I did a lot of thinking both during and after last weekend's Summit League Indoor Conference Track meet. A lot of the thinking dealt with the loss of Southern Utah to the Big Sky Conference and Oral Roberts to the Southland Conference. Southern Utah has long been a deep distance running based team with other stellar athletes spread through the other events. The same pattern has developed at Oral Roberts except their base is in the long sprints, especially the 400 meters. The result of losing these teams is going to have a negative effect on the Summit League. The addition of USD this year is a positive one and IUPUI is adding track and field starting this outdoor season but these schools simply are not as good as SUU or ORU. Nebraska-Omaha is also joining the Summit League- without men's track. It is hard to visit IPFW's new facility without wondering if they plan to add a men's team soon. However, I would hold IPFW's school records in the 800, 1500, Mile, 3000, 5000, 10,000 and 3000 Steeplechase without approaching SDSU's Top-10 lists in any of those events. It is safe to say that IPFW won't be a major factor in the near-future of Summit League Track.
Here are the team scores from the past weekend if you take out SUU and ORU.
Women
1. NDSU 226
2. USD 146
3. SDSU 94
4. UMKC 92
5. WIU 70
6. OU 16
7. IPFW 9
Men
1. NDSU 169
2. USD 148
3. SDSU 134
4. UMKC 120
5. WIU 58
6. OU 21
On both sides it is a Dakota battle with UMKC on the outside, looking it. Nebraska-Omaha's women will probably be about as good as Western Illinois. They have some great athletes that will score some points but lack depth. IUPUI will add more distance runners to the mix but will have little to no effect on the team scoring. I think the Summit League should look for another school to join and hopefully that school is good at track. The Summit League track landscape is going to be much different in some events- the men's 400 or 5000 for example. Those events lose 5 and 6 scorers respectively just to teams leaving the conference.
Showing posts with label Big Sky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Sky. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Women's Summit League Predictions Revisited
Heat Sheets!
Meet Schedule
Here I am going to look at the Summit League Women's competition now that the season has progressed. Competition has already begun with the Multi-Events this morning.
1. NDSU- The Bison are an all around powerhouse. They won't be beaten.
2. USD- The yotes are led by Emma Ladwig (Erickson), Alexa Duling, Analisa Huschle, Kenna Wolter, and Emily Grove who all should have a shot at winning at least one event.
3. SDSU- The Jacks will be in a hard fought battle for third with many of the teams below. Luck and circumstance will play a factor in deciding places. See below for the Jacks Keys to Success.
4. Southern Utah- The distance events will be their strong point and will expect big points out of Kayla Kovar, a thrower.
5. UMKC- A well-rounded team on the rise, the 'Roos will be led by their triple jumpers and long sprinters. Don't expect any event titles for them but many placings.
6. Oral Roberts- Sprinters Cornisha Wilkerson and TK Whitfield need to pick up big points for the Eagles to place well. Look for multi eventer Camilla Pirelli to score as well.
7. Oakland- Lia Jones reportedly has a stress fracture and will not compete. She was expected to be a contender in the distance races. The Grizzlies will need to pick up points elsewhere.
8. Western Illinois- Dana LaRue looks to score big in both throws for the Leathernecks. Chelsea Lynes also has the top time in the Mile run and is ranked 4th in the 800.
9. IPFW- The hosts won't be scoring many points. Sarah Hutchings in the distance and mid-distance races is their greatest hope.
Jacks Keys
1. Lora Shearer's endurance- Shearer will be competing in the Multi (5 events) as well as 4 individual events. She will be a factor in all events if she can fight the fatigue.
2. Throws- Rapid City natives Brooke Garner and McKenzie Johnson lead the charge here. Brooke looks to win a few titles.
3. Relays- The Jacks hope to pick up big points in the 4x4 and DMR. This is the first time this year that the 4x4 is at its best- Odegaard, Bren, Fritz, and McDonald.
4. High Jump- Wirth and Shearer are 2-3 and don't forget about Kali Olson!
5. Distance- Tera Potts and Erin Hargens are ranked 6th in their respective events.
6. Getting to finals- there are a lot of women on the line of making finals and not making finals. They need to perform today to score tomorrow. Every point counts!
Meet Schedule
Here I am going to look at the Summit League Women's competition now that the season has progressed. Competition has already begun with the Multi-Events this morning.
1. NDSU- The Bison are an all around powerhouse. They won't be beaten.
2. USD- The yotes are led by Emma Ladwig (Erickson), Alexa Duling, Analisa Huschle, Kenna Wolter, and Emily Grove who all should have a shot at winning at least one event.
3. SDSU- The Jacks will be in a hard fought battle for third with many of the teams below. Luck and circumstance will play a factor in deciding places. See below for the Jacks Keys to Success.
4. Southern Utah- The distance events will be their strong point and will expect big points out of Kayla Kovar, a thrower.
5. UMKC- A well-rounded team on the rise, the 'Roos will be led by their triple jumpers and long sprinters. Don't expect any event titles for them but many placings.
6. Oral Roberts- Sprinters Cornisha Wilkerson and TK Whitfield need to pick up big points for the Eagles to place well. Look for multi eventer Camilla Pirelli to score as well.
7. Oakland- Lia Jones reportedly has a stress fracture and will not compete. She was expected to be a contender in the distance races. The Grizzlies will need to pick up points elsewhere.
8. Western Illinois- Dana LaRue looks to score big in both throws for the Leathernecks. Chelsea Lynes also has the top time in the Mile run and is ranked 4th in the 800.
9. IPFW- The hosts won't be scoring many points. Sarah Hutchings in the distance and mid-distance races is their greatest hope.
Jacks Keys
1. Lora Shearer's endurance- Shearer will be competing in the Multi (5 events) as well as 4 individual events. She will be a factor in all events if she can fight the fatigue.
2. Throws- Rapid City natives Brooke Garner and McKenzie Johnson lead the charge here. Brooke looks to win a few titles.
3. Relays- The Jacks hope to pick up big points in the 4x4 and DMR. This is the first time this year that the 4x4 is at its best- Odegaard, Bren, Fritz, and McDonald.
4. High Jump- Wirth and Shearer are 2-3 and don't forget about Kali Olson!
5. Distance- Tera Potts and Erin Hargens are ranked 6th in their respective events.
6. Getting to finals- there are a lot of women on the line of making finals and not making finals. They need to perform today to score tomorrow. Every point counts!
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