2003 NCAA Men's Outdoor Preview

• Sprints, jumps, throws previews by Tom Borish • Distance preview by Josh Spiker

100 meters: (10.50 regional qualifier)
Top time last year: Justin Gatlin, Tennessee, 10.00

Can Julien Dunkley pull off the 100 meter title as he did with the 60 indoors? (ECU sports photo)

With Justin Gatlin now gone to the professional scene, a new athlete will emerge as a national champion after Gatlin won the title the past two years. Michael Frater of TCU ran 10.05 last season, which was the second-fastest time all season right behind Gatlin. Frater ended up placing fourth in the championship meet. The defending indoor 60 meter champion, Julien Dunkley of East Carolina, will be a force as well. His time of 10.16 was one of the top-ranked collegians last year and already opened up with a 10.18 this season at the Florida Relays.

Mississippi State has its fair share of sprinters as Canadian Pierre Browne leads the Bulldogs. The third place finisher from last season also ran a wind-assisted 9.98 (3.7w) at the Canadian Track and Field Championships. Long jump champion Brian Johnson of Southern will also be in the mix along with newcomers Brendan Christian of Texas and Marc Burns of Auburn. Burns won the silver medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships with his time of 10.18 for Trinidad & Tobago. Mardy Scales of Middle Tennessee State will offer his talents in the mix as well.

200 meters: (21.20 rq)
Top time last year: Justin Gatlin, Tennessee, 19.86

Just with the 100 meters, a void will left to be filled now with Justin Gatlin gone. The outstanding performer from the event this past indoor season goes to Leo Bookman of Kansas. Bookman won the indoor title in 20.53 and will have to juggle handling spring football practice since he is a vital part of the Jayhawks football team. Nevertheless, Bookman will want to defend his indoor title and steal the show again. The core of Mississippi State sprinters - Marquis Davis, Pierre Brown and Glenn McFadden – will look to score big points for the team title in the half-lap event.

One of the top times from last year also belongs to Gregory Carter of Alcorn State who clocked 20.34. Freshman Christian Brendan and Aaron Collins of Texas will look to improve on their outstanding debut seasons on the collegiate scene. Don't overlook Southern sprinters Kevin Harris and Devin Daniels who clocked 20.41 and 20.44, respectively, last season as well. Kyle Farmer of Florida and Kendrick Triggs of Mississippi entered the indoor meet in Arkansas with the second best times in the country with their 20.76 clocking.

400 meters: (47.45 rq)
Top time last year: Gary Kikaya, Tennessee, 44.53

It has been an event that Gary Kikaya of Tennessee has owned over the past calendar year. The senior looks to end his collegiate career with another title under his belt before he pursues the professional scene. One of the more eye-opening performances in the event during the indoor season went to Obra Hogans of Seton Hall. His time of 45.82 placed second behind Kikaya indoors.

Rickey Harris of Florida finished the same right behind Kikaya outdoors which included running 44.84 in the prelims of the SEC Championships. Brandon Simpson of TCU holds a personal best of 45.12, set while he was at George Mason University. Many more names such as Sanjay Ayres of Auburn, Jonathan Fortenberry of South Carolina, Mitch Potter of Minnesota, BJ Henderson of East Carolina, Pete Coley and Kelly Willie of LSU along with the Taylor duo of Darold Williamson and Jeremy Warner will all be just as hungry for the title.

800 meters: (1:51.15 rq)
Top time last year: Otukile Lekote, South Carolina, 1:45.17

Outikile Lekote will have his game face on again for outdoors

The 800 is the best field in years and possibly the most competitive race of the 2003 outdoor season. Eight out of the top nine from last year's outdoor national meet return and add in 1:46 (indoors) freshman Peter Etoot from Alabama and you have a great field. The favorites would have to be Outikile Lekote of South Carolina or Nate Brannen of Michigan. Lekote won last year's national outdoor meet in 1:45.17 and posted a 1:46.88 indoors, but failed to win the title.

Nate Brannen won this year's indoor national in 1:47.79 with a strong kick that put the field away. He ran a 1:46.00 outdoors last year. Other major contenders include: Sam Burley of Penn who was second at last year's outdoor nationals and third at this year's indoor national meet; Moise Joseph of Florida who was third at last year's outdoor nationals; Jonathan Johnson of Texas Tech who finished fourth at last year's outdoor nationals as a freshman; Marc Sylvester of Tennessee who redshirted indoors this year but was sixth at last year's outdoor nationals and second at last year's indoor national meet; and Peter Etoot who ran a 1:46.5 indoors this year ranking the top collegiate indoor time of the year.

Other contenders include Joseph Less of Kansas State, Jackson Langat of Texas Christian, Robbie Stevens of Arkansas, Said Ahmed of Arkansas, David Freeman of Kentucky, Jesse O'Connel of Georgetown, Aldwyn Sappleton of Oklahoma, Dan Murray of Wisconsin, James Doaty of Kentucky, Chad Johnson of Kentucky and Paul Ciurlys of Kentucky. Kentucky has four 800 meter runners in the list above and you can add in Hunter Spencer who is a 1:48 800 guy but will likely focus on the 1500 meters.

1500 meters: (3:50.00 rq)
Top time last year: David Kimani, Alabama, 3:39.35

Hopefully this event will improve drastically from last year's outdoor nationals and this year's indoor national meet, which was contested in the mile run. The favorites are Don Sage of Stanford who won last year's outdoor title and Chris Mulvaney of Arkansas who won this year's indoor title in the mile and was second at last years outdoor national. Also watch out for the Michigan duo of Nate Brannen and Nick Willis, John Jefferson of Indiana, Rob Myers of Ohio State, Josh Spiker of Wisconsin, Grant Robison of Stanford, Gavin Thompson of Eastern Michigan, Ryan Hayden of Villanova, Kip Kangogo of BYU, Brendon Mahoney of Georgia Tech and Sean O'Brien of American-DC. Note that Adrian Blincoe of Villanova is done with his collegiate career as he is out of eligibility and David Kimani of Alabama will sit out this season due to a stress fracture injury.

3000 meter steeplechase: (9:12.00 rq)
Top time last year: Daniel Lincoln, Arkansas, 8:22.34

The obvious favorite for this race is Daniel Lincoln of Arkansas who has won the last two years and has had an impressive indoor season. He posted a blazing 8:22 last year and is one of the top steepler's in the United States. Second place is the spot up for grabs. Look for Martin Allegyr of SMU, Luke Watson of Notre Dame, Richard Kiplagat of Iona, Andy Smith of NC State, Jordan Desilets of Eastern Michigan, Kevin Barra of Texas, Jochen Dieckfoss of Boston University, Bashar Ibrahim of UTEP and Isaiah Festa of Wisconsin.

5000 meters: (14:25.00 rq)
Top time last year: David Kimani, Alabama, 13:20.65

Alistair Cragg looks to continue his success during the outdoor season (Arkansas sports photo)

The 5000 meters this year may be stacked depending on whether each runner races this event or the 10k. If they run the 5000, the favorites would be: Alistair Cragg who was second at cross country nationals this year and won this years indoor 3000 and 5000 meters in ridiculously fast times; Jorge Torres of Colorado who was this years cross country champion and second in this event last year; Dathan Ritzenhein of Colorado who was fourth at this event last year and a big up and coming talent. Other contenders may include Richard Kiplagat of Iona, Boaz Cheboiywo (last years 10k outdoor champ), Jason Woolhouse of Oklahoma, Mindaugas Pukstas of SMU, the Stanford crew of grant Robison, Seth Hejny, and Ian Dobson, and Luke Watson of Notre Dame.

10,000 meters: (29:00.00a, 29:45.00p)
Top time last year: Tom McArdle, Dartmouth, 28:18.21

Like the 5000 meters, this event may be really stacked if everyone decided to run the 10. With the new regional format this season, the 10,000 meters is the only running event where the athletes will still have to meet the NCA automatic standard of 29:00.00 and provisional of 29:45.00 in order to qualify for the meet. The favorites would again be Alistair Cragg who is said to be looking to run a fast 10k this year, Boaz Cheboiywo who won last year and is hard to beat in the latter half of a 10k (has 3:58 mile speed and tons of endurance), Jorge Torres and Dathan Ritzenhein of Colorado who were discussed in the 5 section and at least one is said to be looking to focus on the 10, and Tom McArdle who ran a 28:18 last year and placed 3rd at the national meet, although he was hurt indoors.

One of the eye-opening performances so far this season has come from Florida State freshman Joep Tigchelaar. His time of 28:33.81 won the Stanford Invitational and punched his ticket to the big show in June. Also look for Stanford's Louis Luchini and Adam Tenforde of Stanford, Adam Sutton of Providence, Ed Torres of Colorado, Jason Hartman of Oregon, Mindaugas Pukstas of SMU, Matt Gonzales of New Mexico, Chad Pearson of NC State, and Jason Sandfort of Arkansas.

110 meter hurdles: (14.40 rq)
Top time last year: Ron Bramlett, Alabama, 13.35

Perhaps one of the more wide open events, the 110 meter hurdles have seen athletes such as Ron Bramlett and dominate over the past couple years. Chris Pinnock of Texas A&M enters this season after placing third outdoors last year including third this past indoor season in the 60 meter hurdles. The defending champion in the 60 meter hurdles, Jabari Greer of Tennessee, also figures to be a heavy favorite after his impressive indoor season.

Freshman Shamar Sands of Auburn took second behind Greer during the 60 meter final and was the bronze medalist in the 110m hurdles at the 2002 World Junior Championships with his time of 13.67. The gold medalist in the World Junior event, Antwon Hicks of Mississippi, looks to boast his time of 13.42 set in the race this season. David Payne of Cincinnati will also be a force to be reckoned with while already edging out Jabari Greer and last year's champion Bramlett at the Florida Relays this season. Michael Thomas of Arkansas, Ryan Wilson of USC and Charles Ryan of UCLA all look to step up as well. Jermaine Cooper of Texas will miss this season due to an injury.

400 meter hurdles: (52.70 rq)
Top time last year: Rickey Harris, Florida, 48.16

One of the toughest events to compete in, Ricky Harris of Florida fits the mold as one of the toughest competitors in the field. His time of 48.16 won the event last year at LSU and will be a heavy favorite this season. Bennie Brazell of LSU cracked 49-seconds with his runner-up performance of 48.80 in the outdoor final last season. One of the more talented freshmen this season will be Kenneth Ferguson of South Carolina. The silver medalist at the 2002 World Junior Championships set a new high school record with his time of 49.38 and already opened his season with a time of 49.27 at the Florida Relays. More athletes returning this season who have broken 50 seconds includes Kyle Erickson of UCLA, Fred Sharpe of Auburn, Mikael Jakobsson of Minnesota, Dean Griffiths of Auburn and Brian Derby of Penn State.

4x100 meter relay: (40.70 rq)
Top time last year: LSU (Walter Davis, Robert Parham, Pete Coley, Bennie Brazell) 38.48

Bennie Brazell looks to anchor home another 4x1 title for the Tigers (LSU sports photo)

In what could be the toughest event to qualify in at the regional meet will be the 4x100 meter relay. Defending champion LSU did run 38.48 to win the meet last year, however, as everyone knows in the relay, anything can happen from a dropped stick to a zone violation. It will more critical than ever starting this year for all regional qualifying teams to get the stick around clean.

Case in point was Mississippi State and TCU who entered the meet with the third and fourth fastest times in the nation but failed to make the final do to not finishing the race in the prelims. The Tigers from LSU will look to defend their title after only losing lead-off man Walter Davis. After not making the final last season, look for Mississippi State and TCU to make sure that doesn't happend again and show up big in the run for the title.

A team to look out for will be the young core of sprinters at Texas. However, experience usually pays off in events such as the relays so it could be a learning experience. East Carolina, South Carolina and USC will all run fast times in the run for the title.

4x400 meter relay: (3:11.50 rq)
Top time last year: Tennessee (Dwayne Bell, Adrian Wheatley, Justin Gatlin, Gary Kikaya) 3:02.14

It was one of the most exciting races during the meet last season as then freshman Jonathon Fortenberry lerked his way through the crowd in the final homestretch to take the title for South Carolina. The Gamecocks will be just as strong again this season after only losing James Law and replacing him with freshman Ken Ferguson. Always in the run for the title no matter who they put out there is Baylor. With the dynamic duo of freshman Jeremy Wariner and sophomore Darold Williamson, the Bears will be one to deal with. LSU claimed the indoor title while adding an outstanding freshman anchor in Kelly Willie. The depth of TCU will also be strong and a team to look out for. East Carolina, Minnesota, Tennessee, Arizona State and Florida will all look forward to the battle as well.

High Jump: (2.07 rq)
Top mark last year: Tora Harris, Princeton, 2.31m

Shaun Guice takes his personal best of 7-5 to the test this season (Purdue sports photo)

After coming off the indoor title, Jerrick Holmes of Cal-State Northridge will be a favorite once again for the outdoor campaign. The junior did not even compete at the outdoor meet last year at LSU, but cleared 7-03.75 (2.23m) to take the title this past indoor season. In what many consider being one of the more wide open events, Adam Shunk of North Carolina will try to take advantage of this as well. The senior looks to go out with a title in hand after placing runner-up and jumping well all indoor season long.

Shunk's ACC rival Jesse Williams of NC State will look to turn even more heads this season after his outstanding freshman campaign by taking a tie for third at the indoor meet. Shaun Guice of Purdue was the other athlete who tied for third and will look to match his personal best leap of 7-5. Cedric Norman of Southern Mississippi opened his outdoor campaign with a clearance of 7-03.25 at the Alabama Relays already this season. Joe Squittieri of Florida will look to overcome his disappointing performance indoors along with the emergence of in-state rival Jimmy Baxter of South Florida. Mike Beasley of Texas Tech will take his indoor best of 7-02.25 to the test outdoors.

Pole Vault: (4.90 rq)
Top mark last year: Brian Hunter, Texas, 5.70m

Finally. Those were the exact thoughts coming from Brad Walker of Washington after he cleared 19-00.25 (5.80m) to take the title indoors. The senior looks to come out on top again which included taking the runner-up position behind then senior Brian Hunter of Texas last year at LSU outdoors. A favorite to score big again will be Rocky Danners of Tennessee who always puts himself in the mix. Eric Eshbach of Nebraska showed up big indoors by taking second behind Walker after a no-height performance during the outdoor meet last year. Florida's Paul Condron cleared 17-08.50 to open his season at the Florida Relays. Freshman John Russell of Akron, Trent Powell of BYU, Giovanni Lanaro of Cal State-Fullerton and Trevor Woods of Oregon look to give Walker and company all they can handle as well.

Long Jump: (7.32 rq)
Top mark last year: Brian Johnson, Southern, 8.33m

Who would have thought last year at this time that a former full-time basketball player would end up as the national indoor champion? However, Brian Johnson of Southern did enter the outdoor meet last year with the top mark which included taking third overall. With a leap of 27-02 (8.28m), Johnson proved all his critics wrong by now putting all of his focus in the event now that basketball is over. Frank Token of Nebraska placed second behind Johnson indoors with his leap of 26-06.25. This is after not even qualifying for the outdoor championship meet last year where he ended up with the 27th best mark.

Auburn got some big points in the event from Levant Sands who placed third overall indoors. Don't forget about Randy Lewis of Wichita State who popped a big jump of 26-01.75 to place second outdoors last year after entering the meet being ranked 18th overall. LSU's John Moffitt, the national leader with a best of 26-6.25 coming into the meet, finished fifth with a 26-1 at the indoor meet. Aarik Wilson of Indiana came up big in the long jump already this season with his leap of 25-10.75 at the Florida Relays.

Triple Jump: (14.94 rq)
Top mark last year: Walter Davis, LSU, 17.34m

Allen Simms of USC is the clear favorite in the triple jump after claiming the indoor title with his mark of 56-07.50 (17.26m). After transferring over to Southern Cal from George Mason, the multiple All-American looks to leap even farther with the main focus of outdoors on his mind. Simms was fourth in the triple jump at the 2001 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and fourth in the triple at the 2001 Indoor NCAA meet. Teammate Julian Kapek, who has a personal best of 55-08.50 in the event, looks to push and move ahead of Simms all season long. Aarik Wilson of Indiana looks to avenge the runner-up places he performed this past indoor season along with outdoors last season. John Moffitt of LSU is one not to be forgotten after his season debut with the Tigers along with teammate LeJuan Simon. Quincy Howe of Wyoming, Jaanus Uudmae of Arkansas and freshman Rafeeq Curry of Florida State will all be in the chase as well.

Shot Put: (16.30 rq)
Top mark last year: Janus Robberts, SMU, 21.60m

Carl Myerscough looks for the shot put title again (Scott Bruhn/NU SID Office)

In many minds, no one had a better performance during the NCAA indoor meet than Carl Myerscough of Nebraska. The Englishman was .25 meters short of tying the collegiate record with his winning mark of 70-06.25 (21.49m). By also setting the meet record, Myerscough appears ready to defend his title with strong competition. Dan Taylor of Ohio State had an outstanding indoor season in both the shot and weight throws by placing second in the shot put. Look for Taylor to pop one out beyond the 70-foot plateau after tossing 69-11.75 indoors.

Christian Cantwell of Missouri is just as hungry as he would like to end his collegiate career with an individual title. The senior placed third indoors and also owned the top mark outdoors last season heading into the championship meet. Dan Ames of UCLA, Karl Erickson of Minnesota and Sean Shields of Arizona will all provide high marks in one of the more exciting events this season.

Newcomer and former high school standout Kevin Bookout of Oklahoma will join his brother, Kyle, later this season. Kevin, who also started for the Sonners basketball team that made it to the elite eight in the NCAA tournament, said he planned to compete in the John Jacobs Invitational at Oklahoma on April 12. Other names to look for will include Nedzad Mulabegovic of Purdue, Dorian Scott of Florida State, Steve Manz of Michigan State and Brian Hallett of Kent State.

Discus: (50.30 rq)
Top mark last year: Carl Myerscough, Nebraska, 63.14m

Carl Myerscough isn't a one-hit-wonder as the Husker is just as strong in the discus. The runner-up from last season with his mark of 202-07 (61.76m), Myerscough also entered the meet with the top mark in the country. Southern Methodist continues their strong throws tradition with sophomore Alburtus Hopley who took third in the event last year. Hopley opened up this season already with a mark of 201-06 at Texas A&M. His teammate, Michael Robertson, also threw well already with his throw of 197-05 at the same meet. After redshirting last year, former national champion Gabor Mate of Auburn is back while placing second in 2001 and winning the title in 2000. Jason Young of Texas Tech, Russ Bell of Missouri, Josh Ralston of Texas A&M, Kyle Bookout of Oklahoma and Sam Segond of Rutgers will all look to give their best shot at a national title as well.

Hammer: (54.46 rq)
Top mark last year: Libor Charfreitag, SMU, 78.58m

With the absence of Andras Haklits and Libor Charfreitag, new athletes will step up and claim supremacy in the hammer throw. Panagiotis Mavraganis of Georgia appears to be one of the favorites after placing fourth outdoors last year and the top returning collegian. His teammate, Lucias MacKay, will also be a key factor as the National junior college record holder in the event while at Moorpark College. Fresh off his indoor title in the weight, Thomas Freeman of Manhattan would appear to be a favorite as well; however he will be redshirting the outdoor season and will return in 2004.

Janne Vartia of UTEP placed sixth outdoors including the fourth best mark overall entering the meet. A pair of freshman from SMU have shown success early in the season already as Sasha Lutsenko and Jerome Bortoluzzi both thew over 210 feet to open up. Adam Midles was far and away the finest prep hammer thrower in the nation in 2002. He has a tremendous future at USC and should have a major impact in the collegiate ranks this season in which he has already thrown 201-9 with the 16lb weight. Spyridon Jullien of Virginia Tech had a huge opening season mark of 220-10 to win the hammer throw at the Raleigh Relays. Adam Kriz of Oregon will look to be a major player as well.

Javelin: (60.50 rq)
Top mark last year: Scott Russell, Kansas, 79.85m

John Stiegler won 2001 NCAA title in the javelin for the Ducks (Oregon sports photo)

John Stiegler returns for the Oregon Ducks this season as one of the favorites in the javelin. The 2001 NCAA champion competed twice early last season before a knee injury forced him to miss rest of year. Bill Neumann of Iowa will also look to take the title after placing third last year with his throw of 244-08 (74.57m). Trevor Snyder of Georgia, who placed 14th overall last season, already opened up this year with an impressive early season mark of 237-02.

Brian Chaput of Penn already opened up his season with a big mark of 242-09 this season at home. Artur Wszelaki of Nebraska will also be in the mix after his fourth place performance last year and has already opened up with a mark of 235-10 at the Stanford Invitational. Janne Sakko of UTEP, Gary File of Missouri, Neil Warr of Utah State and Rob Minnitti of Boise State will look to step up as well.

Decathlon: (7500a, 7000p)
Top score last year: Claston Bernard, LSU, 8094

Not affected by the regional format, all athletes will still have to meet the automatic (7,500) and provisional (7,000) standards in order to qualify for the outdoor meet. Stephen Harris of Tennessee, who already has secured his spot in the meet by scoring 8,103 already this season, placed fourth last season at LSU behind all seniors. Ryan Harlan of Rice, who recently appeared in Sports Illustrated's 'Faces in the Crowd', enters this season as a strong favorite as well. Harlan placed fifth behind Harris last season in the event. Justin Youngblood of Texas-San Antonio returns as one of the top performers including Joel Johnson of Utah State, Kevin Thompson of Tennessee and Will Thomas of Connecticut.

Team title:
Defending Champion: LSU

Arkansas proved once again who owns the indoor circuit this season. Will it be the same outdoors for the Hogs? Auburn was a distant second indoors but it should be a much closer battle for the outdoor title. LSU will once again be in the hunt after claiming the title last season. Tennessee, Nebraska and South Carolina could all prove everyone wrong as anything can happen.