new hydraulically-banked track.
Mile. Tulsa’s Chris O’Hare was runner-up last year’s NCAA Indoor and recently ran 3:56.63 at the Millrose Games.
Women’s meet
Nationally-ranked teams: #17 Central Florida
Regionally-ranked teams: #3 (Southeast) Central Florida, #8 Houston, #11 UTEP, #12 Ricem #13 (Southeast) East Carolina, #14 SMU, #17 Tulane, #24 Memphis
Analysis: Last year the UCF Knights blossomed into a national power, mostly on the strength of sprinters and hurdlers. Only once before having been in the top half of the conference, in 2011 they won the championship by almost 50 points. They still look like the toughest team in the conference.
Events to watch
60 meters. UCF’s Octavious Freeman and Aurieyall Scott are two of the fastest in the country. The Crossplex has produced the best 60 times in the country, so they could really do amazing things here.
60m hurdles. Defending champion Jackie Coward (UCF) was third at last year’s indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships and is currently 6th on the NCAA list.
Long Jump. Tori Bowie of Southern Miss is the defending indoor and outdoor NCAA Champion, and recently took second at the Millrose Games.
Southland Championships
Friday and Saturday at Oklahoma’s Mosier Indoor Facility
Championship Central
Live results
Men’s meet
Nationally-ranked teams: none
Regionally-ranked teams: #9 UTSA, #10 UT-Arlington, #12 Stephen F. Austin, #20 Texas State, #22 SE Louisiana
Analysis: UT-San Antonio, the six-time defending champions, and Stephen F. Austin are the most balanced teams in the conference, capable of scoring in every event. The championship will probably come down to those two teams.
Events to watch
Pole Vault. Texas State’s Logan Cunningham has cleared 18′ 1″, second-best in the NCAA by a mere half-inch.
Heptathlon. UT-Arlington’s Romain Martin was third in this event at last year’s NCAA Championships.
Women’s meet
Nationally-ranked teams: none
Regionally-ranked teams: #13 Stephen F. Austin, #16 Sam Houston St., #18 McNeese State, #19 Texas-Arlington, #20 SE Louisiana, #23 Texas State, #24 UTSA
Analysis: There is no strong favorite in this meet. I would rate this as a toss-up between Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State and McNeese State.
Events to watch
3000 and 5000 meters. SFA’s Lauren Smith has a chance at the meet records.
High jump. SFA has several top jumpers and could score big points in this event — or, given the inconsistent and unpredictable nature of the event, the Lumberjacks could miss out on scoring and end up in a big hole.