Outdoor DII preview..

March 25, 2008

Is March Madness driving you mad? Are you yearning for some track and field action? Well, donâ€™t fear, the outdoor season is here. With the indoor championships still burning in our recent memories, the outdoor season has begun. Most of us move gleefully to outdoor track, with its promises of warmer weather and, hopefully, faster times. Many of us are aiming for qualifying times that will deliver us to Walnut, California, where the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships will be hosted by Cal Poly Pomona at Mt. San Antonio College, May 22 through 24.

At the 2007 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Abilene Christianâ€™s men and the women of Lincoln (MO) University successfully defended their team titles. Abilene Christian picked up their sixth consecutive national championship title, scoring 105.50 points over St. Augustineâ€™s 73 points. Morehouse came in third with 68 points. Lincolnâ€™s women picked up their fifth consecutive national championship title with 82.50 points. Abilene Christianâ€™s women came in second with 69 points over St. Augustineâ€™s with 68 points.

There were some outstanding performances in both the menâ€™s and womenâ€™s competition. One interesting match-up, which could potentially play out again this season, was the menâ€™s 800 meter run between Adamâ€™s State Nick Lara, who is this yearâ€™s indoor champion, and Abilene Christianâ€™s Julius Nyango, who is last yearâ€™s outdoor 800 meter title holder. At last yearâ€™s meet, Nyango ran 1:49.05 over Laraâ€™s 1:49.76. This year, with both athletes holding championship titles, it should be exciting to see how their seasons unfold.

In the menâ€™s 400 meters, the stage has been set for establishing a new crop of stars. The top three finishers from last yearâ€™s national meet were seniors who have moved on leaving the race wide-open. In last yearâ€™s 5000 meter run, the Chico duo of Charlie Serrano and Scout Bauhs finished first and second, running 14:08.12 and 14:08.32 respectively. Bauhs did this was after winning 10000 meters with a time of 29:31.93, besting the talented Nicodemus Naimadu who ran 29:32.18. Naimadu and Serrano have since graduated. Bauhs, who has a Flocast blog, has made the U.S. World Cross-Country team and will compete in Edinburg on the 30th of this month. After redshirting this past cross-country season, Bauhs is racing for Chico this season, and thus will be a formidable competitor in the 5000 and/or 1000 meters at the national meet.

On the womenâ€™s side, expect Lincoln senior and returning outdoor champion in the 200 and 400 meters, Davita Prendergast, to make a statement. Seattle Pacificâ€™s Jessica Pixler was not able to take the double title in the 800 meters and mile at the indoor nationals, but perhaps she will succeed at outdoors. She will have a better shot at it since current 800 meter champion, Venessa Lee, is redshirting this year in order to focus on qualifying for the Olympic Trials. Pixler is the 1500 meter outdoor champion, and thus will be the person to beat. Grand Valley Stateâ€™s Mandi Zemba, who was the 5000 and 3000 meter outdoor champion, has graduated leaving both events open for new champions. Holding the indoor pole vault record is Minnesota University â€“ Mankatoâ€™s Katelin Rains and it will be interesting to see if this translates to outdoors.

Much like March Madness, this outdoor track and field season looks to be one fill with excitement and upsets. If any of you, my loyal readers have anyone you would like me to interview, please leave a comment below and I will see what I can do.

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#9	??? March 25, 2008 at 11:20pm I know a guy who didn't run indoor he is good in the mid distance...will watch him down in Mt.SAC. reply
#8	Mlabatacji March 25, 2008 at 11:16pm Talk about upcoming awesome comepetitors like Dan Kirwa.He never run indoor before college,but have some experience in the outdoor..he is gonna be good..letz watch em guys? reply
#7	.... March 25, 2008 at 9:35pm Wesley CHEATING you mean? reply
#6	Gonecountry March 25, 2008 at 7:55pm wesley keating? he ran indoor meets this year right? reply
#5	Who Cares? March 25, 2008 at 12:08pm tell me about the other kids running. Daniel Kanyaruhuru won the Indoor this year and all she did was mention him before and after the championships. Give the girl a break. I hope someone beats that kid and then we don't have to hear anymore about him or his coach. Sheesh!!!! reply
#4	Cara Hawkins March 25, 2008 at 12:03pm I was looking at last years results, but I know he will be in the mix. I watched his indoor 5k and it was awesome. I have mentioned him before, especially in my xc articles. He is a newcomer to DII this year but he is most def. a key player(or would that be runner) in this outdoor season. reply
#3	Schmitty_x March 25, 2008 at 11:43am How can you not talk about Daniel Kanyaruhuru who dominated the indoor 5k and has a 10k best of 29:17 in a tactical race... nice article and I love your readings but he never seems to get a mention from you. reply
#2	Cara Hawkins March 25, 2008 at 10:55am fixed, just a minor laspe in my part... reply
#1	National Meet March 25, 2008 at 9:35am FYI, Bauhs won the 10k on Thursday THEN came back to place second in the 5k. reply

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