Yesterday, Kevin Liao posted his Des Moines 2013 Power Rankings, a preliminary ranking of top US distance runners in each track event.
As we did last year, we’ll provide power rankings at landmark points throughout the season to evaluate who the favorites are for those coveted top three spots at nationals. This set of rankings provides a preliminary analysis of each middle and long distance track event based primarily off 2012 performances but with this winter’s indoor showing lending some credence as well.
It’s well worth your time to check out.
I’m not above nakedly stealing an idea from someone else (Kevin should know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), so I’m offering up my own Power Rankings in the men’s field events. I’m including the decathlon in the list.
The long throws are not part of the listing (yet) because there has been no action among top-level throwers since last year. I’ll post women’s rankings next week.
The ever-important Worlds A and B qualifiers are denoted by red and blue. Nations may enter up to 3 athletes (or 4 if a wild card entry is available), but no more than one may have a B qualifer and all others must have an A.
High Jump
1. Jesse Williams (Nike)wild card
2. Dusty Jonas (Nike)
3. Erik Kynard (Kansas State)
4. Ed Wright
5. Justin Frick (Shore AC)
Darkhorse: Ricky Robertson (Ole Miss)
Others: Geoff Davis, Marcus Jackson, Keith Moffat, James White
Williams didn’t do much indoors but is still the top guy based on past years. Jonas put up a huge jump in January.
Pole Vault
1. Brad Walker (Nike)
2. Andrew Irwin (Arkansas)
3. Jordan Scott
4. Jack Whitt (Oral Roberts)
5. Scott Roth
Darkhorse: Jake Blankenship (Tennessee)
Others: Jeremy Scott, Derek Miles, Mark Hollis, Michael Woepse
Walker took the indoor season off less than seriously as he only cleared 5.35m at the USATF Championships. Irwin was inconsistent in 2012 but looks much better this year.
Long Jump
1. Will Claye (Nike)
2. Marquis Dendy (Florida)
3. Ashton Eaton (Nike/Oregon TC)
4. Christian Taylor (Li Ning)
5. George Kitchens
Darkhorse: Jeremy Hicks
Others: Joe Allen, George Fields, Mike Hartfield, Norris Frederick
Claye took off the indoor season and retains the top spot based on his Olympic bronze medal. Dendy, however, has jumped as far in the last few weeks as Claye ever has.
Triple Jump
1. Christian Taylor (Li Ning) wild card
2. Will Claye (Nike)
3. Bryce Lamb (Texas Tech)
4. Omar Craddock (Florida)
5. Aarik Wilson
Darkhorse: Walter Davis
Others: Rafeeq Curry, Josh Honeycutt, James Jenkins, Brandon Roulhac
Taylor is the defending world champion and Diamond League champion, either of which gives him a wild card Worlds entry. He and Claye are far and away the tops in this group. Lamb has improved drastically in a short time.
Shot Put
1. Reese Hoffa (Nike) wild card
2. Ryan Whiting (Nike)
3. Christian Cantwell (Nike)
4. Cory Martin (Nike)
5. Kurt Roberts
Darkhorse: Jordan Clarke (Arizona State)
Others: Joe Kovacs, Zack Lloyd, Jacob Thormaehlen, Derrick Vicars
Hoffa didn’t do much indoors but he’s still Hoffa, and his Diamond League title gives him a wild card Worlds entry. Whiting undoubtedly had the world’s best indoor season. Cantwell is recovering from surgery.
no long throws rankings this time around
Decathlon
1. Ashton Eaton (Nike/Oregon TC)
2. Trey Hardee (Nike) wild card
3. Kevin Lazas (Arkansas)
4. Gunnar Nixon (Arkansas)
5. Isaac Murphy (Texas)
Darkhorse: Curtis Beach (Duke)
Others: Joe Detmer, Ryan Harlan, Gray Horn, Miller Moss
Eaton and Hardee are way ahead of everyone else. The USA cannot take advantage of Hardee’s wild card status and enter four athletes at the Worlds unless Murphy breaks his PR by 133 points, or someone else by more than 200.
Derek Miles has retired and Brad Walker vaulted indoors at a couple of meets including USA indoor natioanls. FYI
I don’t know why you guys are counting out Jenkins as a Dark horse or Rafeeq Curry. Those dudes obviously just started to get back in the game with out even having any meets of good competition in years! Especially James Jenkins. I dont know what it is about that dude, he just so much bounce, especially Jumping 7’1 in tennis shoes like 3 times this year, almost had 7’3.5 at usa indoors, and turn around and triple jump. Dude hasn’t jumped since he torn his pentala tendon since 09, that is crazy doing that, but I like him because he has Mad Bounce,his weird clap and Funny. Calling him self “THE HUMANKANGAROO” in a third person. Nice and honest guy, but a guy to watch out for in the triple jump.