Biggest Breakthroughs From the NCAA, USA Indoor Championship Weekend
Biggest Breakthroughs From the NCAA, USA Indoor Championship Weekend
In a ridiculously crazy weekend of track and field that included both the NCAA Indoor and USA Indoor Championships taking place at the same time, some major
In a ridiculously crazy weekend of track and field that included both the NCAA Indoor and USA Indoor Championships taking place at the same time, some major breakthroughs went down across both events. Here are the performances that caught our eye.
Sandi Morris (Nike) and Sam Kendricks (Nike)
Both pole vaulters showed super-human strength in their respective finals at the USATF Indoor Championships as Kendricks jumped a personal best of 5.90m and Morris followed the next day with a victory over world record-holder Jen Suhr and a personal best of 4.95m. What was just as exciting was each of their victory celebrations after clearing their marks.
Teahna Daniels (Texas)
Daniels became just the second freshman ever to win the women’s 60m at the NCAA Indoor Championships this past weekend in Birmingham. The Texas Longhorn set a new American Junior record with her winning time of 7.11 seconds and beat out talented runners Hannah Cunliffe, Mikiah Brisco, and Jasmine Todd. The mark is the fastest in Texas school history and ranks No. 5 in collegiate history. Daniel’s previous personal best in the event was 7.14, which she ran in the preliminaries at the championship.
Marquis Dendy (Nike)
The former Florida Gator and seven-time NCAA Champion unleashed a huge personal best Friday in Portland when he won the long jump at the USATF Indoor Championships in a winning mark of 8.41m. The performance improved upon his previous personal best and world lead by 0.03m, making him a clear favorite heading into the World Indoor Championships this weekend. Dendy told FloTrack that he was fired up heading into this championship after Carl Lewis’ remarks about the long jump earlier in the week. Dendy answered those doubtful remarks with a dominant victory.
Vashti Cunningham (Bishop Gorman High School)
The 18-year-old not only beat out the best women in the United States, but she also set a world junior indoor high jump record on her way to the top. Cunningham jumped 1.99m Saturday in Portland at the USATF Indoor Championships, which catapulted her performance to No. 4 in the U.S. all-time. Cunningham now owns the highest jump heading into the World Indoor Championships this weekend.
Henry Wynne (Virginia)
In a men’s mile that was previewed to be wide open after several of the top milers scratched, Henry Wynne emerged with a golden opportunity. In a tactical NCAA final, Wynne out-lasted heavy hitters Jonah Koech and Blake Haney to claim Virginia’s first ever NCAA Championship in the event and assist the team in claiming eighth overall. After failing to make the final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last June, Wynne’s performance was a breakthrough of epic proportions.
Barbara Pierre (Nike)
In one of the most dominant victories at the USATF Indoor Championships, Barbara Pierre blasted a personal best of 7.00 in the 60m final. Pierre’s start out of the blocks was the most jaw-dropping part of her victory on Saturday as Pierre exploded from the gun to claim the victory by a whopping 0.15 seconds over runner-up Tori Bowie. Pierre’s mark ties her with the No. 1 sprinter in the world — World Champion Dafne Schippers, which will make for an exciting match-up at the World Indoor Championships.
Sandi Morris (Nike) and Sam Kendricks (Nike)
Both pole vaulters showed super-human strength in their respective finals at the USATF Indoor Championships as Kendricks jumped a personal best of 5.90m and Morris followed the next day with a victory over world record-holder Jen Suhr and a personal best of 4.95m. What was just as exciting was each of their victory celebrations after clearing their marks.
I went super saiyan the other night & @samkendricks did some epic air bending... #Portland2016 pic.twitter.com/BY0rvMhiTF
— Sandi Morris (@sandicheekspv) March 14, 2016
Teahna Daniels (Texas)
Daniels became just the second freshman ever to win the women’s 60m at the NCAA Indoor Championships this past weekend in Birmingham. The Texas Longhorn set a new American Junior record with her winning time of 7.11 seconds and beat out talented runners Hannah Cunliffe, Mikiah Brisco, and Jasmine Todd. The mark is the fastest in Texas school history and ranks No. 5 in collegiate history. Daniel’s previous personal best in the event was 7.14, which she ran in the preliminaries at the championship.
Marquis Dendy (Nike)
The former Florida Gator and seven-time NCAA Champion unleashed a huge personal best Friday in Portland when he won the long jump at the USATF Indoor Championships in a winning mark of 8.41m. The performance improved upon his previous personal best and world lead by 0.03m, making him a clear favorite heading into the World Indoor Championships this weekend. Dendy told FloTrack that he was fired up heading into this championship after Carl Lewis’ remarks about the long jump earlier in the week. Dendy answered those doubtful remarks with a dominant victory.
Vashti Cunningham (Bishop Gorman High School)
The 18-year-old not only beat out the best women in the United States, but she also set a world junior indoor high jump record on her way to the top. Cunningham jumped 1.99m Saturday in Portland at the USATF Indoor Championships, which catapulted her performance to No. 4 in the U.S. all-time. Cunningham now owns the highest jump heading into the World Indoor Championships this weekend.
Henry Wynne (Virginia)
In a men’s mile that was previewed to be wide open after several of the top milers scratched, Henry Wynne emerged with a golden opportunity. In a tactical NCAA final, Wynne out-lasted heavy hitters Jonah Koech and Blake Haney to claim Virginia’s first ever NCAA Championship in the event and assist the team in claiming eighth overall. After failing to make the final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last June, Wynne’s performance was a breakthrough of epic proportions.
Barbara Pierre (Nike)
In one of the most dominant victories at the USATF Indoor Championships, Barbara Pierre blasted a personal best of 7.00 in the 60m final. Pierre’s start out of the blocks was the most jaw-dropping part of her victory on Saturday as Pierre exploded from the gun to claim the victory by a whopping 0.15 seconds over runner-up Tori Bowie. Pierre’s mark ties her with the No. 1 sprinter in the world — World Champion Dafne Schippers, which will make for an exciting match-up at the World Indoor Championships.