There’s no rest between indoor and outdoor track apparently.

At least with some of the top NCAA sprinters, that is. This past weekend we saw impressive marks thrown down by sprinters who opted to compete and not have a weekend to rest between the two seasons.

USC Trojans vs. Oregon Ducks
These two squads met up at the Trojan Invite to showcase their sprinting talents. Senior Beejay Lee, an NCAA 60m qualifier, won the 200m in an NCAA No. 1 20.51. His teammate, new transfer Just’N Thymes, was right behind with an equally impressive 20.55. The Trojan men then teamed up to run the 4x100m (Lee, Thymes, Bryan Mercado, Andre De Grasse), beating Oregon in 39.74. The Ducks ran 40.30. Not bad considering Lee and De Grasse (Who finished runner-up to Trayvon Bromell in the 200m in a blistering fast 20.26) competed just last week on a banked indoor track in Fayetteville. 

Last season, the USC men ran 39.89 on this weekend, while the Ducks ran 40.46.

The Oregon and Trojan women had a showdown in the 4x100m relay, as well. They brought all of their studs to the track with the Duck quartet of Marybeth Sant, Ariana Washington, Jenna Prandini, and Jasmine Todd and USC’s team of Alexis Faulknor, Ky Westbrook, Deanna Hill, and Tynia Gaither. Oregon won in 43.31, their second-best mark in school history. USC was right behind in 43.41, their fifth-fastest school mark. Each of these ladies, except Sant, were NCAA qualifiers, with Washington, Prandini, Todd, and Westbrook taking home First Team All America honors. Prandini was the high-point scorer of the Indoor Championships, scoring 23 points by herself.

Last season, the Duck ladies opened up with 44.10 on this weekend at the Oregon Preview, while USC ran an identical time at their home Trojan Invite.

Other NCAA Champs Deliver
The Aggie Men, fresh off their indoor 4x400m collegiate record, traveled to Arizona to post NCAA No. 1 marks of 38.98 in the 4x1 and 3:06.67 in the 4x4. Three members of that record-setting relay were on hand for the 4x1 (Shavez Hart, Bralon Taplin, and Deon Lendore). Ironically, their 400m relay time matched the time they opened up outdoors last season.

The LSU men ran well at the Louisiana Classic. The team that featured 400m Indoor Champion Vernon Norwood, 200m All American Aaron Ernest, and NCAA qualifiers Tremayne Acy and Joshua Thompson, finished first in 39.87.

These early season marks are worth noting with Texas Relays right around the corner. This weekend’s event is one of the premiere sprinting showcases in the NCAA. Last year, NCAA all-time No. 4 and No. 5 men’s 4x100m marks were set by Florida and Texas A&M at the Relays. With the Aggies and LSU in good form, this weekend’s Texas Relays should be a barnburner. And of course, the Florida Gators are rested and will be looking to repeat their title.