If there ever was a Pre-National meet for track, the Rod McCravy Memorial at the University of Kentucky would be that meet. Sprint powerhouses Florida, LSU, Kentucky, and Texas will be joined by distance strongholds Oregon and Arkansas to provide the closest thing to an NCAA meet preview that we’ve ever seen. With only 16 spots available for each event in NCAA qualifying, expect the athletes to compete with a sense of urgency when the gun goes off on Friday. Click here for HEAT SHEETS. 

MEN'S PREVIEW

The 60m Dash (Saturday 12:20pm)
Six of the top eight times in the country will be competing in this marque event, including last year’s third, fourth, sixth, and seventh place finishers (Jasmine Todd of Oregon, Morolake Akinosun of Texas, Shayla Sanders of Florida, and Jenna Prandini of Oregon). When you add in veteran Alexis Faulknor of USC and newcomers Ky Westbrook of USC and Mikiah Brisco of LSU into the mix, it’s anyone’s victory to claim. It’s not a question of will Todd’s world-leading 7.15 go down, but how many of these ladies will break it.

Courtney Okolo in the 600y Run (Friday 7:15pm)
The 2014 Bowerman finalist from Texas will grace her presence in this longer event on Friday evening. The only time we could find on Okolo longer than 400m was a 2:15 800m time from 2011. Will the 400m collegiate record holder be able to keep up with the Florida State imports? Middle distance runner Chelsea Jarvis of England was fifth in the 2013 IAAF World Youth Championships 800m and holds a 2:05.89 PB, while Helene Swanepoel of South Africa took home the gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the same competition. The 600y run is a distance that longer sprinters and middle distance runners excel in, and it will be a thrilling matchup between these competitors.

Quigley vs. Scott (Saturday 1:20pm)
This one mile race will be the biggest distance matchup on the women’s side. Colleen Quigley of Florida State is a steeple chic with some serious wheels, while Arkansas’ Dominique Scott’s range stems from a 2:07 800m to a 33:51 10k (and an SEC title at that). With PBs of 4:34 vs. 4:36, respectively, these multiple time All Americans will duke it out for a serious sub-4:40 time.

The 4x400m Relay (Saturday 4:05pm)
Five of the best squads from across the country will go head to head in the fast heat of the 4x4. Everybody’s favorite event features the defending indoor national champions, Oregon, against the defending outdoor champs, Texas. But don’t count out Arkansas, Kentucky, or Florida. Last year, Kentucky ran their way to a 3:33.35 to win this title, and with their star Dezerea Bryant not entered in any individuals events, we can’t help but think they’re stacking their cards for this relay to dethrone the NCAA favorites.

The Pentathlon (Friday 10:00am)
Could this event feature the future of USA track and field? Georgia’s Kendell Williams is the reigning indoor and outdoor champion in the pentathlon and heptathlon. A sophomore, Williams is the World Junior record holder in the pentathlon (among other world junior and U.S. junior records set in 2014). Oregon’s Ashlee Moore is only a freshman, but captured the USATF Junior Championship in the heptathlon last summer before finishing 13th in the world. Moore has a long way to go to catch up with Williams, but with stiff competition, this should be a solid place for these two to solidify their marks for 2015.