With how unbelievable the NCAA Championships were a few weeks back, and with this being a world championship year, this year's USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships figure to be "off the hook", as the kids say (do kids still say that? Did they ever say that?) 

 

Whatever the case, this week/weekend in Eugene is going to amazing. We're sending our top guns out to Eugene for all of the action (make sure to meet up with the Flo crew and top adidas athletes for some morning runs if you are lucky enough to be in Tracktown this week).

 

First, I'm going to preview and predict the sprints. Keep checking back, as we'll have more picks later. Ok, here we go...

 

Men's 100

1. Tyson Gay 

2. Michael Rodgers 

3. Justin Gatlin

Tyson Gay almost looked human at the NY Grand Prix, running , and he hasn't raced much this outdoor season. However, he still (quietly?) leads the world with his 9.79 from Clermont, Florida in early April. He could be motivated even more to have a monster summer after Bolt took a Twitter jab at the star sprinter last week (OK, he probably doesn't care, but it makes it all the more interesting for all of us). Obviously, Gay is the heavy favorite, but 9 guys have broken 10-flat in this country this year (eat your hearts out, Jamaica), so an upset is a very real possibility. Michael Rodgers popped a huge 9.85 PR in Eugene at Pre, and Doc Patton's 9.89 PR was run in Eugene in 2008 (as was his 9.94 2011 best). But Justin Gatlin has been getting better throughout the outdoor season and has the experience. I'm taking him to sneak onto the team.

 

Women's 100

1. Carmelita Jeter

2. Marshevet Myers

3. Candyce McGrone

 

Before the Prefontaine Classic, there would have been a lot more indecision with this pick. But Carmelita Jeter made an emphatic statement with her dominating win in Eugene, putting up a world leading mark of 10.70 and absolutely dominating a solid field from the gun. She looked untouchable. She has the most experience of anyone in the field and she has to see 2011 as an opportunity to win the world championship/Olympic gold that's eluded her. For runner-up, I like Marshevet Myers, as she performed very well at Hayward Field (2nd to Jeter at Pre) weeks ago and has a great 200 strength background to make it through the rounds. Third is up for grabs, so I'll take the recent NCAA Champ, Candyce McGrone. It could be wildly optimistic, as her NCAA title run was a huge PR, but she's coming off the best race of her career…I'm buying high. Wait, you're supposed to buy low…. Oh well. McGrone for third!

 

Men's 200

1. Walter Dix

2. Wallace Spearmon

3. Maurice Mitchell

 

Dix hasn't run sub-20 yet…but heck, no American has. He's eclipsed the 20 point mark the past three years, and he looked comfortable in running 20.06 in Doha. he should be ready to blow it up in Eugene, particularly with his experiences. I mean, how do you bet against a guy with 2 Olympic medals? If you watched our Uncut segment this week with Spearmon, then you that Wallace doesn't seem to be too nervous about making the team. Call me gullible, but he seemed to make a lot of sense. Spearmon is a gamer. He's been banged up and hasn't raced much, but he always seems to show up at championships. He's still #6 in the world right now…and again, he's an Olympic medalist. Maurice Mitchell could grab a spot on the team as well, particularly after he looked so dominating (along with his Florida State sprints teammates) at NCAA's two weeks ago. I'll pick the world #7 200 runner to keep the party rolling into the summer.

 

Women's 200

1. Kimberlyn Duncan

2. Jeneba Tarmoh

3. Bianca Knight

 

Something just doesn't seem right without Allyson Felix in a National Championship 200. With Felix opting for the 400, the 200 opens right up. Furthermore, it seems strange picking two collegiate to go 1-2, but that's exactly what I'm going to do. Kimberlyn Duncan had a historic NCAA meet (winning the 200, 4x100 and close second in the 100) and looked every bit the part of a world threat for years to come. Hopefully for us, she follows up with a big meet here. We need a new Allyson Felix (no pressure). As great as Duncan was, Jeneba Tarmoh was in close pursuit. The Texas A&M Aggie ran the 2nd fastest time in the world and couldn't capture a National title! For third, I'm going Bianca Knight, who won in Rome and looked good in New York (although conditions were less than ideal).

 

Men's 400

1. Jeremy Wariner

2. Tony McQuay

3. Michael Berry

 

I won't pick against Jeremy Wariner. I won't do it. I have principles. I know he hasn't looked right the past few times we've seen him (or all year), but I have to think (or pray) he's ready to turn it on. It just doesn't seem right seeing Wariner ranked #7 in the world. But I am not ready to panic. He ran 44.13 last year and it's not like he's been running 46's here. He has still been the same runner for 300, his last 100 just hasn't been there yet. But he's a strength 400 runner and here's to hoping that he's been training hard through every race this year, which is entirely possible. However, if he's not right, expect collegiate youngsters Tony McQuay, Michael Berry (in front of his home crowd), Joey Hughes and more to compete for the win.

 

Women's 400

1. Allyson Felix

2. Jessica Beard

3. Sanya Richards-Ross

 

This is one of the premier events of the meet without a doubt. There are so many elite veterans in this field, mixed with promising youngsters, that it will be so exciting to watch for all of us. Felix has to be the favorite, but only if you are not concerned about how she looked at Prefontaine. I am not, as it seemed like she wasn't either in her post-race interview. As with Wariner (and many others), these elites train through so many of these early races that it's tough to read too much into a bad race or two. Felix will have her hands full, however. Jessica Beard looked like a beast at NCAA's two weeks ago (especially that 49.14 4x400 split!) and could challenge for the win. Francena McCorory has been competitive every race this year and shown great consistency, even if her form is rather unorthodox. She gets it done. Sanya Richards-Ross hasn't looked great this season, but I am confident it was all part of the plan. She has been running high 50-points, but she has looked incredibly tired doing it. I'm thinking with a little rest she will look like a whole different runner this week. However, if not, Debbie Dunn, Natasha Hastings or any other of the studs in this field will be right there to grab a spot for themselves.

 

Men's 110 Hurdles

1. David Oliver

2. Aries Merritt

3. Joel Brown

 

It's tough leaving Terrence Trammell off this list, and part of me hopes I'm wrong, but I don't see him beating either of these three men. Oliver is the hands down favorite to win not only this meet, but the World Championships, after his win over friendly rival Xiang Liu of China at Prefontaine weeks ago. I've been calling him the Dwight Howard of the track world, and I stand by that statement. He should have the widest shoulders at the meet (at least on the track), if that is some sort of competition. They really should give him two lanes. Umm, anyhow… While he is probably a class above anyone else here, strange things can happen (especially in the hurdles). Merritt has run 13.22 this year, and has been consistent all season. He also ran well at Hayward Field during the Pre Classic. Joel Brown has not run quite as fast, but has run 13.20 to 13.26 three times this year.

 

Women's 100 Hurdles

1. Kellie Wells

2. Danielle Carruthers

3. Lolo Jones

 

This event makes me proud to be an American. We own this event. The top 5, as well as 6 of the top 7 110-hurdlers in the world right now are American. Great for us… bad for however finishes 4th. I like Kellie Wells for the win, but with such little separation between any of the top 4 runners (just over a tenth separates the top 4 seeds) it really is wide open. Lolo is tough to bet against with her championship experience, so I won't. But I like Danielle Carruthers to get second (or win), as her PR is from Eugene (2004) and she is running some of the best times of her career this year. Tough for whoever misses punching their ticket to Daegu out of this group, as they could probably have medaled. But hey, that's track and field.

 

Keep checking back as we'll preview middle-distances and distances next...