Women’s Field Preview

This year’s competition on the inside of the oval is just as strong as it’s ever been.With freshman favorites, along with defending champions in 7 out of 9 events returning to Eugene to protect their title, the competition is set to be fierce. 

Women’s High Jump: 

TOP RETURNER: Leonita Kallenou, Georgia (1st)

Last year’s Champion Leonita Kallenou of Georgia will return back to Eugene for her sophomore campaign with hopes of defending her national title. However, Jeanelle Scheper of South Carolina has the posted the top mark of the season, with a height of 1.96m, an inch higher than Kallenou’s best this season. Other threats to the throne include Akron’s Claudia Garcia Jou, who took 2nd place this indoor season, and the Kansas State Duo of Kimberly Williamson, and World Junior Champion Akela Jones. Jones will also be competing in the Heptathlon prior to the High Jump. 

 

Women’s Pole Vault

TOP RETURNER: Sandi Morris, Arkansas (4th)

Sandi Morris of Arkansas holds the highest standing out of last years returning field, and also has the highest mark of the season at 4.72m. The only other woman thats posted a mark over 4.7m is Demi Payne of Stephen F. Austin. This will be Payne’s first appearance at the NCAA’s. Other Notable athletes include senior Katrine Haarklau of Missouri, who took 6th last year and junior Alysha Newman of Miami who finished 7th.

 

Women’s Long Jump:

TOP RETURNER: Jenna Prandini, Oregon (1st)

One of the biggest story lines of the meet could be Oregon’s very own Jenna Prandini. Prandini has only competed in the Long Jump twice this year, and most likely will be competing 6 different times over the course of the weekend (not including LJ). Her seasonal best of 6.41m puts her at #11 in the country this season. Looking to improve on her 2nd place finish last year is Quanesha Burks of Alabama. The sophomore currently has the top mark in the country at a distance of 6.84m. It should be noted that #2 ranked Nataliyah Friar of LSU failed to advance to Eugene after finishing 13th at East Prelims.

 

Women’s Triple Jump:

TOP RETURNER: Ciarra Brewer, Florida (3rd)

Looking to go out on a high note is Senior Ciarra Brewer from Florida. She finished 3rd last year as a junior and currently holds the 2nd best mark in the country. The only woman who has jumped further than her this season is the World Junior silver medalist Keturah Orji. Representing Georgia, Orji has already experienced success at the collegiate level, taking 2nd place in the TJ at the Indoor Championships. Only a freshman, Orji will also be competing in the long jump. 

 

Women’s Shot Put:

TOP RETURNER: Christina Hillman, Iowa State (1st)

This matchup should look similar to last year, as defending champion Christina Hillman will face off against 2014 runner up Tori Bliss. Bliss, a senior from LSU is the top seed in the country, with a mark of 18.49m while Hillman’s best mark of the season is outside of the top 10. Daniel Thomas from Kent State finished 9th last year, and has the next best mark besides Bliss this season.

 

Women’s Discus Throw:

TOP RETURNER: Shelbi Vaughn, Texas A&M (1st)

This may be the only field event where there is actually a clear favorite. Shelbi Vaughn is currently the fifth-best NCAA discus thrower on the all time list, and only has one loss to her name in the event during her collegiate career (not counting her NP at regionals in 2013). Her mark of 64.52 sits 5 meters ahead of the next closest competitor. If anyone besides Shelbi were to win the event, the word “upset” would be an understatement.

 

Women’s Hammer Throw:

TOP RETURNER: Julia Ratcliffe, Princeton (1st)

Someone who’s dominance could be comparable to that of Shelbi Vaughn is Princeton’s Julia Ratcliffe. The junior from Princeton is the defending champion in the event, and also holds the top mark in the country at 70.28m. Prior to finishing a rare 2nd place at East Prelims to Brooke Pleger of Bowling Green, Ratfliffe hasn’t lost in the hammer throw since 2013 at the NCAA championships.

Women’s Javelin Throw:

TOP RETURNER: Fawn Miller, Florida (1st)

This years Javelin Throw should shape up to be very competitive, as eight of the top ten women in the country will be competing in Eugene. Senior Fawn Miller of Florida will be looking to take home another NCAA title in her final outing as a Gator, while sophomore Irena Sediva of Virginia Tech is looking to take the win in her first trip to Eugene. Sediva is currently ranked 1st in the NCAA with a mark of 58.66m. Fawn’s best mark this season is 56.01m. Other notable performers are Elizabeth Hers of Oklahoma (NCAA #2) Hanna Carson of Texas Tech (NCAA #3) and Sarah Firestone of Nebraska (NCAA #4).

 

Women’s Heptathlon:

TOP RETURNER: Kendall Williams, Georgia (1st)

The field for the Women’s Heptathlon is deep. With two previous NCAA Champions in the field, a #1 seed with no championship experience, and a mere 200 points separating the top eight women, this will will be a tough one to call. After winning by only 20 points last year Kendall Williams from Georgia is back again hoping for a repeat. Senior Lindsay Volmer from Kansas is also no stranger to success, as she was crowned the Heptathlon champion back in 2013. Not to be ignored however is Erica Bougard, the Junior from Mississippi State. Without any NCAA titles to her name, she is the top seed by 100 points.
 

Men’s Field Preview

Similar to that of the women’s field, 8 of 9 field events will include a defending champion from last years NCAA championship. 

 

Men’s High Jump:

TOP RETURNER: Bryan McBride, Arizona State (1st)

After winning his first title last year in Eugene, Arizona State’s Bryan McBride is back looking for a repeat during his final competition as a Sun Devil. McBride’s best height this season sits at 2.30m. This mark is the 2nd best height in the country, only behind Jacorian Duffield, the senior from Texas Tech who owns a mark of 2.31m. Duffield finished 10th in last years high jump in Eugene.  Other top athletes in the field are Marcus Jackson of Miss State (NCAA #3), Bradley Atkins of Texas Tech (NCAA #4) and freshman Keyth Fightmaster of Samford (NCAA #5).

 

Men’s Pole Vault:

TOP RETURNER: Shawn Barber, Akron (2nd)

This season’s pole vault has been all about Akron’s Shawn Barber. Other than one “no height” in early May, the junior from Kingwood, TX has gone undefeated this season. Barber’s PR on 5.91m puts him at No. 2 all-time in the NCAA. Candidates to upset Barber could be Jake Blankenship of Tennessee (NCAA #2), as well as the freshman from Cincinnati Adrian Valles (NCAA #3). It should be noted that Washington’s Jax Thoris, Arkansas’s Andrew Irwin, and Texas’s Reese Watson failed to qualify out of the West Region. Thoris and Irwin were both ranked third in the NCAA while Watson was sixth. 

 

Men’s Long Jump:

TOP RETURNER: Marquis Dendy, Florida (1st)

Anything other than a win for Florida’s Marquis Dendy would be a surprise. Dendy has the top seed in both the Long Jump, and the Triple Jump this season. The senior from Middleton, Delaware currently has five NCAA titles to his name. Notable athletes in the field include sophomore Roelf Pienaar of Arkansas State (#2 seed in NCAA), Jarrion Lawson of Arkansas (#4 seed in NCAA) and Ifeanyichukwu Otuonye from Kansas State (#5 seed in NCAA).

 

Men’s Triple Jump:

TOP RETURNER: Marquis Dendy, Florida (1st)

As mentioned previously, Marquis Dendy is also the favorite in the triple jump as well. He is the defending champion and holds the top mark of the season at 17.35m. Collie Latario of Texas A&M, owns the next best mark of 17.25m. The senior Donald Scott of Eastern Michigan ranks 4th in the NCAA, and will be looking to improve upon his 6th place performance last years at the outdoor championships. 

 

Men’s Shot Put:

TOP RETURNER: Ryan Crouser, Texas (1st)

Another event, another defending champion. Ryan Crouser of Texas won the event last year, and currently sits at the top of the NCAA leaderboard with a distance of 21.11m. The senior from Penn State Darrell Hill comes into the competition as the #2 seed in the NCAA. Hill finished 4th this past indoor season in the shot put, and has PRd this outdoor season. Look for Jonathan Jones of Buffalo to have a strong performance as well. The senior’s PR of 20.70m currently ranks at #3 in the NCAA. 

 

Men’s Discus Throw:

TOP RETURNER: Hayden Reed, Alabama, (1st)

Hayden Reed of Alabama is back to defend his title from 2014. However, the sophomore has some company this year, as six competitors have posted stronger marks than him so far this season. Rodney Brown of LSU sits atop the leaderboard with a mark of 61.32, while Filip Mihaljevic of Virginia boasts the next strongest mark of all competitors at 61.28m. Tavis Bailey of Tennessee finished 3rd at last years outdoor championship, and currently ranks #3 in the NCAA.

 

Men’s Hammer Throw:

TOP RETURNER: Matthias Tayala, Kent State (1st)

While Matthias Tayala won the Hammer Throw at last year’s championship, It’s highly unlikely that anyone will trump the efforts of Connor McCullough of USC. The Princeton Transfer has thrown 75.01m this season, four meters further than Michael Lihrman of Wisconsin, who sits at #2 on the NCAA list.

 

Men’s Javelin Throw:

TOP RETURNER: Sam Crouser, Texas (1st)

Oregon’s very own Sam Crouser is looking to go out with a bang in front of a home crowd in this year’s javelin throw. His PR this season is good for number #2 in the NCAA, only behind John Ampormah of Middle Tennessee State who’s thrown 81.55m this season. 

Men’s Decathlon:

TOP RETURNER: Maciel Uibo, Georgia (1st)

Defending Champion and #1 seed Maciel Uibo of Georgia will have some friendly competition with him at this years championship, as his teammate Garrett Scantling sits at #2 on the NCAA list. The two Georgia athletes are the only ones to have scored over 8,000 points this season.