Last week, only a small number of Red Raiders went to the UNM indoor meet and there were 2 clear highlights. Vashaun Vascianna, Tech's new secret weapon, ran in a meet for the first time as a Red Raider and it was electrifying -- he ran the 3rd fastest time in Tech history in the 60H and moved into the #1 spot in the Big 12 and #4 in the U.S. On the women's side, the Rosemary Chukwuma ran for the 2nd time in this season and ran a 7.25 and moved into the top 16 in the country.
This weekend, Tech is hosting the Texas Tech Shootout and the field is not quite as good as the past 2 home meets, but there is still solid fields in most races as teams from Baylor, OU, OK State, SMU, BYU, and West Texas A&M help provide good competition. This meet is crucial -- it is the last meet for most of the athletes who will be competing for Tech at conference. I was surprised that there were several top Tech athletes who are NOT entered - not sure whether they may be quarantining or just training through this meet in preparation for the conference meet in 2 weeks. This meet will be the final deciding factor on whether an athlete will get to compete at the conference meet - a school can only carry a certain number of athletes to conference (frankly, I don't remember if that number is 23 or 27 or somewhere in between.
There are already Tech athletes who are guaranteed to compete at conference (barring illness or injury), but there is also a group of athletes who are on the bubble. The guaranteed group will also be looking to improve their position on the performance list for the Big 12 and for the national meet. The athletes on the bubble will be looking to improve to the point there is no way that they can be left behind when the team leaves for Iowa State. Below are some athletes to watch this weekend that fall into either category. (The first number after the name is the ranking in the Big 12 and the 2nd number is the national ranking -- if there is only 1 number then that athlete is only ranked in the Big 12 performance list).
WOMEN
Guaranteed: Rosemary Chukwoma - 60 (4/15) and she is also running in the 200 for the first time this year; Kiah Dubarry-Gay - 60 (tie for 7), 200 (7/27); Virginia Kerley - 60 (7). LJ (11); Aneesa Scott - 400 (9); Lexye Price - 600y (4); Michaela Lewis - 800 (8); Demisha Roswell - 60 hurdles (2/7); Sidney Sapp - HJ (1/1); Chloe Wall - PV (4/17); Ryleigh Redding - PV (6); Ruth Usoro - LJ (3/7), TJ (2/8); Monae Nichols - LJ (1/1), competing in the TJ for the firs time this year; Onaara Obamawagun - TJ (3/9), LJ (15); Seasons Usual - WT (1/16); Kayli Johnson - SP (4), WT (5); Malin Smith - SP (6), but only #17 in the WT.
On the bubble: Gabrielle McDonald - 60H (14) and running the open 60 for the first time this year; Le-Taija Jackson - 60 (unranked); Nayanna Dubarry-Gay - 400 (15); Sylvia Schulz - 600y (first time to run it this year); Torrye Tyler and Fanny Arendt - 800 (unranked); Binta Ka - mile (first time to run this year); Isabel Velasco - 60 hurdles (17); Alexis Ivy - HJ (10); Mara Hering - HJ (16); Brya Brewer - TJ (8); Field Gatlin - SP (11), WT (12).
MEN
Guaranteed: Daniel Omah - 60 (3); Ashton O'Connor - 60 (11), 200 (5/12); Jacolby Shelton - 200 (4/10); Moad Zahafi - 800 (is ranked #2 in the 600y, but this is his first 800 for Tech ever); Marco Vilca - 800 (5/17); Vashaun Vascianna - 60 hurdles (1/4); Maliek Kendall - 60H (4); Kyle Lind - 60H (6); Caleb Wilborn - HJ (5/12); Jack Scarbrough - HJ (7); Colton Naffziger - PV (3/19); Gary Haasbroek - PV (4) and he is ranked #2 in the heptathlon; Chris Welch - TJ (7), LJ (first time in this event this year); Jalen Seals - TJ (2/6); Lj (5); Gabe Oladipo - SP (7); WT (1/9); Jacob Mechler - WT (3); Malik Metivier - 600y (running this event for the first time this season), Sven Cepus - 800 (11), but #7 in the 600y.; Logan Fraley - PV (6).
On the bubble: Adam Clayton - 60 (18), 200 (9); Isaac Hastings - 600y (17); Alfred Chawonza - unranked in the 600y and the 800; In the mile, Owen Likins - mile (#9 in the 1000, but needs a good mile run); EJ Rush - mile (#14 in the 3k); Paul Sherrill - mile (first time to run it this season); Taylor Rooney - 60H (8); Robert Teer - 60H (9); Luca Meinke - HJ (10); Kyle Stifflemire - PV (8); Konner Wood -- WT (7).
There is a good chance that many, if not all, of the above end up competing at the Big 12 meet. But, watch to see this weekend to see who improves and makes sure they travel to Iowa State. And, who moves up the national list and puts themselves in better position to make the trip to Birmingham for nationals.
This weekend, Tech is hosting the Texas Tech Shootout and the field is not quite as good as the past 2 home meets, but there is still solid fields in most races as teams from Baylor, OU, OK State, SMU, BYU, and West Texas A&M help provide good competition. This meet is crucial -- it is the last meet for most of the athletes who will be competing for Tech at conference. I was surprised that there were several top Tech athletes who are NOT entered - not sure whether they may be quarantining or just training through this meet in preparation for the conference meet in 2 weeks. This meet will be the final deciding factor on whether an athlete will get to compete at the conference meet - a school can only carry a certain number of athletes to conference (frankly, I don't remember if that number is 23 or 27 or somewhere in between.
There are already Tech athletes who are guaranteed to compete at conference (barring illness or injury), but there is also a group of athletes who are on the bubble. The guaranteed group will also be looking to improve their position on the performance list for the Big 12 and for the national meet. The athletes on the bubble will be looking to improve to the point there is no way that they can be left behind when the team leaves for Iowa State. Below are some athletes to watch this weekend that fall into either category. (The first number after the name is the ranking in the Big 12 and the 2nd number is the national ranking -- if there is only 1 number then that athlete is only ranked in the Big 12 performance list).
WOMEN
Guaranteed: Rosemary Chukwoma - 60 (4/15) and she is also running in the 200 for the first time this year; Kiah Dubarry-Gay - 60 (tie for 7), 200 (7/27); Virginia Kerley - 60 (7). LJ (11); Aneesa Scott - 400 (9); Lexye Price - 600y (4); Michaela Lewis - 800 (8); Demisha Roswell - 60 hurdles (2/7); Sidney Sapp - HJ (1/1); Chloe Wall - PV (4/17); Ryleigh Redding - PV (6); Ruth Usoro - LJ (3/7), TJ (2/8); Monae Nichols - LJ (1/1), competing in the TJ for the firs time this year; Onaara Obamawagun - TJ (3/9), LJ (15); Seasons Usual - WT (1/16); Kayli Johnson - SP (4), WT (5); Malin Smith - SP (6), but only #17 in the WT.
On the bubble: Gabrielle McDonald - 60H (14) and running the open 60 for the first time this year; Le-Taija Jackson - 60 (unranked); Nayanna Dubarry-Gay - 400 (15); Sylvia Schulz - 600y (first time to run it this year); Torrye Tyler and Fanny Arendt - 800 (unranked); Binta Ka - mile (first time to run this year); Isabel Velasco - 60 hurdles (17); Alexis Ivy - HJ (10); Mara Hering - HJ (16); Brya Brewer - TJ (8); Field Gatlin - SP (11), WT (12).
MEN
Guaranteed: Daniel Omah - 60 (3); Ashton O'Connor - 60 (11), 200 (5/12); Jacolby Shelton - 200 (4/10); Moad Zahafi - 800 (is ranked #2 in the 600y, but this is his first 800 for Tech ever); Marco Vilca - 800 (5/17); Vashaun Vascianna - 60 hurdles (1/4); Maliek Kendall - 60H (4); Kyle Lind - 60H (6); Caleb Wilborn - HJ (5/12); Jack Scarbrough - HJ (7); Colton Naffziger - PV (3/19); Gary Haasbroek - PV (4) and he is ranked #2 in the heptathlon; Chris Welch - TJ (7), LJ (first time in this event this year); Jalen Seals - TJ (2/6); Lj (5); Gabe Oladipo - SP (7); WT (1/9); Jacob Mechler - WT (3); Malik Metivier - 600y (running this event for the first time this season), Sven Cepus - 800 (11), but #7 in the 600y.; Logan Fraley - PV (6).
On the bubble: Adam Clayton - 60 (18), 200 (9); Isaac Hastings - 600y (17); Alfred Chawonza - unranked in the 600y and the 800; In the mile, Owen Likins - mile (#9 in the 1000, but needs a good mile run); EJ Rush - mile (#14 in the 3k); Paul Sherrill - mile (first time to run it this season); Taylor Rooney - 60H (8); Robert Teer - 60H (9); Luca Meinke - HJ (10); Kyle Stifflemire - PV (8); Konner Wood -- WT (7).
There is a good chance that many, if not all, of the above end up competing at the Big 12 meet. But, watch to see this weekend to see who improves and makes sure they travel to Iowa State. And, who moves up the national list and puts themselves in better position to make the trip to Birmingham for nationals.
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