The dust has settled from the regional track meets and we now know who will DEFINITELY be going to the national meet. The next step toward nationals will be the issuing of at-large bids. Frankly, I still don't know all of the rules around who can be considered and who can't be considered. I think it has to do with how well people placed at the regional meet, but marks from any time in the season can be considered. What I DO know is that more Red Raiders WILL get into the meet. I think we will find out something today or tomorrow about the additional at-large entries.
In preparation for that announcement, I thought it would be interesting to review how this year compares to last year and to guess who might be the additional Red Raiders who will make it.
WOMEN - In 2007, Tech automatically qualified 7 athletes at the regional meet (Ozie Okolie - HT, Kelley Schulz - PV, Amanda Alley - PV, D'Andra Carter - DT, Lacy Wilson - HJ, Sally Kipyego - 5K and Irene Kimaiyo -5K.) Then, when the at-large bids came in, Patience Knight made it ironically in the DT, not the SP. That makes 8 athletes - 1 senior, 2 juniors, 4 sophs, and 1 freshman.
This year, Tech has already qualified 6 women automatically. They are:
DeDe Carter (Jr) - DT
Sandra Iwunze (So) - 400H
Irene Kimaiyo (Sr) - Steeplechase
Gladys Kipsang (So) - 800
Sally Kipyego (Jr) - 1500, 5K (plus she is also qualified in the 10K based on her earlier time)
Patience Knight (Jr) - SP, DT
Amanda Alley, who qualified last year, had to redshirt this year due to injury. I think Julianne Kennedy would have had a great chance to qualify in the heptathlon, except an injury at the Texas Relays knocked out her 2008 season.
I think that Ozie Okolie (So), who has been ranked all year in the top 20 nationally, will surely get an at-large bid in the HT. Probably, DeDe Carter could get a bid in the SP, except I don't know if the coaches will declare her and might let her concentrate on the Discus, where she could win the whole thing.
Other possibles include Kelley Schulz (Sr) in the PV, Asia Diaz (Jr) in the 800 and a real longshot for Jasmine Flournoy (Jr) in the 400H.
MEN
Last year, Tech had 7 men automatically qualify: Marlon Odom (Sr) in the 110H, Bryan Scott (Sr) in the 400H, Jansen Hyde (So) in the 400H, Zach Glavash (Sr) in the 800, Jamie Robinson (Sr) in the javelin, Bobby Evers (Jr) in the LJ, and Kevin Chelimo (Sr) in the 5K. Later, Seth Harris (Sr) in the PV and Anthony Flemons (Fr) in the TJ, were added. Last year had 9 athletes - 6 seniors, 1 junior, 1 soph and 1 freshman.
This year, Tech has the following automatic entries:
Harrison Benjamin (Jr) - SP
Michael Cast (Sr) - JT
Bobby Evers (Sr) - LJ
Shawon Harris (Sr) - 110H
Gilbert Limo (Fr) - Steeplechase
Omo Osaghae (So) - 110H
4X400 Relay composed of Rodney Mims (Jr), Shawon Harris (Sr), Tim Foster (So), and Gil Roberts (Fr)
Jansen Hyde (Jr) would have had a strong shot a qualifying except grades apparently scuttled his championship participation.
Of the rest, I would be VERY surprised if Anthony Flemons (So) did not get an at-large bid in both the TJ and LJ. Brian Porter (So) also positioned himself for an at-large bid with an excellent regional meet in the PV.
There is also a group of athletes who still might harbor a slight chance at getting an at-large bid that includes Brett McDaniel (Fr) in the DT, Waylon Randolph (So) in the LJ, Tyler Menges (Jr) in the SP and Wouter LeRoux (Fr) in the 400H. I think that about sums up the kids who really have any shots at all.
Once the field is set, it will be time to look at predictions, but that will be dependent on who gets in AND on what races Sally runs.
In preparation for that announcement, I thought it would be interesting to review how this year compares to last year and to guess who might be the additional Red Raiders who will make it.
WOMEN - In 2007, Tech automatically qualified 7 athletes at the regional meet (Ozie Okolie - HT, Kelley Schulz - PV, Amanda Alley - PV, D'Andra Carter - DT, Lacy Wilson - HJ, Sally Kipyego - 5K and Irene Kimaiyo -5K.) Then, when the at-large bids came in, Patience Knight made it ironically in the DT, not the SP. That makes 8 athletes - 1 senior, 2 juniors, 4 sophs, and 1 freshman.
This year, Tech has already qualified 6 women automatically. They are:
DeDe Carter (Jr) - DT
Sandra Iwunze (So) - 400H
Irene Kimaiyo (Sr) - Steeplechase
Gladys Kipsang (So) - 800
Sally Kipyego (Jr) - 1500, 5K (plus she is also qualified in the 10K based on her earlier time)
Patience Knight (Jr) - SP, DT
Amanda Alley, who qualified last year, had to redshirt this year due to injury. I think Julianne Kennedy would have had a great chance to qualify in the heptathlon, except an injury at the Texas Relays knocked out her 2008 season.
I think that Ozie Okolie (So), who has been ranked all year in the top 20 nationally, will surely get an at-large bid in the HT. Probably, DeDe Carter could get a bid in the SP, except I don't know if the coaches will declare her and might let her concentrate on the Discus, where she could win the whole thing.
Other possibles include Kelley Schulz (Sr) in the PV, Asia Diaz (Jr) in the 800 and a real longshot for Jasmine Flournoy (Jr) in the 400H.
MEN
Last year, Tech had 7 men automatically qualify: Marlon Odom (Sr) in the 110H, Bryan Scott (Sr) in the 400H, Jansen Hyde (So) in the 400H, Zach Glavash (Sr) in the 800, Jamie Robinson (Sr) in the javelin, Bobby Evers (Jr) in the LJ, and Kevin Chelimo (Sr) in the 5K. Later, Seth Harris (Sr) in the PV and Anthony Flemons (Fr) in the TJ, were added. Last year had 9 athletes - 6 seniors, 1 junior, 1 soph and 1 freshman.
This year, Tech has the following automatic entries:
Harrison Benjamin (Jr) - SP
Michael Cast (Sr) - JT
Bobby Evers (Sr) - LJ
Shawon Harris (Sr) - 110H
Gilbert Limo (Fr) - Steeplechase
Omo Osaghae (So) - 110H
4X400 Relay composed of Rodney Mims (Jr), Shawon Harris (Sr), Tim Foster (So), and Gil Roberts (Fr)
Jansen Hyde (Jr) would have had a strong shot a qualifying except grades apparently scuttled his championship participation.
Of the rest, I would be VERY surprised if Anthony Flemons (So) did not get an at-large bid in both the TJ and LJ. Brian Porter (So) also positioned himself for an at-large bid with an excellent regional meet in the PV.
There is also a group of athletes who still might harbor a slight chance at getting an at-large bid that includes Brett McDaniel (Fr) in the DT, Waylon Randolph (So) in the LJ, Tyler Menges (Jr) in the SP and Wouter LeRoux (Fr) in the 400H. I think that about sums up the kids who really have any shots at all.
Once the field is set, it will be time to look at predictions, but that will be dependent on who gets in AND on what races Sally runs.
