2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Day 1 Recap.....(Track Events)

In very windy conditions, athletes competed and no amazing times were really posted in the prelims/semis. The Women's 4x100m relay will see Texas A&M (43.19), LSU (43.35), Florida (43.65), and Baylor (44.15) face off in the finals. On the Men's 4x100m relays scene it will be LSU (39.11), Texas A&M (39.13), Tennessee (39.24), and South Carolina (39.37) battling in the finals. The Women's 800m final will be very competitive since 9 of the 16 women competing ran 2:06 (2:06.10 fastest prelim time). In the Men's 800m it will be equally as competitive because 10 of the 16 runner clocked in at 1:49 and Andrew Wheating ran the fastest qualifying time of 1:48.88. In the Women's 400m hurdles, standout Queen Harrison did not show for the race, which, according to NCAA regulations, may disqualify her in the 100m hurdles as well. Nicole Leach proceeded to run the fastest qualifying time of 56.75, with three 57's and a load of 58's following. On the Men's side freshman sensation Jeshua Anderson qualified with the fastest time in 49.90, the next fastest time is 49.99 (Rueben McCoy), and the rest with the exception of two are 50's. The Women's 400m dash will be competitive as 6 of the 16 runners are under the 53 second barrier with Kenyata Coleman (51.78) posting the only 51 second time. The best races to watch next will be the Men's 400m. 13 of 16 men ran 46 seconds.....with only Lejerald Betters (45.87), Terrance Reid (45.69), and O'Neal WIlder (45.56) running under 46. The windy conditions really played a factor in the 100m dash as the times aren't blazing, but given those wind conditions the races were very competitive. The Women's 100m dash finals will see Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.28), Lakecia Ealey (11.31), Jessica Onyepunuka (11.46), Samantha Henry (11.51), and Simone Facey (11.61) compete. On the Men's side, it will be Travis Padgett (10.20), Richard Thompson (10.33), Trindon Holliday (10.34), Walter Dix (10.45), and Teddy Williams (10.46), and a few others under 10.49 compete in the finals. Women's 3000m Steeplechase looks to be Jenny Barringer (10:00.56) running away winning the qualifying round by 12 seconds. The Men's 3000m Steeple will have mainly three athletes, Billy Nelson (8:44.77), Luke Gunn (8:44.92) and Patrick Mutai (8:45.18) batting for top honors in that race. The Women's 5000m prelims has 7 of 16 athletes under 16:50.00 with Christina Munoz (16:45.48) leading the pack by 2 seconds. And finally on the Men's side of the 5000m prelims, 4 of 16 men are under the 14:15.00 mark with Rober Curtis (14:10.24) and Stephen Pifer (14:10.86) taking control. I'll have the field event recap up soon as the 2nd day of the championships begin.