Not being able to make the NCAA Finals this year -- on the 2nd time I will miss in the past 10 years working on the floor of the stadium-- replaced left knee last Tuesday. This is my take on A & M’s shot at repeating the ’09 Championships. Using the data from the pre-regional performance list and the final 24 qualifiers determined at the Regions, this is my best call. Note: all times and distances may not be reflective the athletes true capabilities. Remember, you only had to make it in the last 12 in the individual events and relays to qualify for the trip to Eugene. The vertical jumps were stopped when they had 12 competitors in the event. The top competitors pass-out early when they knew they were in.
In the women’s competition, it will boil down to A & M , Oregon, and LSU. What will make the difference is the way the baton is handled the 36 times by these three teams in the 4x100 and 4x400 m relays. I really think it will be A & M spring strength V. Oregon distance and pole vault strength. LSU has good balance and can sneak in if either or both of us screw-up a relay.
The team to watch in the men’s division is Florida. We are dead even in our strengths of the sprints, both relays and the triple jump. We will need to offset the Gators strength in the shot and long jump with a good showing by us in the Javelin. My best guess, by the time the Triple jump is over, it will set how many place differences there will be in the 4X400 in determining the winner. If it is more than 4 points, I will be shocked.
If you are in the “anybody but” method of following the scoring, anybody but OU and LSU in the 800m, 1500m, shot and hammer. For the men.
For the women: LSU in the 800m, OU in the shot and javelin. And the pole vault and heptathlon for OU.
In the women’s competition, it will boil down to A & M , Oregon, and LSU. What will make the difference is the way the baton is handled the 36 times by these three teams in the 4x100 and 4x400 m relays. I really think it will be A & M spring strength V. Oregon distance and pole vault strength. LSU has good balance and can sneak in if either or both of us screw-up a relay.
The team to watch in the men’s division is Florida. We are dead even in our strengths of the sprints, both relays and the triple jump. We will need to offset the Gators strength in the shot and long jump with a good showing by us in the Javelin. My best guess, by the time the Triple jump is over, it will set how many place differences there will be in the 4X400 in determining the winner. If it is more than 4 points, I will be shocked.
If you are in the “anybody but” method of following the scoring, anybody but OU and LSU in the 800m, 1500m, shot and hammer. For the men.
For the women: LSU in the 800m, OU in the shot and javelin. And the pole vault and heptathlon for OU.