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NCAA Indoor Track Meet Preview

NATIONALS BABY!!!!! The NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships are here! This Friday and Saturday we'll get to witness our Aggies in action as they compete amongst some of the best track athletes in the country and the world! There will be streaming for most field events and every single race on espn+ Our Aggie men will have a great chance at a podium finish and will potentially be in the national championship picture!

So how did we get here? To qualify for this meet you had to earn a top 16 performance individually in an event throughout the indoor season or top 12 a relay! We had both 4x400 relays qualify, our men's DMR relay, 7 men, and 5women. Team scoring works by earning points for a top 8 finish. The points are awarded 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 for 1st-8th.

Friday will primarily be prelims for running events. The only running finals on Friday will be the 5,000 and the Distance Medley Relay. We will also have Aleksandr Solovev in the pole vault and Khybah Dawson and Mason Mangum in the long jump. So we'll have opportunities to score in 3 events Day 1! The women's action will begin at 2:30, with the men's beginning at 7:00. However, we do have two multi's competing. Sofia Iakushina in the women's pentathlon starting at 9:35 and Blake Harris in the men's heptathlon at 9:15.

The important thing team scoring wise is to see how many we have make it to the finals. Men wise, we'll only have Auhmad Robinson and Jaqualon Scott running prelims. So we need make sure they get into the final.

For a chance at a national title we also have to make sure the USC, Arkansas, and Texas Tech men stay out of the finals as well lol. Those schools will be fighting with us for a national title. While we have 9 entries into the meet, Arkansas leads the way with 16, USC with 13, and Tech with 9 like us. USC has two Bowerman watchlist athletes and a bevy of sprinters! They are led by Johnny Brackins, the nations best hurdler and a #4 long jumper and JC Stevenson, the nations best long jumper and 3rd ranked 60 runner! Those two alone are projected to score more than 30 points so we need to hope they're far from it. USC has 7 runners in the 60-400. Arkansas has the nations best high jumper, but he's a little inconsistent. They have a distance crew led by Yaseen Abdalla and Patrick Kiprop. Let's hope they don't give them many points in the distance ranks. Tech is composed by a stronger sortieing and hurdling crew led by Malachi Snow. All 3 of these schools project points in the hurdles, so we need Jaqualon Scott to podium and break up those points.

As noted above, we lead the nation in the 4x400 and Solovev leads the nation in pole vault. That's 20 points right there, but as we saw in conference, they're not a given. Auhmad Robinson could podium in the 400, but Nathaniel Ezekiel is a huge guy that'll be tough to get around, but hopefully Robinson saved his best race for this weekend and can get us some huge points. I noted above how important Scott's performance in the hurdles will be. To score at this meet sometimes takes a PR, right now our jumps are projected to score 1 point… let's hope for some huge performances from Kyhbah Dawson, Mason Mangum, and/or Gavin Champ. Our DMR can be in position to score. Championship races aren't always necessary about timing, so all we need to do is give Cooper Cawthra a chance at the end. We're one of only 3 schools in the DMR who have no one racing prior to the last race of the evening! We might be one of the only schools with a 45 second 400 runner! We'll also have a strong 800 leg, rather that be Sam Whitmarsh, Kimar Farquharson, or Caden Norris! So let's hope Luca Santorum gets a great run in (which I have full faith he will) then a strong 400/800 leg, then let Cawthra fight for points! We come in with the 10th fastest time so that's not projected any points, however I believe, I KNOW, we'll score. Blake Harris is projected 11th in the heptathlon. The most important thing here is finishing the meet. With many of these athletes doing hep's a couple weeks ago and the competition and environment so tense, finishing the meet and getting marks in every event are important! Do that and Blake can get into position to score!

On the women's side, we seem to be out of it from a national championship perspective, but we can fight for a podium spot. Winny Bii leads the nation in the triple jump, a jumper from San Jose State has the same PR, but Bii is more consistent! Let's hope for 10 there. Sofia Iakushina is ranked 3rd! After her great performance at conference, you hope it carries over! Finish every event and she could score, but the competition is tight! The women's 60 hurdles will be crazy! The top 9 are separated by .06. So Jaiya with a PR can medal or win! Points there would be huge! Camryn Dickson looked phenomenal at conference and another PR could get her into the finals! Jermaisha Arnold just squeaked in, but we all know she has the capability to run even faster! The ladies 4x400 had to PR just to get a top 12 relay, and they did even more that! A repeat performance and they will score as well! Jasmine Montgomery and Latasha Smith will be fresh as well!

I'm currently working on event by event previews, with more emphasis on the events where the Aggies are in! I'll also post my projections for the team score as well! I'll try to get those done in the next day or so!! I'll be here talking track all week! Feel free to join in on the conversation, there's no dumb questions! I'll be here discussing track all week! Let's enjoy this weekend, hope all our Aggies have a great day on the same day, and let's BTHO every other track team in the country!!!!

Yeah 10 in the pole vault is a must, thank you Aleksandr! I really hope we can run an excellent race in the DMR, we'll have some fresh legs and a fearless Cooper running anchor! I know it'll be hard to stay ahead or catch the 3:48 mile guys of Virginia or North Carolina, but hopefully it's a crowded race with about a lap or two to go and Cooper has a nice finish!! I'm hoping we can pull something out in long jump! Hopefully one or two of the guys g out with a PR! It'll be huge if we could get points there! 14-16 points would be awesome! Let's set the goal at 15! Also just as important is USC not getting 16 in the long jump alone lol

Yeah that 200 would have been awesome to score in! But a tall task! I'm hoping for at least 8 in the 400, that'll make it worth it!!

Also love your username, how I Met your mother is my favorite show of all time, I've seen that series at least 7 times lol

Khybah Dawson is a 2 inch PR from having the 5th best jump! So if he has a great day, it' could be some very important points! Let's hope for PR's! Last year it was a very top heavy competition with a huge drop off! 25'1 made the finals! Dawson has gone 25'10 and Mangum 25'8! So let's pray they can both get into the finals with a strong attempt early on!

Track is also a very momentum heavy sport! If Solovev can go and get 10, that'll get everyone else going! Jumps, prelims, and even the DMR to end the night! This team seems very close! Let's get the momentum going! Seems like the pole vault could be finishing up just as prelims begins for the running!

Here are the results from last year

https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Indoor/2024/index.htm

Start lists are up! Antonie Nortje gets in as an alternate into the 400!!! So that's an extra chance for an Aggie to score! He did get lane 3 though, but he has a shot to win his heat! USC's Max Thomas who was ranked 4th in the 60 and 9th in the 200 has scratched from the meet! That's huge news!

Auhmad gets a lane 6 draw! I really like JaQualon Scott's heat in the hurdles, so I really believe both will make finals! 4x400 will get lane 5 in the same heat as Arkansas and USC!!!!

Start lists can be found here

https://www.rtspt.com/ncaa/d1indoor25/

I'll have event previews up later today

I appreciate the kind words! When I found this little forum to discuss track I was elated! My goal ever since then was to just promote the sport and try to convert as many Aggies into Aggie track fans as I can! It's my favorite sport and favorite Aggie team! My goal is to go into Athletics Administration so working for the best track team in the country would be a great start!

Yeah indoors is just weekly time trials. It's not even the best runners who advance, it's the ones who had the best race environment with the best pacers. I'm all in favor of having a regional prelim indoors as well! Or at least expanding the field to 24!

60 Meter Preview

This race has huge implications for the national championship. While we don't have anyone in it, USC has 2, Auburn has 3, Tech has 2, and Arkansas has 1. Auburn has the two fastest times on the year are both from Auburn, with USC runner 3rd. The 4th fastest runner on the year MaX Thomas has scratched from the meet. Another bright spot is that USC's JC Stevenson will be competing in the long jump and running the 60 at the same time so fatigue can set in as he does the 60. Auburn looks to score huge here as does USC. However rankings aren't always very telling in a race like this where .06 separates 1st from 16th. So it's whoever runs a great prelim. Just really have to hope USC struggles to score here. There's less parity on the women's side as the race is a little more clear. Tima Godbless of LSU has the top time and is the favorite, but watch out for Jadyn Mays of Oregon. The top 2 in each heat then the next 4 best times advance to the final!

200 Meter Preview

Auburn has the top time here but with an athlete not in the 60. Makanakaishe Charamba (say that 5 times fast) is the odds on favorite to win the 200. He may even get close to a sub 20 time. If Auburn were to win this and score heavily in the 60, theyll position themselves to score lots of points. USC's Johnnie Blockburher gave up the 400 for this event. . The 200 is all about the luck of the lane assignment. Lanes 5 and 6 are far superior in this race. Blockburger got lane 6 but the other USC runner got lane 4. It's why the IAAF has even given up hosting a 200 at major meets because of the discrepancy in the outside lanes versus inside lanes. Again let's hope USC can get shut out of the finals. On the women's side our very own Camryn Dickson will be contest the event. She goes in with the 12th fastest time, but is peaking at the right moment. Another run equaling her PR or even better and she can get into the finals! Let's hope for a 20.7 or 20.8! South Carolina's Jameesia Ford, an excellent 400 runner has really proven herself at this event and is the favorite. 8 fastest times advance to the final.

400 Meter Preview

AUHMAD ROBINSON! This will be his time to shine! His points will be VITAL to A&M's standing! He goes in with the 3rd fastest time after his season's best of 45.07 at conference. He has run under 45 indoors and that's what it's going to take to win this event. Baylor's Nathaniel Ezekiel, an Olympic caliber 400 hurdler has the fastest time 44.85 and has dipped under 45 twice this indoor season. He's a huge long legged runner so Auhmad has to be careful if he's in the same heat. It'll be a close race if together, but Auhmad has more speed to Ezekiel's strength and endurance. Antonie Nortje was a late add to the event, but he drew lane 3! Let's hope he can get a great start and potentially make the finals! He needs to run a PR not a 46 like at conference! USC will have 2 runners in this event and Arkansas 3. We saw the Arkansas 400 runners struggle at conference so I expect the same. Both schools can be shut out of points here. Expect a battle of the ages on the women's side between Olympians Aaliyah Butler of Georgia and Kalyn Brown of Arkansas, as well as Isabella Whitaker of Arkansas. It might take a sub 50 to podium here. For the Aggies, Jermaisha Arnold will be competing. she didn't run great at conference but she has the potential to run under 51 seconds and fight for a final spot.

800 Meter Preview

It's hard to say, but there will be no Aggies in this event. It took a 1:46.6 to qualify with 3 runners even under 1:46. The prelims will be nowhere near that time, but it will still be a fun race to watch. Georgetown's Tinoda Matsatsa and Cal Poly's Aiden McCarthy have looked great as of late, but the 800 is all about strategy and positioning. There are 3 Washington Huskies in this race, as well as one Razorback but I don't expect him to be a factor. Let's hope the prelims are fast and physical to take away some legs from anyone running the DMR. On the women's side this might be one of the most fun battle to watch. We'll get a second edition of Michaela Rose vs Sanu Jallow-Lockhart! Expect 1:59's as they both love to take it out hard! Top 3 each heat plus the 2 next best times advance to the final!!


Mile Preview

Unfortunately here, two of the best milers scratched from this race to focus on the 3000 and DMR. However, still expect a great race. These miles are always fun to watch because it's always a packed race and guys fighting for positioning the whole way. Washington comes in with the top two times. However this isn't a time trial, it's all about positioning, guts, and who finishes the best. Let's hope Ruben Reina of Arkansas doesn't score here. It's going to be an even more interesting race on the women's side. All 16 girls have gone under 4:30, including Silan Ayyildiz of Oregon who's gone 4:23 which is insane! Watch out for her! Top 4 each year plus the next best two times advance to the final.

3000 Meter Preview

This will be a historic race, even with Harvard's Graham Blanks out injured. Two North Carolina teammates Parker Wolfe and Ethan Strand broke the NCAA record and look to score points for UNC. Arkansas's Yaseen Abdalla is ranked 3rd here. I don't think he has the kick to match the UNC guys or Gary Martin of Virginia, but let's hope he doesn't score, that will be a big blow to Arkansas. It's anyone's race on the women's side. The BYU girls have the top two times but Doris Lemengole is always a factor here. But athletes like Shannon Flockhart, Ayyildiz and Noe of Arkansas can kick and score as well.

5000 Meter Preview

25 laps! Arkansas is expecting to score big here, Yaseen Abdalla is ranked 2nd with Patrick Kiprop 5th. We have to hope they get shut out here. I think Abdalla is better at the longer distances so I think he can score here! We just have to hope it stays a very close race at a slow pace. Also in this race is 26 year old BYU athlete Casey Clinger who never seems to run out of eligibility lol. In the women's 5k it'll be two familiar names as Florida's Hilda Olemomoi and Bama's Doris Lemengole will battle it out across 25 laps! It'll be an interesting race and it'll be fun to see if these two pick up the pace about halfway and don't look back!

60 Meter Hurdle Preview

MR JQ! This is where we need a podium finish from JaQ'ualon Scott! He comes in with the 4th best time. He started the year off slow due to an injury in the fall, but he's slowly been picking up the pace! He always seems to perform well, earning second in this meet last year! However, there's a huge lead by the leader in this event Johnny Brackins of USC. His time of 7.43 blows away the field. Tech looks to pick up a lot of points here with the 2nd and 6th fastest times coming in. It might take a sub 7.50 to medal so let's see if Scott rises to the occasion like he's done in the past! Seems like it won't slow him down, Brackins will have just be finished with the long jump before the hurdle prelims! Arkansas has the 5th fastest time in the event so national championship implications are high in this race. On the women's side Jaiya Covington comes in with the 9th best time after leading the nation most of the year. .06 separates her from the fastest time! So a PR could land her on the medal stand! Hopefully she saved her best race for last.

Distance Medley Relay Preview

Possibly the race I am most excited for! Aggies made history qualifying for this event! While 16 athletes qualify for individual events, only 12 relays qualify! Our DMR group earned the 10th fastest time and made the talented field! The DMR is a unique relay and consists of 4 legs: a 1200, 400, 800, and a 1600. The quartet who ran for us were Luca Santorum, Cutler Zamzow, Kimar Farquharson, and Cooper Cawthra. This seems like the likely grouping for us. Sam Whitmarsh and Caden Norris can also run for us as well. Also making the field are Washington (ncaa record holders), Virginia, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Princeton, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, BYU, and Oregon. The field is extraordinary, however this race isn't about PR's! It's about strategy! Rarely will you see a team well out in front early on! The 1200 leg usually stays together with little separation until the last 200. We are 400 Meter U, so with Zamzow he can run a crazy fast leg of 45 something, maybe 44, and get us out front or in the lead group! We'll have Kimar or Sam running the 800 and they'll be fresh! Other teams have their 800 guys running the prelims possibly, we'll be fresh and ready to run a 1:46 split! Hopefully low 1:46 and this will keep us at the top! Then it comes down the mile. Who else would you rather have them Cooper Cawthra. He's fearless and he's all Aggie! He will be running against some monsters who have 3:48 mile PR's from North Carolina and Virginia. However, some schools will have their top milers in either the 800, 1600, or the 5000 which will be ran prior to the DMR. Only 3 DMR schools will have no one entered in these races, us Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin. So nothing is holding us back! Let's go shock the world and score in this event! Santorum needs to stay up top, we need a 44/45 leg from Zamzow, a 1:46 leg, then Cawthra to run his heart out for us! The mile may slow down a bit, so it'll become a kickers race, but there's no one else on earth I want with that baton other than Cawthra with 2 laps to go! I really think we can score here! Let's go get it!

4x400 Meter Relay Preview

THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! This event has historically been great to the Aggies! We are the reigning outdoor champions in this event and the nation's leader in 2025! We've ran many groups, with all similar times. We have 5 who are listed to run: Auhmad Robinson, Hossam Hatib, Antonie Nortje, Cutler Zamzow, and Kimar Farquharson. Any of the 4 together are capable of winning a national title! It'll be fun to watch them run, I think we see them go under 3:00 minutes! In their heat is Arkansas, USC, and Georgia! It'll be an amazing race and who knows, the national title may even come down to it! I wonder if we see Auhmad open the race up or close it! Either way expect fireworks! On the women's side we are going in ranked 5th! We ran Camryn Dickson, Jasmine Montgomery, Latasha Smith, and Jermaisha Arnold! We won't be in the fastest heat, but the middle one! Hopefully we go and win that heat! Our girls should be fresh and ready to run a great time! Only Jermaisha Arnold and Camryn Dickson will run a prelim! Arkansas has yet to run their top group together so expect them to run a great time although they may have the national championship sealed before this race!

I'll post the field event previews tonight!

FWIW Arizona State won indoors last year while we won the outdoor crown. We have to be a heavy favorite here though I would think.

Oh that's true!!!

Would definitely be risky, but I'd be curious to see us mix it up a bit and put Sam Whitmarsh in the 1200 leg. I've loved what Santorum has done for us this year, but Sam would hopefully use his front-runner style to give us an early lead to capitalize on during the 400-800 legs where we have the advantage on the field! Might be a "if it's not broke don't fix it" situation with Santorum, but I'm allowing my imagination to run haha!

The beginning of the year I was predicting him to run that 1200 leg! He looked so strong last year in the 1500 and obviously we know his 800 strength! I was curious to see what how he'd do in the 1200!! Luca Santorum has really proven himself both relays! That leg requires guts and Santorum seems to push himself to get to or near the front!! It's a big stage Friday so I'm curious how he does! I'd have confidence in both! But I'd also wonder if we see Sam run the 800 to keep Kimar fresh for the 4x400!! I'm just so excited! To me this race is not a distance race at all! The 400 and 800 runners can make a huge difference and I feel like that will help us score!

I think Cutler's leg will be important!! I wanna see him at a 45 low or possibly even a high 44 and really flex on that second leg and just have Sam or Kimar run for their life in that 800!