NCAA D1 Indoor ChampionshipsMar 9, 2015 by James Cameron
NCAA Preview: Men's/Women's 200m
NCAA Preview: Men's/Women's 200m
Shavez Hart, Texas A&M
A native of the Bahamas, Hart joins his teammate Devin Jenkins and the rest of this stellar field in one of the most impressive fields assembled for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Hart’s season-best of 20.57 puts him .10 seconds over the field and the clear favorite for the 200m title. He is also a member of A&M’s fantastic 4x400m squad, so his proven strength will be dangerous to go up against.
Kyra Jefferson, Florida
The Florida junior will roll into NCAA’s with the hype and poise of a true champion, but she has stiff competition if she wants to remain number one. Jefferson’s season best of 22.81 is good enough for an NCAA No. 1 ranking, but there are 15 other women in this field who are looking to take her down. However, securing the SEC title a couple weeks ago with a time of 23.02, then returning to a No. 5 time in the 400m in 52.00 is a big statement to make, making her the favorite for the 2015 indoor title.
A native of the Bahamas, Hart joins his teammate Devin Jenkins and the rest of this stellar field in one of the most impressive fields assembled for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Hart’s season-best of 20.57 puts him .10 seconds over the field and the clear favorite for the 200m title. He is also a member of A&M’s fantastic 4x400m squad, so his proven strength will be dangerous to go up against.
Kyra Jefferson, Florida
The Florida junior will roll into NCAA’s with the hype and poise of a true champion, but she has stiff competition if she wants to remain number one. Jefferson’s season best of 22.81 is good enough for an NCAA No. 1 ranking, but there are 15 other women in this field who are looking to take her down. However, securing the SEC title a couple weeks ago with a time of 23.02, then returning to a No. 5 time in the 400m in 52.00 is a big statement to make, making her the favorite for the 2015 indoor title.
Jenna Prandini, Oregon
Though Jefferson has a faster time this season, Oregon’s Jenna Prandini is just as capable of bringing home a gold medal to Eugene. Prandini has been relatively quiet this indoor season, but her converted 22.87 at Don Kirby and her 1-2 punch with teammate Jasmine Todd in the 60m at MPSF’s shows that she is back and ready to rock and roll when it matters. Her fantastic start out of the blocks is something that her competitors worry about, so be ready for this Duck to fly…fast.
Dezerea Bryant, Kentucky
The defending 2014 Indoor 200m champ easily qualified for the 2015 national meet, but her runner-up finishes in both the 60m and 200m at the SEC Championships are concerning moving into the biggest race of the year. Granted she fell to the insanely talented Remona Burchell, her lack of momentum does not put her as the favorite, but her seniority and past efforts are loud enough to definitely solidify her as one of the top contenders.
Kamaria Brown, Texas A&M
The Aggie senior is looking to end her collegiate indoor career in a big way, as her time of 22.97 is good enough for the No. 3 time in the nation. Brown has an incredible of strength demonstrated in her 400m indoor PR of 50.94 she ran last year, but is focussing all her efforts on this 200m dash hoping to score some valuable points for the Aggies.
Though Jefferson has a faster time this season, Oregon’s Jenna Prandini is just as capable of bringing home a gold medal to Eugene. Prandini has been relatively quiet this indoor season, but her converted 22.87 at Don Kirby and her 1-2 punch with teammate Jasmine Todd in the 60m at MPSF’s shows that she is back and ready to rock and roll when it matters. Her fantastic start out of the blocks is something that her competitors worry about, so be ready for this Duck to fly…fast.
Dezerea Bryant, Kentucky
The defending 2014 Indoor 200m champ easily qualified for the 2015 national meet, but her runner-up finishes in both the 60m and 200m at the SEC Championships are concerning moving into the biggest race of the year. Granted she fell to the insanely talented Remona Burchell, her lack of momentum does not put her as the favorite, but her seniority and past efforts are loud enough to definitely solidify her as one of the top contenders.
Kamaria Brown, Texas A&M
The Aggie senior is looking to end her collegiate indoor career in a big way, as her time of 22.97 is good enough for the No. 3 time in the nation. Brown has an incredible of strength demonstrated in her 400m indoor PR of 50.94 she ran last year, but is focussing all her efforts on this 200m dash hoping to score some valuable points for the Aggies.
Trayvon Bromell, Baylor
The outdoor 2014 NCAA 100m champion is looking to secure his position as the best 200m runner in the nation. He easily captured the Big 12 200m title in Iowa a couple weeks back, but disappointed in the 60m with a third-place finish. Granted the 60m is not his event, a bronze is not ideal for the world junior record holder, so he will roll into Fayetteville with a chip on his shoulder, and fire in his eyes looking to show the nation that Mr. Trayvon Bromell is a force to be reckoned with.
Aaron Ernest, LSU
The No. 2 ranked 200m runner and SEC champion is looking for the upset as his eyes are set on Hart. He has had a very productive season thus far: 11 60m races, five 200m races, with a 4x4 peppered in there, so he should be very well prepared for the Big Dance. But again, will he be rested enough to tackle this incredible 200m field.
Brendon Rodney, LIU Brooklyn
One of the big story lines in this event is the junior out of LIU Brooklyn. Rodney failed to qualify last year out of the 200m prelims with a 13th place finish, even after running a 20.41 in the regular season. A year later and a year matured, the junior is looking to knock the chip off his shoulder and show the world that this small school kid can hang with the best in the nation.
Ariana Washington, Oregon
The lone freshman in the field has the least amount of pressure on her, both a learning experience and a chance to let loose as the Oregon women look to capture their sixth-consecutive NCAA indoor title. She has great leadership with Prandini at the wheel, but Washington’s 23.34 is serious enough to maybe snag some points for the Lady Ducks.