With the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships coming up, I decided to take another (doomed) attempt at picking some of the winners on the track. My track record is not great when making the picks solo. Yeah, I said it. But it's tough to pick one winner out of a field of 24, people. Especially when most of these deep fields have no clear favorite. 

So I decided to invite some fellow colleagues here at Flotrack and from around the running world to join in on the fun and make some picks with me. With that, a new competition was born, because we all know that us runners need to make everything into a competition. Each panelist voted on one winner for each track event, and will receive 2 points if their runner wins and 1 point for second. Apologies to the field events, but it was hard enough getting picks for just the track events...

Here are your panelists:

Ryan Fenton, Flotrack
Paul Michel, Flotrack
Kevin Liao, Spikeduppsychedup.com
Kevin Sully, houseofrun.com
Danny Mackey, Flotrack
Jake Gardner, Flotrack
Ray Machuca, Flocasts production
Cate Westenhover, Flotrack (and Baylor Bear)
Ryan Craven, Flotrack

Each day, I'll post our picks for the finals from that day. We'll tally up the points at the end of the meet and see who wins. 

Like someone's pick(s)? Have some thoughts of your own on who will take each event? Let us know what you think.

Ok, here we go...

Today's only final on the track is the Women's 10k. 

Women's 10k

Ryan Fenton : Tara Erdmann (Loyola Marymount)
Although Saina is the top returner from a year ago, we haven't seen anything scream national champ in 2011. Erdmann however has had a quiet consistency. This marks her 3rd consecutive trip to the big show at 10000 meters. After finishing 6th a year ago, Erdmann became Loyola Marymount's first XC All-American finishing 25th. The only woman in this field to beat her was Wichita State's Tonya Nero (16th, 10 seconds ahead of Erdmann). Erdmann has PRed in every event this year and was All-American at 3k at the NCAA Indoor Championships. One more thing....she's ranked #1.

Paul Michel : Betsy Saina, Iowa State
Saina was second last year to her legendary teammate Lisa Koll. I'm guessing she learned a thing or two about how to become a champion. Has this year's third best time going into tonight's final. 

Jake Gardner : Tara Erdmann, Loyola Marymount

Kevin Liao : Tara Erdmann, Loyola Marymount
Erdmann comes in with the fastest mark of the season and also claims a 15:50 5k PR.

Ray Machuca : Tonya Nero, Wichita State
The meaning of the name Nero is Powerful. An ancient Sabine name that meant "strong and energetic", Nero is also the Finnish word for "genius."

Cate Westenhover : Tonya Nero (Wichita State)
There's no clear favorite here, but Nero did lead most of (and win) the West regional race.

Kevin Sully : Betsy Saina (Iowa State)
The first final on the track should be very competitive as all of the top 5 runners ran between 33:10 and 33:19 at the Stanford Invitational in late March.  Top returner Saina is my pick to emerge and make it two straight for Iowa State in this event.

Danny Mackey : Tonya Nero (Wichita State)
Tonya is a senior and is not doubling in the 5k.  She also barely lost to Tara at Payton Jordan.  My brother's best friend has the same last name and that guy happens to be sleeping on my couch this summer.  Too many things going in Tonya's favor.

Ryan Craven : Tara Erdmann (Loyola Marymount)
Tara is my favorite because of her consistency and her progression over the course of this year to become the #1 seed going in (she was 6th last year).