This is an excellent week for track and field I just want the fans to keep an eye on a few matchups. There are plenty others in other events... but you guys know I love the sprints. It's B-Side's matchups to watch at nationals.
So here we go!
100m
Heat 1: The introductory of the women's 100m pits arguably the two greatest IL high school sprinters in history as Alexandria Anderson (Morgan Park/U of Texas/Nike) vs. Morolake Akinosun (Waubonsie Valley/Texas). What a time machine matchup! And in the same heat Jenna Prandini (Oregon), and what some say is the face and future of women's sprinting and the fastest high school sprinter... (until last Sunday) Kaylin Whitney of Florida. I am curious to see how Whitney does vs. Akinosun and Prandini.
Heat 2: Carmelita Jeter the ol’ skool sprinter vs former LSU great Kimberlyn Duncan (Nike)- now throw in Tianna Bartoletta (Nike) and Jasmin Todd (Oregon) for a great heat.
Heat 3: Dezera Bryant (Kentucky) vs former Oregon Duck English Gardner. These are perhaps the two greatest out the blocks. What a matchup! Heat 4: Aaliyah Brown (Lincoln-Way East/Texas A&M) vs Torie Bowie (Adidas) and Candyce Mcgrone (Nike).
200m
Heat 1: An Oregon Duck matchup of the past vs the current as its English Gardner vs Jenna Prandini. The fans will go nuts as they might go 1, 2
Heat 3 Kaylin Whitney the future vs ol skool & maybe the past Carmelita Jeter and Kimberlyn Duncan; Heat 4 Akinosun vs Tex A&M' Kamaria Brown should be interesting
400m: Allyson Felix is a beast Period!!! Looks like Mia, Fla St & Fla got together & decided to send their best to try & take Allyson down Shakima Wembly (Miami Fla), Robin Reynolds (Fla) & Kala Funderburk (Fla St); Heat 2 Kendall Baisden (Texas) vs Jessica Beard (Adidas) & Natasha Hastings (Under Armour); Heat 3 gives us an former IL high school great Reana Rhone (Whitney Young/Baylor) she’s got a tough heat vs Phyllis Francis (Nike) and Francena McCrory (Adidas) Heat 4: Is Texas’ version of the current Ashley Spencer vs. the past Sanya Richards Ross (Nike)
Men's 100
Heat 1: Marvin Bracey (Adidas) has had a good season. He'll face the young fellas Jalen Miller (Ole Miss), Aaron Ernest (LSU), Ronnie Baker (TCU) & Markesh Woodson (Mizzou) a great heat.
Heat 2: Michael Rodgers (Nike) vs Walter Dix some others may contend but is Walter ready? Years ago this would’ve been huge.
Heat 3: Tyson Gay vs Dentarius Locke (Nike) the former Fla St great. Tyson hasn’t made a squad in a minute but he's running well.
Heat 4: Ryan Bailey (Nike) he’s been anchoring USA' 4x1' vs Usain lately. But can he beat Trayvon Bromell (Baylor)? Trayvon is one of the young guns who could snatch a spot from the vets.
200m
Heat 2: Justin Gatlin has been rolln!!! And if Usain isn't careful oooooo!!! Gatlin gets Ryan Bailey (Nike) & Walter Dix. The Walter of a few years ago & this is a matchup, Easy work for Gatlin.
400m
Heat 1: David Verburg (Adidas) vs Tony McQuay (Adidas)
Heat 2: Lashawn Merritt (Nike) has a bye but is listed. He'll face Bryshon Nellum (Nike) and don't sleep on former Duck Michael Berry.
Heat 4 is a dream matchup if you are the Illini DJ Zahn as he gets Jeremy Wariner and Angelo Taylor. Throw in Najee Glass (Fla) and if DJ pulls this off he can retire & tell his grandkids the day he faced and beat great Olympians Wariner and Taylor
It’s not often you get to see the current stars face the past. And alot of times we tend to forget our IL greats who have gone to college & even pro Besides NCAA' this is the best weekend for track until World Championships to watch as a fan.
NCAA 400H Champion Shamier Little from Texas A&M expressing happiness (Texas A&M photo credit)
** Shamier Little (Tex A&M) is currently #1 in the world in the 400h. Will she make World Championships?? BSide says....Yep!
Shamier Little shares a few thoughts-
Former Chicago Lindblom superstar and recently two-time NCAA 400H champion Shamier Little shares a few thoughts about her track and field career.
You will be going for your first US Senior title. What feelings are running through your mind as you prepare leading up to the championship?
I am pretty nervous and confident at the same time. I know that I am going up against some great competition, and I can’t count anyone out, not even myself.
Take us back to the indoor season. How do you prepare for the 400H when you rarely even run the 60HH?
There is a great deal of technique involved in hurdling. I think the 60 hurdles is mainly being quick, and having good technique. It’s the same with the 100 hurdles but I don’t feel comfortable doing short hurdles anymore. I think I’m terrible at it, but I do want to get back into it to help my 400 hurdling; indoor season, I stick to the open 400 and the 4x400 replay. It helps a lot, even though the race pattern is a lot different. But of course, all 44 hurdlers have to do those races in order to stay in shape for when it is their time to shine in the outdoor season.
When competing indoors is there more focus on the team aspect of track and field?
Yes, there is always focus on the team aspect. I think there is more focus on the team aspect during outdoor season, because that’s when you have the WHOLE team gathered from the 400 hurdlers to javelin throwers.
You have two years complete in the NCAA and multiple titles and awards. Can you pinpoint what your greatest accomplishment to date?
My greatest accomplishment has to be defending my NCAA title. It was like I got to live up to big expectations and just recently, I found out, that I might be the youngest woman ever to break the 54 second mark. I think that is really important in determining the type of success I will have in the future.
If you make the World Championship team, what would the opportunity mean for you?
I guess it means I will have the chance to compete and lower my PR. I know the competition will come internationally as well. Other than that, I have no idea.
Leshinda Demus has the American record of 52.47 (which is dangerously close the world record of 52.34). How close are you in challenging those marks?
I’m like a second and a half off of that mark- other women have run closer to it, but it hasn’t quite yet been challenged, I think. That’s crazy to me but a second in track is so major. I think, how I handle the backstretch, and my technique over the hurdle is where that lost second is.
Your mother has always been your biggest supporter. What role has she played in your college development?
She is so important; I always need somebody in my ear and my mother is literally in my ear at my major races, from start to finish. It is weird running without her, but I always have somebody next in line; she’s a great supporter, and she keeps me grounded, and I love her for that.