The finale of the 2009 DII outdoor season will take place this weekend, May 21-23, at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.  This is the fifth time that Angelo State has hosted the Outdoor Championships, which will be attended by over 600 athletes plus fans, coaches, and the media.  I will highlight a few of the most highly competitive events.  Let me know what your predictions are and fill in the events (e.g. field events) that I have missed.  Please remember to be respectful towards the athletes since they have worked hard to get to Nationals.

Men’s 200 meters- Last year’s outdoor champion, St. Augustine senior Dennis Boone, is back, but he is coming in with the slowest seed time (21.28). His teammate, Josh Scott, who beat him by .01 seconds for the indoor title is also in the race.  Scott holds the second fastest seed time of 20.55 and has a very good chance of upsetting Boone.  J.C. Smith’s Leford Green has the fastest seed time of 20.41. However, both he and Scott are doubling in the 400 meters, which could add some fatigue to their legs and hinder their chances for the title.

Women’s 100 meters- This year’s 60 meter indoor champion and last year’s 100 meter outdoor champion, St. Augustine’s junior Barbara Pierre, is back and holds the third fastest seed time of 11.47. The duo of Lincoln runners, freshman Samoy Hackett (11.38) and senior Janika Martell (11.44), have the fastest two seed times entering into the race. All three are also running the 200 meters.

Men’s 1500 meters- The current indoor mile champion and last year’s 1500 meter champion, Adams State’s Aaron Braun is coming into this race as the favorite with a time of 3:39.45. Braun will also be running the 5k. His teammates, Ryan McNiff (3:42.57) and Andrew Graham (3:45.72) are not far behind. Chico State’s Michael Wickman will be doubling along with the 800 meter and has the seed time of 3:44.45. Queen’s Michael Crouch has the fifth fastest seed time of 3:46.59. This appears to be a tight race and might come down to who has the best kick and whose legs are the least fatigued.

Women’s 5k-With Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler focusing on the 1500 meters, the stage is set for a new 5k champion. Millersville’s Priscilla Jennings has the fastest seed time of 16:29.09 but Adams State’s Lavenna Mullenbach is a close second with a 16:30.57. Shippensburg’s freshman phenom, Neely Spence, is entered with the third fastest seed time of 16:38.81. Seeds times, however, are not reliable for predicting the race since Mullenbach is doubling in the 10k.  Other notable runners in the race include Abilene Christian’s Winrose Karunde, Edinboro’s Rachael Lanzel, and Adams State’s Heather Wood.