NCAA D1 Indoor ChampionshipsMar 9, 2015 by Taylor Dutch
NCAA Preview: Men's/Women's Triple Jump
NCAA Preview: Men's/Women's Triple Jump
Marquis Dendy, Florida
The Florida Gator is the clear favorite entering the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville with a seed mark of 17.23m, 0.53m ahead of the No. 2 seed Donald Scott from Eastern Michigan. The 2014 NCAA Outdoor Champion in the long jump and triple jump is coming off of two wins at the SEC Indoor Championships, in the long jump and the triple jump. Dendy has not lost a long jump or triple jump competition in 2015.
Keturah Orji, Georgia
The freshman phenom from Georgia has taken the triple jump by storm this season with a season’s best mark of 13.98m at the Rod McCravy Memorial. In high school, Orji won the USATF Junior Championships in the long jump, earned a silver medal in the long jump and a bronze medal in the triple jump at the World Youth Championships as a junior. With the best mark of 2015 this season and a SEC Indoor Championship under her belt, Orji is a sure favorite to win in Fayetteville.
Donald Scott, Eastern Michigan
The Eastern Michigan standout has made huge progress in the last year, first with a sixth-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships, a new personal and season’s best of 16.70m at the Meyo Invitational, and Mid-American Conference wins in both the triple and long jump. With great momentum heading into his first NCAA Indoor Championship, Scott is sure to be a major threat.
Latario Collie, Texas A&M
The junior holds the No. 3 mark on the NCAA descending order list after posting a 16.69m at the Tyson Invitational. Collie won the 2014 NJCAA Indoor title in the triple jump and has made an immediate impact on the Aggie aquad after placing second at the SEC Conference Championships with a mark of 16.56m two weeks ago.
Ciarra Brewer, Florida
In her senior season, the Gator posted an indoor personal best at the Rod McCravy Memorial, finishing just behind Orji. Last year, Orji finished third at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships after posting a personal best in her SEC Championship performance with a jump of 13.91m. With more momentum than ever this indoor season, the upperclassmen will definitely go to work this weekend.
Tamara Myers, Arkansas
The Razorback is on track to help the No. 1 Arkansas team to an NCAA Indoor title. She holds the No. 3 seed mark of 13.40m, which she posted at the Razorback Invitational. In 2015, the senior has posted personal bests in the 60m (7.54), the long jump (6.33m) and the triple jump (13.40m). She will also be battling to contribute major points in the long jump as well.
Matthew Oneal, South Florida
The junior from South Florida has posted personal a new personal best this season with a mark of 16.43m at the UAB Vulcan Invite on Jan. 23. He just barely missed first-team All American status at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a ninth-place finish, but is performing better than ever in 2015.
Simone Charley, Vanderbilt
The sophomore made a statement at the SEC Indoor Championships two weeks ago after finishing third behind Orji and Brewer, and taking down Myers. Her season’s best mark of 13.24m from that performance in Lexington, shows that she is also peaking at the perfect time.