Prediction time for the Big 12 meet that begins in just 2 days. One caveat: I have not seen the actual Tech entry list. I am guessing, based on season results, who might be running. There are always a few surprise entries and those might change my predictions, but since the final entries won’t even be posted until Friday morning, I need to make my predictions now.
WOMEN (current rank in parentheses ? NR means not ranked)
100 ? Terra Evans (5) ? 4th for 5 points.
200 ? Jonisha Boleware (16) ? no points (Jonisha has run a regional qualifying time and is only ranked 16th ? this conference is deep in female sprinters)
400- Jonisha Boleware (15), Trudy Clarke (8th) ? Trudy gets 7th for 2 points
800 ? Asia Diaz (3), Shannon Jackson (8), Kearci Jobe (19), plus, Gladys Kipsang (6) could run it, but I think she runs only the 1500 ? Asia gets 3rd for 6 points.
1500 ? Gladys Kipsang (4), plus Christina Graham and Addison Lemaster, who are neither ranked in the top 25 could run ? Gladys gets 4th for 5 points
Steeple ? Kaci Westervelt (13) ? no points, even though I suspect Kaci might move up to something like 10th or 11th
5K ? Lillian Badaru (4), Michelle Guzman (14) ? Lillian gets 4th for 5 points and I think Michelle moves up to 9th or 10th, which garners no points
10K ? Lillian Badaru (NR), Michelle Guzman (7) ? Lillian and Michelle go 5th and 7th garnering 6 points
110H ? Sandra Iwunze (13), Tori Smith (4), plus possibly Jamie Simanek (18) ? Tori gets 4th place for 5 points
400H ? Sandra Iwunze (1), Kelsey Lloyd (6) ? Sandra gets 2nd and Kelsey makes the finals, but only gets 8th ? 9 points
4X100 (5) ? 5th place for 4 points
4X400 (4) ? 4th place for 5 points
PV ? Amanda Alley (2), Sage Lasater (tie 5th) and probably, Jessie Gibbs (16) ? Amanda gets 2nd and freshman Sage slips in for 8th ? 9 total points.
HJ ? Kelsey Lloyd (tie 4th), Amanda Dowdy (tie 7th) ? Kelsey 3rd for 6 points
LJ ? Janell Appelhans (19), Veronica DiLullo (28) ? no points
TJ ? Veronica DiLullo (19) ? no points
SP ? Patience Knight (1), DeDe Carter (5) ? Patience wins it with DeDe 6th for 13 points
DT ? DeDe Carter (1), Patience Knight (5), Ozie Okolie (9) ? DeDe wins it and Patience gets 6th, with Ozie finishing just out of the money in 9th, for 13 points
Hammer Throw ? Ozie Okolie (3) ? Ozie gets 3rd for 6 points
Javelin throw ? no one entered
Heptathlon ? no one entered this year, but wait until next year when Katie Grimes, the all-everything hurdler/jumper gets to Tech ? she could be a GREAT heptathlete
The above adds up to 101 points, which would probably nail down 3rd place. Very similar to last year, when Tech scored 100.5 for third, except this year Tech doesn’t have Sally Kipyego to automatically score 20 points. Where could Tech move up for more points? If Lillian Badaru has a monster meet and the relays move up a place or two, Tech could slip in for 110 points.
MEN
100 ? Rashad Hawk (10), Bill Lawhorn (4), Julius Walker (12) ? Bill gets 7th and Julius, running at 90%, gets 8th for 3 total points
200- Markus Henderson (14), plus any of these other three might run: Bill Lawhorn (23), Omo Osaghae (18) and Gil Roberts (9). If only Markus runs, I pick him for 8th place and 1 point.
400 ? Gil Roberts (1), Lamont Adams (12), Tim Foster (17), Rodney Mims (6), Brandon Washington (15), plus Jamaal Butler (30) might run ? Gil wins it and Rodney gets 6th for 13 points
800 ? Silas Kemboi (19) ? no points here
1500 ? Zach Dawson (27), Cory Higgins (18), plus Gilbert Limo (12) might run it and even Silas Kemboi might run it ? no points here
Steeple ? Gilbert Limo (5), Nathan Milles (16), Logan Culotta (17) ? I think Gilbert concentrates on this race and gets 3rd for 6 points, but he could realistically win the whole thing
5K ? Cory Higgins (34), Silas Kemboi (NR), Gilbert Limo (NR) might all run this event. If Gilbert runs it and the steeple, he might slip in for a point or two, but I am predicting no points.
10K ? no Red Raider entries
110H ? Omo Osaghae (1), Brandon Tucker (6), Jamele Mason (8), Nathan Lowry (14) - Omo wins it and Tech gets 7th and 8th from among Jamele, Nathan and Brandon., for 13 points.
400H ? Jamele Mason (4), Zach Plinario (13), Brandon Tucker (18) ? Jamele gets 5th, since after all, he is still a freshman and learning how to run these hurdles, for 4 points.
4X100 (4) ? Omo Osaghae, Brandon Tucker, Bill Lawhorn, Rashad Hawk ? not sure if Julius runs on this relay ? I pick a 4th place finish and happy to get it!
4X400 (3) ? Rodney Mims, Lamont Adams, Brandon Washington, Gil Roberts, with Tim Foster and Bill Lawhorn as first alternates ? I pick 2nd, with the Red Raiders beating the Aggies, but not quite able to catch Baylor ? this year!
PV ? Brian Porter (3rd tie) ? 6th place for 3 points
HJ ? Darrell Roddick (6 - tie), Justin Turner (6 ? tie) ? Darrell gets 5th and Justin 8th for 5 points.
LJ ? Anthony Flemons (11), Waylon Randolph (7), with Darrell Roddick (6) a possible contestant ? Waylon in 7th and Anthony in 8, if he gets to jump at all - I just don’t know that Darrell tries to do all three jumps ? 3 points
TJ ? Darrell Roddick (5), Anthony Flemons (NR), Bernard Hammonds (18) ? Darrell gets 5th and Anthony 8th for 5 total points
SP ? Harrison Benjamin (2), Tyler Menges (10) ? Tank gets 2nd and Tyler gets 8th for 9 big points.
DT ? Brett McDaniel (8) ? Brett gets 7th for 2 points
Javelin ? Paden Behrens (17) ? no points from Paden
Hammer ? no Red Raider entries
Decathlon ? Chuck Zavala (NR), Nick Green (NR) ? I just think that Chuck picks up an 8th place in his first-ever full decathlon for one point.
Well, that turns out to be 80 points, for 3rd place. That compares closely to last year’s 76.5 points for 5th place overall. But this year, the points will be spread out more evenly. Can Tech score more points and truly compete for the conference title? Yes, but it will take a healthy Anthony Flemons, Julius Walker, and Silas Kemboi. It will also take someone like Darrell Roddick or Gilbert Limo going wild, which is possible. The absolute maximum points I could see would be 90-94 points, which might be enough to slip in if the points are distributed to lots of schools.
I don’t know how the “home track” advantage will play into the equation. The Big 12 is incredibly competitive this year. There are kids who are already regional qualifiers who are ranked 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th and won’t even come close to making the finals. It might possibly take a sub-46.5 quarter in the men to place and probably a sub-46 to place in the top 5 in the quarter. Lots of incredible performances to be seen over the next few days in Lubbock.
WOMEN (current rank in parentheses ? NR means not ranked)
100 ? Terra Evans (5) ? 4th for 5 points.
200 ? Jonisha Boleware (16) ? no points (Jonisha has run a regional qualifying time and is only ranked 16th ? this conference is deep in female sprinters)
400- Jonisha Boleware (15), Trudy Clarke (8th) ? Trudy gets 7th for 2 points
800 ? Asia Diaz (3), Shannon Jackson (8), Kearci Jobe (19), plus, Gladys Kipsang (6) could run it, but I think she runs only the 1500 ? Asia gets 3rd for 6 points.
1500 ? Gladys Kipsang (4), plus Christina Graham and Addison Lemaster, who are neither ranked in the top 25 could run ? Gladys gets 4th for 5 points
Steeple ? Kaci Westervelt (13) ? no points, even though I suspect Kaci might move up to something like 10th or 11th
5K ? Lillian Badaru (4), Michelle Guzman (14) ? Lillian gets 4th for 5 points and I think Michelle moves up to 9th or 10th, which garners no points
10K ? Lillian Badaru (NR), Michelle Guzman (7) ? Lillian and Michelle go 5th and 7th garnering 6 points
110H ? Sandra Iwunze (13), Tori Smith (4), plus possibly Jamie Simanek (18) ? Tori gets 4th place for 5 points
400H ? Sandra Iwunze (1), Kelsey Lloyd (6) ? Sandra gets 2nd and Kelsey makes the finals, but only gets 8th ? 9 points
4X100 (5) ? 5th place for 4 points
4X400 (4) ? 4th place for 5 points
PV ? Amanda Alley (2), Sage Lasater (tie 5th) and probably, Jessie Gibbs (16) ? Amanda gets 2nd and freshman Sage slips in for 8th ? 9 total points.
HJ ? Kelsey Lloyd (tie 4th), Amanda Dowdy (tie 7th) ? Kelsey 3rd for 6 points
LJ ? Janell Appelhans (19), Veronica DiLullo (28) ? no points
TJ ? Veronica DiLullo (19) ? no points
SP ? Patience Knight (1), DeDe Carter (5) ? Patience wins it with DeDe 6th for 13 points
DT ? DeDe Carter (1), Patience Knight (5), Ozie Okolie (9) ? DeDe wins it and Patience gets 6th, with Ozie finishing just out of the money in 9th, for 13 points
Hammer Throw ? Ozie Okolie (3) ? Ozie gets 3rd for 6 points
Javelin throw ? no one entered
Heptathlon ? no one entered this year, but wait until next year when Katie Grimes, the all-everything hurdler/jumper gets to Tech ? she could be a GREAT heptathlete
The above adds up to 101 points, which would probably nail down 3rd place. Very similar to last year, when Tech scored 100.5 for third, except this year Tech doesn’t have Sally Kipyego to automatically score 20 points. Where could Tech move up for more points? If Lillian Badaru has a monster meet and the relays move up a place or two, Tech could slip in for 110 points.
MEN
100 ? Rashad Hawk (10), Bill Lawhorn (4), Julius Walker (12) ? Bill gets 7th and Julius, running at 90%, gets 8th for 3 total points
200- Markus Henderson (14), plus any of these other three might run: Bill Lawhorn (23), Omo Osaghae (18) and Gil Roberts (9). If only Markus runs, I pick him for 8th place and 1 point.
400 ? Gil Roberts (1), Lamont Adams (12), Tim Foster (17), Rodney Mims (6), Brandon Washington (15), plus Jamaal Butler (30) might run ? Gil wins it and Rodney gets 6th for 13 points
800 ? Silas Kemboi (19) ? no points here
1500 ? Zach Dawson (27), Cory Higgins (18), plus Gilbert Limo (12) might run it and even Silas Kemboi might run it ? no points here
Steeple ? Gilbert Limo (5), Nathan Milles (16), Logan Culotta (17) ? I think Gilbert concentrates on this race and gets 3rd for 6 points, but he could realistically win the whole thing
5K ? Cory Higgins (34), Silas Kemboi (NR), Gilbert Limo (NR) might all run this event. If Gilbert runs it and the steeple, he might slip in for a point or two, but I am predicting no points.
10K ? no Red Raider entries
110H ? Omo Osaghae (1), Brandon Tucker (6), Jamele Mason (8), Nathan Lowry (14) - Omo wins it and Tech gets 7th and 8th from among Jamele, Nathan and Brandon., for 13 points.
400H ? Jamele Mason (4), Zach Plinario (13), Brandon Tucker (18) ? Jamele gets 5th, since after all, he is still a freshman and learning how to run these hurdles, for 4 points.
4X100 (4) ? Omo Osaghae, Brandon Tucker, Bill Lawhorn, Rashad Hawk ? not sure if Julius runs on this relay ? I pick a 4th place finish and happy to get it!
4X400 (3) ? Rodney Mims, Lamont Adams, Brandon Washington, Gil Roberts, with Tim Foster and Bill Lawhorn as first alternates ? I pick 2nd, with the Red Raiders beating the Aggies, but not quite able to catch Baylor ? this year!
PV ? Brian Porter (3rd tie) ? 6th place for 3 points
HJ ? Darrell Roddick (6 - tie), Justin Turner (6 ? tie) ? Darrell gets 5th and Justin 8th for 5 points.
LJ ? Anthony Flemons (11), Waylon Randolph (7), with Darrell Roddick (6) a possible contestant ? Waylon in 7th and Anthony in 8, if he gets to jump at all - I just don’t know that Darrell tries to do all three jumps ? 3 points
TJ ? Darrell Roddick (5), Anthony Flemons (NR), Bernard Hammonds (18) ? Darrell gets 5th and Anthony 8th for 5 total points
SP ? Harrison Benjamin (2), Tyler Menges (10) ? Tank gets 2nd and Tyler gets 8th for 9 big points.
DT ? Brett McDaniel (8) ? Brett gets 7th for 2 points
Javelin ? Paden Behrens (17) ? no points from Paden
Hammer ? no Red Raider entries
Decathlon ? Chuck Zavala (NR), Nick Green (NR) ? I just think that Chuck picks up an 8th place in his first-ever full decathlon for one point.
Well, that turns out to be 80 points, for 3rd place. That compares closely to last year’s 76.5 points for 5th place overall. But this year, the points will be spread out more evenly. Can Tech score more points and truly compete for the conference title? Yes, but it will take a healthy Anthony Flemons, Julius Walker, and Silas Kemboi. It will also take someone like Darrell Roddick or Gilbert Limo going wild, which is possible. The absolute maximum points I could see would be 90-94 points, which might be enough to slip in if the points are distributed to lots of schools.
I don’t know how the “home track” advantage will play into the equation. The Big 12 is incredibly competitive this year. There are kids who are already regional qualifiers who are ranked 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th and won’t even come close to making the finals. It might possibly take a sub-46.5 quarter in the men to place and probably a sub-46 to place in the top 5 in the quarter. Lots of incredible performances to be seen over the next few days in Lubbock.
