WOMEN'S TEAM PREVIEW:
A big gap separates the top three teams from the rest of the field, which makes for a really thrilling three days of track as the championship contenders and the podium contenders all fight for their respective coveted position. The top trio won’t have many intense head to head matchups until the 4x400 relay, but everything could come down to those final four laps. Meanwhile, in the chaotic competition for the final podium position, the 200 meter dash will be all-important. All five of the top seeds hail from podium contenders, so expect a lot of drama to unfold in the final hours of the meet.

Fifth Place:
Amherst and Wheaton (Mass.), 26 points (tie)
The battle between these two teams is essentially a matchup between Naomi Bates and Ashante Little. Bates is seeded to pick up 25 points all by herself in the short sprints and the long jump, though I think that is a bit optimistic. Similarly, I expect Little to pick up north of twenty points for her team as she tries to will the Lyons to another podium finish. Unfortunately, we won’t get another head-to-head matchup between these two stars as Little has elected to focus on the 400 and 400H as well as the two relays. Thoight those two stars will get the headlines, the matchup will really come down to who has the best sidekick: Karen Blake of Amherst or Meredith Scannell of Wheaton.

Fourth Place:
UW-Whitewater, 27 points
As was the case indoors, Lexie Sondgeroth will make or break the Warhawks quest for a podium finish. Her performances didn’t quite cut it then, but she has come a long way since March and will pick up more than fifteen points across three events. Thrower Shelby Mahr will provide the additional points they need to crack the podium and flip the script after their slip-up indoors.

Third Place:
UW-La Crosse, 50 points
The Eagles came up just short indoors of winning the title at the Indoor National Championships, but they are in a bit over their heads this outdoor season. Meg Heafy is the top seed in the 100 but will be hard-pressed to bring home ten points, while star Jaime Ludwigson has spread her talent across three competitive events: the 200, 400 and triple jump. The Eagles have the most entries of any team and are in no danger of slipping off the podium, but they just don’t have the top end firepower that they need to claim the title.

Second Place:
Wartburg, 62 points
The defending champion Knights are a virtual lock to outscore their 46 point total from last year, but just doing that won’t be enough to reclaim their title . They will rely on dependable seniors Libbey Schubert and Tashina McAllister to pick up a team title in the 4x100 before scoring some major individual points in the sprints and hurdles, respectively. However, unless the Knights can pick up points from their five middle-distance and distance entries, they won’t return to the top of the podium.

First Place:
UW-Oshkosh, 67 points
In the final meet of her storied collegiate career, Christy Cazzola returns to the site of her first national championship, a 1500 in 2011. Since then, she has won ten additional individual titles—including three last year—and will attempt to repeat that accomplishment this year. Despite her heroics last year, the Titans came up three points short of the title. Whether or not Cazzola scores 30 points again, this time she will get the help that she so desperately needed last year. Breanna Strup should score nearly twenty points in the throwing events, while Kylee Verhasselt will place well in the 800 before coming back in the all-important 4x400. Like when they won the indoor team title, the Titans should have a lead going in to the final relay, so they will just need a solid mid-pack finish to secure the team title.