Duffy Daugherty, the famous Michigan State University football coach, once stated that, “When you are playing for the national championships, it’s not a matter of life or death. It’s more important than that.” Starting May 27^th in Charlotte, North Carolina the best of the DII athletes in track and field will be competing for a title for many that seem more important than life or death.  I’ll take a look on what I think will be some of the more exciting races but I want to hear your thoughts so just leave a comment.

800- In the men’s race, last year’s outdoor champion, Metro State’s Anthony Luna, will square off against this year’s indoor champion, Minnesota State-Mankato’s Denise Mokaya.  Mokayo only earned his auto qualifier last week at the UWL Eagle Open. Attempting the double with the 1500 meters will be Adams State’s Andrew Graham and Chico State’s Michael Wickman. Graham was the runner-up at last year’s outdoor championships and third in indoors. Wickman was third in 2009. The unknown in this race will be Augustana’s Aduo Omot who outpaced Mokayo at the UWL Eagle Open.  Pick: Luna

In the women’s race, Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler comes in three seconds ahead of Nebraska-Omaha’s Anja Puc. Pixler ran a 2:04.89 a day after battling Washington’s Katie Follet at the Mt. Sac relays in the 1500m and running a 4:11.05. Pixler appears to be the ons on favorite but Nebraska-Omaha’s Anja Puc is the defending outdoor and indoor champion and should give Pixler a battle. I do not believe the double will be hard for Pixler since she has proven she can run two hard efforts in the same weekend. Pick: Pixler

1500- Graham, Wickman and Queen’s Simon Stuetzel were the only three to hit the automatic qualifier. Wickman is the highest returner (3^rd) from last year’s outdoor championships. Graham and Wickman are both doubling with running the 800 meter. Adams State does have four others entered including freshman Keegan Calmes. Look for Adams State to use team tactics to control the race. Pick: Wickman

Much like the men’s race, the top seed is doubling. Pixler comes in almost 12 seconds ahead of her teammate Jane Larson with a time of 4:11.06.  This is not only the best DII time in the nation but one of the best times period in the entire nation. It appears to be Pixler’s race to lose. Pick: Pixler

3000 Steeplechase- Defending champion, Adams State’e Reuben Chebon-Mwei, is back this year and faster than ever coming with a time of 8:34.42.  He ran a 8:39.92 at Mt. Sac where he also ran a 13:39.92. for the 5k. Alaska Anchorage’s Micah Chelimo and Western State’s Loren Ahonen are almost 15 second behind Mwei.  Pick: Mwei

Much like the men’s race, the defending champion is back, Southern Indiana’s Mary Ballinger but she does not come in as the top seed. Adams State’s Alicia Nelson is having a very good rookie season and proved herself by running a 10:20.92 at the Stanford Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational.  Along with Shippensburg’s Mary Dell and Western State’s Hillory Davis, Nelson will make it tough for Ballinger to repeat. The race could come down to sprint in the last few laps, and I like Dell’s flat speed having run a 2:12.20 in the 800 meters. Pick: Dell

5k- This race is stacked with the top four from this past years cross country championships plus a healthy Queen’s Michael Crouch.  This race is another case of a large majority of the top runners doubling; Abilene Christian’s Amos Sang, Adams State’s Reuben Mwei and Luke Cragg, and Harding’s Daniel Kirwa. This race might depend on how hard fought the 10k ends up being.  Fresh legs might be the key, so look for Crouch and Alaska Anchorage’s Marko Chesto to take advantage of this. Pick: Crouch

The women’s race is appearing to be a repeat of indoor nationals with Queens’ Tanya Zeferjahn and Shippensburg’s Neely Spence coming in with the top times. Zeferjahn’s seed time of 16:03.51 is ten seconds faster than Spence’s time. Zeferjahn is doubling with the 10k. Look for a tight race between the two. Pick: Spence

10k- Cragg, Sang and Kirwa come in as the top seeds and the only sub 29:30 guys. Kirwa is the defending the champion but according to sources, is coming back from an injury. Cragg and Sang are only separated by five seconds in seed times with Cragg being faster.  Look for a tight race between the three with a possible spoiler in the form of American International’s Glarius Rop. Pick: Sang

Queens’ Tanya Zeferjahn has a seed time nearly twenty seconds faster than the second seed, Western Washington’s Sarah Porter.  The two are the only two under 34:00. It is likely that Zeferjahn will try to preserve energy for the 5k the next day, so expect a tight race with Zeferjahn dropping the hammer late in the race. Pick: Zeferjahn