Samie Parker will look for the upset victory in the 100 meters (Oregon sports photo) |
The PAC-10 Outdoor Championships started May 10th (last Saturday) with the Decathlon.
Kicking off the competition the men and women got underway at Cromwell Field at
Loker Stadium on the campus of USC. Lorenzo Santiago of Oregon was only 3rd coming
into day (1st after day one was Darion Powell of Washington State who would later
finish second overall), but with consistent performances across the board and
Santiago’s single win in the triple jump he took the Decathlon with 7564
points.
This coming weekend (May 17th) the Championships pick up where the Decathlon
left off. Starting at 10:00 am the field events initiate the day. The returning
Stanford will be up a huge task of repeating the 151 points that gave them the
win last year. Stanford at this point is ahead of where they were last year
but as the meet progresses they will be strained to sweep the 5000m and score
additional points in the longer distances, as there are new comers this year
that have an equal shot at winning and scoring points.
Stanford leads the 5000m, 10,000m, 1500m in depth which makes up for the graduated
stars Gabe Jennings’s (who won the 1500m) and Riley whose double victory
in the 5000m and 10,000 were essential for their win. Stanford though is not
omnipotent in these events; Robert Cheseret (Ariz) in the 5000m is a close second
which tears away at their sweep of the top 3 spots from last year; the 10,000m
sees Jason Hartmann(Ore), Ryun Andrus (Ore), Girmay Guangul (Cal) and Fasil
Bizuneh mixing in a Stanford group which took 4 out of 5 top spots last year;
the 1500m lead by Robinson sees the closest competition from Aragon (UCLA) and
a possible Robert Cheseret appearance, Stanford lacks their national champion
Sage though replaced by Fox leaves Stanford consistently deep in the event.
The closest challengers for the Championships this year range from University
of Southern California (USC) and University of Los Angeles (UCLA) whom have
on April 26th squared off with UCLA striding out a narrow victory. USC is the
favorite this year, with depth in the sprints, field and jumps the Trojans look
to rake in many points, and with the addition their recruits this year they
have a solid line of attack for the win.
Leading the 200m, 400H, 110H, 4*100m, High Jump, Long Jump, and Triple Jump
their athletes with depth in some of these events will probably outshine their
3rd place from last year. UCLA remains an underdog and a possible odds-on favorite
after Stanford (seeing they bet USC on their track) additionally UCLA has been
a top 3 performer consistently at PAC-10’s with the exception of last
year’s black stain of 6th.
UCLA packs a punch leading the 800m (three of the top four times), Pole Vault,
Shot, Discus, and second in the 1500m and Steeple. Besides being another battle
between Stanford, USC and UCLA, the PAC-10 championships have become a seesaw
of points, with every school slugging it out for every possible point and win.
With that said every year the winner on paper does not necessarily win, and
the underdogs have been known to steal the show.
Oregon who was runner up last year with 125 points has seen a few key performers
leave but remains with a core group of athletes, and will an obstacle to anyone
seeking a top 3 finish. Already winning the decathlon they remain leaders in
the steeple, javelin, and hammer. Though not leading as many events as USC,
and as many as UCLA (UCLA has more potential point scorers; besides leading
they also place 2nd in 2 events) Oregon looks to crack into the top 3 with many
valuable points elsewhere in the distances, sprints and field, where they also
have potential point scorers.
The key for Stanford will be sweeping the distances which have become increasing
hard in some aspects. The key for USC will be the jumps, throws, and sprints.
The key for the underdogs UCLA and Oregon will be performing most of their athletes
at their best on race day.
The 10,000 remains a valuable asset for Stanford to assert itself with its
depth of distance runners who had no trouble winning the cross country championships.
Though not usually pushed the slow possible pace of the race could play into
other runners who like last year disrupted Stanford’s dominion. Additionally
a lot of the athletes in the race will be doubling in other distance races making
things more complicated. Watch for a core of three to five Stanford guys intermixed
with other runners. Stanford has Dobson, Luichini, Tenforde, Hejny, with Jason
Hartmann(Ore), Ryun Andrus (Ore), Girmay Guangul (Cal) and Fasil Bizuneh (ASU).
The 5000m which is another valuable event for the defenders contains again
a number athletes doubling from the 10,000m. The pace in the past has been slow
and with many other championship distance races most runners don’t push
the pace, leading to a more of a kickers race. The favorite for the race is
Robert Cheseret who at Mt Sac ran a 13:45 behind Luichini’s 13:31, but
unlike Luichini who will probably also run the 10,000m, Cheseret will be fresh.
Another runner Eric Logsdon who will also probably not run the 10,000m (as
he didn’t last year) has the tools also to compete with Luichini. Not
to be left out Hartmann has run 13:53i and could play a factor in the outcome
for Oregon while and Dobson of Stanford (13:52.9i) may run if in the steeple
or not. But if all these athletes double then Luichini is left as the favorite
being the fastest in the event.
The 1500m remains a valuable area for Stanford to gain a lead itself once again,
but at this point with prelims and final more athletes from other schools have
potential to score points. Grant Robinson leads the event with a 3:43 and 3:58i,
followed by Aragon (UCLA) 4:00i and Fox (Stan) 3:44. All three athletes like
any other in the meet will pull double duty and run other events, with the latter
Aragon and Fox in the 800m.
Probably Robinson will push the pace again and hope for the win, either it’s
possible he will set the event up for Fox or Loughin hoping they out kick Aragon.
From another perspective Aragon who’s a kicker could sit on Robinson and
pass him at the last moment and another other runner; he’s the fastest
800m runner among the bunch.
The 800m will be UCLA’s chance to score a large amount of points; they
hold three of the top four times with Ben Aragon, Nick Thornton, and Martell
Munguia at 1.48, 1:49.42 and 1:49.73 respectfully, with Raphael Asafo-Agyei
at 1:49.46 in the mix. Aragon is doubling in the 1500m and 800m, Thornton and
Munguia who aren’t doubling have an advantage here while Raphael is probably
doubling in other sprint events.
In the past its been a from the gun kind of race but with the close spread
from athletes a kick down the straight at the right time could easily swing
the race. The sub 1:50 group does look to take the race; watch for UCLA to take
it with USC and Stanford in the mix. But followed closely Stanford and USC each
have runners at 1:50 which can easily swing things for either of them. Stanford:
Fox who’s in the mile field has gone 1:50.39 and Justin Romaniuk at 1:50.9
is in the mix. USC; Anthony Heckman, 1:50.79.
The 3000 steeplechase is a match between UCLA's Erick Emilsson (8:50.32, PB
8:47) and Oregon’s Brett Holts (8:48.81). As this pair of competitors
is pretty evenly matched this race will be one to watch.
The 400m is a swing now towards Arizona State University (ASU), having 3 among
the top 4 this is their event to shine, watch for Lewis Banda, Jason Barton
and Seth Amoo. For the overall championship USC’s hopes rest on Brandon
Matlock, while UCLA puts Craig Everhart into the mix for points.
In the 200m, USC leads the event with Wes Felix at 20.79 followed by Seth Amoo
from the 400m and also a fellow Trojan Brandon Matlock. Wes the favorite will
be running the 100m also and probably the 4*100 and 4*400m.
The 100m is again lead by a Washington State runner; Bennie Chatman. WSU which
was powerful in this event has been weakened substantially with only Chatman
who will be going for the win after finishing 4th last year. Additionally another
asset to USC, the 100m remains a place for them to pick up points with Wes Felix
challenging with 10.24 to Chatman’s 10.19. Also kindling in third is Samie
Parker (10.34) of Oregon whom was an All-American in the 60 meter dash this
past indoor season.
The 110 hurdles and 400m Hurdles are lead by Ryan Wilson of USC running 13.50
and 49.67 respectfully. Wilson will be defending again Jeff Hunter of Arizona
(13.86), and Eric Mitchum of Oregon (13.87). Wilson in the 400 hurdlers face
his strongest challenge from UCLA’s Kyle Ericson (50.05) who was 49.62
last year and WSU's Eric Dudley (49.70) .
As for the relays, in the 4x100m relay USC (39.90) will strive for the win
against WSU (40.14) and Stanford (40.15). In the 4*400m the ASU squad which
are the relatively the same runners from the open 400m are the favorite; leading
with 3:02.81. ASU is followed by USC and Stanford which will be battling for
key points.
On the infield the action is just as intense. High jumper David Jaworski of
USC the defending champ from last year faces Teak Wilburn of Cal, something
out of the ordinary, each is just as good as the next; both have jumped 2.20m.
The pole vault finds the national indoor champion and returning PAC-10 winner
Brad Walker of Washington at 19-0 ¼ the clear favorite followed by Yoo
Kim of UCLA at 18-0 ½ and Jeff Reynolds at 17-8 ½. Which again
find a mustang for the following year followed by a Bruin and Trojan.
Another indoor national champ, Allen Simms of USC (8.02m), will be top seed
in the long and triple jumps. In the long jump he is followed by Juaune Armon
of UCLA who’s jumped 7.84 (8.00m PB) and Milton Little 7.90m (Stanford).
In the triple jump probably the best pair of jumpers from one school Allen Simms
17.26m and Julien Kapek 16.98m lead the event by over a meter ahead of Foluso
Akinradewo (15.86).
The shot put finds three of the top four from UCLA. Scott Wiegand, (19.89m)
the defending champ from last year leads his teammate Dan Ames (19.73m) who’s
also the leader in the discus (61.20m). Following the UCLA pair in the shot
are Sean Shields (19.58) of Arizona and another Bruin Jeremy Silverman (18.57m).
In the Discus following Dan Ames is Omer Inan of Stanford (59.13m) who finished
second last year and fellow Bruin Scott Wiegand at 58.42m who also finished
third last year. In the hammer Oregon thrower Adam Kriz (66.99m) defending champion,
faces runner-up from last year Nick Welihozkiy (Stan) 65.33m and a pair from
USC. In the javelin fellow Ducks Adam Jenkins (67.47m) is followed by John Stiegeler
(67.07m) and Joe Berro (66.38m) of Cal.
Summary:
Rankings:
1. USC
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. Oregon
5. Arizona State
6. Washington
7. Arizona
8. Washington State
9. California