Check out the top storylines of the men's sprint competition at the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, on March 10-11.  

Rematch of SEC 4x400m showdown between record-holders Texas A&M, Florida, Alabama

Texas A&M set the track world on fire when the foursome of Fred Kerley, Richard Rose, Devin Dixon, and Mylik Kerley ran 3:02.52 to win the 4x400m and break the collegiate record at the Razorback Challenge. The relay team broke the previous record of 3:02.86 set by the 2015 Aggies team. In fact, six of the top 10 all-time fastest collegiate relays have been run by Texas A&M teams. 



At the SEC Indoor Championships, the competition became even stronger when Texas A&M ran 3:02.39 and was followed by a hard-charging Florida (3:02.73) and Alabama (3:02.92). Although the marks were run on an oversized track and will not count toward the all-time collegiate record, the performances foreshadow an exciting relay showdown at the NCAA Indoor Championships. 

Christian Coleman returning after competing in Rio

Defending NCAA indoor 200m champion Christian Coleman is returning from a solid 2016 season that included top three finishes in every individual event at the NCAA championships, multiple personal bests, and an opportunity to compete on the Olympic team in the 4x100m relay. 

After finishing third in the 60m and first in the 200m at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, Coleman continued his breakthrough year on the outdoor track by claiming runner-up finishes in the 100m and 200m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Just a few weeks later, Coleman finished sixth in the 100m final of the U.S. Olympic Trials, just three spots shy of making the Olympic team in the 100m. Prior to the final, Coleman blasted a personal best of 9.95 seconds in the semifinal round. The performance led to Coleman being selected to compete in the relay pool for Team USA. In Rio, Coleman helped the team set a world-leading time of 37.65 in the qualifying round. But unfortunately, the team was disqualified in the final when the baton exchange between Mike Rodgers and Justin Gatlin was made outside of the designated handoff zone. 

So far in 2017, the Tennessee junior has made steady progress across multiple events, notably a then-world lead and personal best of 6.51 in the 60m. His performance is tied for No. 8 on the NCAA all-time best list. He also set a world lead and personal best of 20.46 in the 200m at the Tiger Paw Invitational. Coleman is entered in both the 60m and 200m at the NCAA Indoor Championships and will be in the hunt to add two more NCAA titles to his resume.

Freshman Grant Holloway could win multiple NCAA titles

Grant Holloway might make history in his first NCAA Indoor Championship. According to the USTFCCCA's list of top scorers at the NCAA Indoor Championship, no athlete has ever scored in the 60m hurdles, long jump, and 4x400m relay at the meet. Holloway has a strong chance to not only score in all three but also potentially win. 

Florida's freshman star is ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in all three events heading into the championship. He is ranked No. 1 in the 60m hurdles after running 7.58 at the Tyson Invitational. He is ranked No. 2 in the long jump after leaping to a mark of 8.05m, and he is a member of the No. 2-ranked 4x400m squad that finished runner-up to collegiate record-holder Texas A&M at the SEC Indoor Championships. 

Among the top scorers in the history of the NCAA Indoor Championship, the only male athlete to score in three comparable events is Bowerman winner Jarrion Lawson. While competing for Arkansas at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, Lawson won the long jump, finished fifth in the 60m sprint, and 12th in the 4x400m relay. 

As a four-star football recruit, Holloway made a rare choice when he decided to focus on track in college, and the decision has already paid off with an SEC title, top NCAA marks, and personal bests in every event from the 300m to the long jump. Heading into his first college championship, Holloway could potentially add NCAA champion to the list of early accomplishments. 

Watch out for NCAA newcomer Jereem Richards

The transfer from South Plains College is already lighting the NCAA on fire with top marks and takedowns of the fastest college stars. Before arriving at Alabama, Jereem Richards was an alternate for Trinidad & Tobago's 4x400m team at the Olympics and claimed a bronze medal as a member of the relay team at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships. While competing in his first NCAA season, Richards notched an NCAA lead in the 200m with a dominant 20.34 victory at the SEC championships. In the same race, Richards beat fellow conference rival and NCAA indoor champion Christian Coleman. Later on in the meet, Richards ran as the second leg on Alabama's 4x400m which finished third, claimed an NCAA berth, and broke the school record. 

Although Richards' 200m mark is faster than Ato Bolden's national record of 20.35, the performance was run on an oversized track and will not count towards the record. However, Bolden predicts even bigger performances in the future.

"I still think he's the one to break it, and that he'll get under 20 (seconds) outdoors," Bolden told Trinidad Express. 

Fred Kerley to continue a breakthrough season

The Texas A&M sprinter has been on a roll this indoor season, highlighted by a contribution to the 4x400m collegiate record and the No. 4 USA indoors all-time mark in the open 400m. 

In January, Kerley ran as the leadoff leg on the Aggies' record-breaking relay where he split 44.96 in a combined team performance of 3:02.52. At the Tiger Paw Invitational in February, Kerley ran 45.02 in the open 400m, which established a world lead and the fourth-fastest all-time collegiate performance. Kerley continued his momentum at the SEC Indoor Championships where he won the title in  a stunning 44.94, which is the fastest 400m ever run by a collegian on an oversized track. 



This weekend, Kerley will compete in the open 400m and the 4x400m relay, where he will attempt to become a double NCAA champion for the first time in his career.