The Warm-Up Lap: Weekend News and Notes (Jan. 24)

January 24, 2013

NEW ORLEANS – NEW ORLEANS - This weekend in collegiate indoor track and field will feature one of the biggest gatherings of ranked teams to be seen before the national championships with 10 percent of this weekend’s active ranked teams in Arkansas for the Razorback Team Invitational.

Of the 141 teams competing this weekend that are ranked in this week’s National Computer Team Rankings between all divisions – men’s and women’s – 14 will be in action down in Fayetteville, Ark., setting up intense competition in the sprints, hurdles and jumps.

Throws will be the showpiece of the DII Meet of the Week at Findlay, while distance runners have Boston buzzing long before the marathon hits town this spring.

Keep reading for previews of each of these meets, plus some news and notes in preparation for the weekend in collegiate track & field.

DIVISION I MEET OF THE WEEK
Razorback Team Invitational
Friday, Jan. 25 – Saturday, Jan 26 | Noon ET/Noon ET | Fayetteville, Ark. |WATCH LIVE

Men’s Ranked Teams: No. 1 Arkansas, No. 3 Florida, No. 6 LSU, No. 11 Texas, No. 13 Arizona, No. 21 Florida State
Women’s Ranked Teams: No. 5 Arkansas, No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Florida, No. 12 Arizona, No. 13 Texas, No. 16 Georgia, No. 17 Baylor, No. 23 Nebraska

The Division I Meet of the Week again comes from the SEC for the second consecutive week, but it is difficult to overlook a meet with eight women’s teams and six men’s within the most recent USTFCCCA National Computer Team Rankings. The Razorback Team Invitational is rife with storylines, perhaps the most intriguing of which is the No. 1 Arkansas men going up against the three-time defending national champion No. 3 Florida. After finishing third at the Texas A&M Triangular last week, the Razorbacks will be tested in an invitational atmosphere that will better display what the team might look like in a national championships setting.

Events to watch for on the men’s side include the 60 hurdles – which could potentially feature three of the top 10 in the country in Eddie Lovett (Florida, No. 2, 7.64), Keiron Stewart (Texas, No. 4, 7.74) and Caleb Cross (Arkansas, No. 7, 7.79) – the high jump and the long jump, both of which feature four or more of the top ten student-athletes in DI. Should defending 200 meters champion Ameer Webb of Arkansas (Tustin HS; Cerritos JC) debut, the field would impress with Webb, LSU’s Aaron Ernest (No. 3, 20.79) and Arkansas’ Akheem Guantlett (No. 4, 20.84).

The stage is set for an ultra-competitive women’s field with five teams in the top 15, including teams No. 5-7 in Arkansas, LSU and Florida. Potential for great races and events abounds, as the performance lists for this meet are sure to be littered with top-20 national performers when released. The 200 could feature six of the top 20 in the country, including defending winner of The Bowerman, Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU, currently ranked No. 1 at 23.15. Meanwhile, the 400 could be contested by the top four in the NCAA, all of whom have run 54.05 or faster within the past two weeks. The 60 hurdles could feature five from the top 20, the pole vault three of the top five, the 3000 four of the top 10, the long jump three of the top 10 and the mile four of the top 20. Top ranked Tia Brooks of Oklahoma headlines three throwers in the shot put who are in the top ten.

Keep an Eye On DI: Bill Bergen Invitational (Jan 24-Jan 26); UW Invitational (Jan 25 – Jan 26); Indiana Relays (Jan 25 – Jan 26)

DIVISION I IN ACTION THIS WEEKEND
MEN

Rank School This Weekend Date
1 Arkansas Razorback Team Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
2 Texas A&M Texas A&M Mondo Challenge Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
3 Florida at Razorback Team Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
4 Arizona State at Texas A&M Mondo Challenge Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
5 Oregon at UW Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
6 LSU at Razorback Team Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
7 Indiana Indiana Relays Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
8 Minnesota at Bill Bergan Invitational/
at Warren Bolus Open Thursday, Jan 24 – Saturday, Jan 26/
Saturday, Jan 26
9 Auburn Off
10 Wisconsin at Bill Bergan Invitational Thursday, Jan 24 – Saturday, Jan 26

WOMEN


Rank School This Weekend Date
1 Clemson at Rod McCravy Memorial Friday, Jan 25
2 Kansas Jayhawk Classic Friday, Jan 25
3 Oregon at UW Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
4 Texas A&M Texas A&M Mondo Challenge Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
5 Arkansas Razorback Team Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
6 LSU at Razorback Team Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
7 Florida at Razorback Team Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
8 Washington UW Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
9 Iowa State Bill Bergan Invitational Thursday, Jan 24 – Saturday, Jan 26
10 UCF at Hokie Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26

DIVISION II MEET OF THE WEEK
Findlay Classic
Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26 | 11:45 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. ET | Findlay, Ohio

Men’s Ranked Teams: No. 4 Ashland, No. 18 Findlay
Women’s Ranked Teams: No. 6 Ashland, No. 13 Findlay, No. 18 Tiffin

With Division II teams spread out at meets around the country – and in a number of cases teams competing at multiple meets – one of the largest gatherings of full ranked DII teams will happen at the Findlay Open Friday and Saturday. Findlay will certainly play host to the premier showcase for DII throwers this weekend, earning it Meet of the Week status. The women’s throwing events are especially loaded, with seven of the top 20 in the division potentially competing in the shot put and five of the top 10 in the weight throw. Findlay’s Jessica Rowland is ranked second in the division in the weight throw with an auto qualifying mark of 66-5¼ (20.25m) and third in the shot put (48-2/14.68m). Teammate Kendra Averesch (No. 4; 48-¾/14.65m) and Tiffin’s Katherine Gerhardt (No. 6; 47-1½ /14.37m) are also in the top ten of the shot put. Though more than four feet behind Rowland in the weight throw, Ashland’s trio of No. 4 Jessica Bridenthal, No. 5 Kim Habegger and No. 7 Cynthia Watt, and Tiffin’s No. 8 Ashley Dewitt should make for an intense battle for positioning.

The men’s weight throw features DII-leading Garrett Grey of Ashland (67-6/20.57m) and No. 2 Richard Quick of Ashland (65-4¼/19.92m), both of whom scored points at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships. Zac Ball of Ashland and Keenan Hamilton of Tiffin are also in the top 15 in DII. The men’s shot put features the No. 2-4 throwers in the division in Ashland’s DJ Duke (57-11¾/17.67m), and Findlay’s Taylor Miller (56-10/17.32m) and Marcus Vicars (56-7½/17.26m).

Keep an Eye On DII: Minnesota State Open (Jan 25 – Jan 26); GVSU Quad (Jan 26)

DIVISION II IN ACTION THIS WEEKEND
MEN

Rank School This Weekend Date
1 Grand Canyon at New Mexico Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
2 Adams State at Air Force Invitational/
at New Mexico Invitational Thursday, Jan 24 – Saturday, Jan 26
3 Saint Augustine’s at Penn State National Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
4 Ashland at Findlay Classic Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
5 Grand Valley State GVSU Quad (EMU/CMU/Hillsdale) Saturday, Jan 26
6 UMass Lowell at BU Terrier Invitational Saturday, Jan 26
7 Minnesota State MSU Open Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
8 American International at BU Terrier Invitational Saturday, Jan 26
9 Lincoln (Mo.) at Indiana Relays Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
10 Southern Connecticut at NY Metropolitan Championships Thursday, Jan 24 – Friday, Jan 25

WOMEN

Rank School This Weekend Date
1 Grand Valley State GVSU Quad (EMU/CMU/Hillsdale) Saturday, Jan 26
2 Adams State at Air Force Invitational/
at New Mexico Invitational Thursday, Jan 24 – Saturday, Jan 26
3 Lincoln (Mo.) at Indiana Relays Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
4 Grand Canyon at New Mexico Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
5 Academy of Art at Jacksons/New Balance Invitational Friday, Jan 25
6 Ashland at Findlay Classic Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
7 Augustana (S.D.) at MSU Open Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
8 U-Mary at Montana State/at Cobber Open Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
9 Johnson C. Smith at Penn State National Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
10 Western State at Air Force Invitational Thursday, Jan 24 – Saturday, Jan 26

DIVISION III MEET OF THE WEEK
Boston University Terrier Invitational

Women’s Invitational: Friday, Jan 25 | 2 p.m. ET | Boston, Mass.
Women’s Ranked Teams: No. 12 Tufts, No. 14 MIT, No. 18 Middlebury, No. 22 Wheaton (Mass.)

Men’s Invitational: Saturday, Jan 26 | 11 a.m. ET | Boston, Mass
Men’s Ranked Teams: No. 6 UMass Lowell (DII), No. 8 American International (DII), No. 8 Bates, No. 14 Haverford, No. 15 MIT, No. 17 Tufts, No. 20 Middlebury

Disclaimer: Meet is hosted by DI Boston University.

While a majority of the attention surrounding this meet has focused on the star-studded elite mile (approximately 3:50 p.m. ET) featuring Galen Rupp, 2012 Olympic 10,000 meters silver medalist and 2009 winner of The Bowerman, it would be a shame to overlook the many fine DIII distance runners in action throughout the day. Though likely not aiming for sub-3:50 as Rupp and the elite field is reported to be, the earlier race will feature three of the top 20 milers in DIII, based on 2012-13 results. MIT’s No. 6 Kyle Hannon ran an oversized 4:13.42, Bates’ No. 9 James LePage clocked a 4:17.47 on a standard track and Haverford’s No. 20 Ivo Milic-Strkalj ran a standard-track 4:20.30. The race will also feature a top-10 DII runner in American International’s No. 7 Jeremy Antivo (4:13.75).

Some of DIII’s other top milers will be competing in other events, as No. 3 Jamie Norton of Tufts and No. 12 Tully Hannan of Bates are slated for the 3000; No. 11 Justin Bullock of MIT is scheduled for the 1000; and No. 16 Mark McCauley of Bates will run the 800.

In addition, four of 2012-13′s top DIII runners in the 5000 will be in action, with No. 1 Peter Kissin and No. 3 Avi Bregman of Haverford in the 3000 meters, No. 2 Chris Stadler of Haverford in the mile and No. 9 Michael Martin of Bates in the 5000.

Keep an Eye On DIII: Tadd Metzger Invitational (Jan 25); Warren Bowlus Open (Jan 26)

DIVISION III IN ACTION THIS WEEKEND
MEN

Rank School This Weekend Date
1 UW-Oshkosh UW-Oshkosh Invitational Friday, Jan 25
2 UW-La Crosse at MSU Open Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
3 North Central (Ill.) at Tadd Metzger Invitational Friday, Jan 25
4 UW-Whitewater at Jack Jennett Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
5 St. Thomas (Minn.) UST Showcase Friday, Jan 25
6 UW-Stevens Point at Tadd Metzger Invitational Friday, Jan 25
7 UW-Eau Claire at Warren Bowlus Open Saturday, Jan 26
8 Bates at BU Terrier Classic Saturday, Jan 26
9 UW-Platteville at Jack Jennett Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
10 Baldwin-Wallace at OAC Split Meet Friday, Jan 25

WOMEN

Rank School This Weekend Date
1 Wartburg Wartburg Lutheran Triangular Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
2 UW-Oshkosh UW-Oshkosh Invitational Friday, Jan 25
3 Williams at Joe Donahue Boston Collegiate
Indoor Games Saturday, Jan 26
4 Illinois Wesleyan Titan Open Saturday, Jan 26
5 Methodist at Liberty Open Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
6 Ramapo at NY Metropolitan Championships Friday, Jan 25
7 Washington (Mo.) at Rose-Hulman Engineer Invitational Saturday, Jan 26
8 Illinois College at Principia College Relays Friday, Jan 25
9 UW-Whitewater at Jack Jennett Invitational Friday, Jan 25 – Saturday, Jan 26
10 Mount Union OAC Split Meet Friday, Jan 25



NEWS & NOTES

Washington to Broadcast as Many as Three Indoor Meets on Pac-12.com
Washington will broadcast the Husky Classic and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships live on Pac-12.com, with the possibility of this weekend’s UW Invitational. The Pac-12 owns exclusive rights to the broadcast of any collegiate meet hosted by an institution in its membership through the Pac-12 Network, which will prevent third-parties such as FloTrack and RunnerSpace from broadcasting or archiving meet video. Full story here courtesy of TrackFocus.com: http://bit.ly/UnGQCl

NCAA Convention News: Division I
The NCAA Board of Directors at last week’s NCAA Convention adopted a set of proposals that will lead to what NCAA President Mark Emmert called "more common sense rules that allow schools more discretion in decision-making." Read the full details here: http://bit.ly/Wi6iK7

NCAA Convention News: Division II
Division II delegates approved 10 legislative proposals and defeated three others at last week’s NCAA Convention. Those proposals turned down included the deregulation of campus recruiting visits, expansion of an international member pilot program to Mexico, and the submission of a transcript prior to the signature of a National Letter of Intent. Get the full details here: http://bit.ly/TrxHuA

Qualifying Standards for the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Released
USA Track & Field on Thursday released the qualifying standards for the 2013 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, to be held June 19-23 in Des Moines, Iowa. View the standards here: http://bit.ly/SH19ej

DII Women’s Program of the Year to be Named After GVSU’s Jerry Baltes
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is proud to announce current Grand Valley State head track & field and cross country coach Jerry Baltes has been honored by the Association as the namesake of the Division II Women’s Program of the Year Award. In 2010-11, Baltes, now in his 14th season with GVSU, became the first DII women’s coach to lead his squad in an academic year to a sweep of NCAA team titles in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field. Full story:bit.ly/UnuCJS

Texas’ Goodwin to Skip Track to Prep for NFL Draft
Texas long jumper and football wide receiver Marquise Goodwin will end his storied Longhorns track & field career early to prepare for the NFL Draft. The two-time US National Champion, three time NCAA long jump champion and 2012 Olympics qualifier will finish his career as the No. 2-ranked jumper in school history with a career mark of 27-4¼ (8.33m). Full story here, courtesy of The Statesman: http://bit.ly/VuRmqt




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Kyle Terwillegar

U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association

Communications Assistant

1100 Poydras St., Suite 1750

New Orleans, LA 70163

(O) 504-599-8905 (F) 504-599-8909

Email: kyle@ustfccca.org

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