Track Town USA is all too familiar with the numerous Oregon track and field male athletes, and over the next three days, there will be more than a handful of other big-name
contenders looking to make some noise at Hayward Field. Based on their regional
performances, here’s a small breakdown of the lesser-known participants to keep an eye on as the week progresses.
Sprints

Florida State sophomore sprinter Maurice Mitchell will look to pick up points in both the 100- and 200-meter races for the two-time national champion Seminoles. Mitchell, the 2009 ACC Outdoor Freshman of the Year, tied Auburn sophomore Marcus Rowland for the fastest time in the 100m (10.04), while posting the second-best 200m (20.24). Texas A&M sophomore Curtis Mitchell holds the top time in the 200m (20.23), and teammate Demetrius Pinder appears to be the favorite in the 400 meters after posting his top time of 44.93.
Relays

The men’s 4×100-meter relay could prove to be one of the most competitive events of the week, with less than a second separating the first through 15th-ranked teams. Florida’s tandem of Chris Rainey, Jeremy Hall, Terrell Wilks, and Jeff Demps recorded the best time at the prelims (38.81), while LSU (39.00), and Texas A&M (39.05) followed closely behind. The 4×400-meter relay will feature a similar field with the Aggies posting the top time in the event, as they crossed the line in 3:01.89. Mississippi State (3:02.10) is seeded second, and Florida (3:02.75) sits in third.
Distance

In a Galen Rupp-less distance field, a handful of relatively new faces will likely emerge in 2010. Oregon’s Andrew Wheating is still the favorite in the 1,500 meters. Although two-time NCAA indoor champion and All-American senior Lee Emanuel from New Mexico will look to challenge Wheating for the title. The 5,000- and 10,000-meter events appear to be safely in the hands of heavily decorated Liberty junior Sam Chelanga. The five-time USTFCCCA Southeast Region Athlete of the Year (three times in cross country, twice in outdoor track) took the 10,000m title last season, and after competing in only four races in 2010, the Kenya native will look to defend his crown with a fresh pair of legs and potentially add a 5,000m title to his resume.
Jumps

The men’s high jump looks to be up for grabs at this point with 14 athletes clearing the
bar at 7 feet, 3/4 inches (2.16m). Indiana sophomore Derek Drouin took second place in the event at the outdoor championships last season and could have a slight edge based simply on experience. In the long and triple jumps, Florida sophomore Christian Taylor hopes to score in both events. The four-time All-American sits in fourth in the long jump, two places behind Oregon’s Ashton Eaton, and posted the top mark in the men’s triple jump after sailing more than 55 feet (16.95m) in the prelims. The men’s pole vault field resembles that of the high jump, with 11 participants qualifying at the same height. Of those 11, Washington junior Scott Roth could have the advantage heading into the meet after last year’s second-place finish at the NCAAs.
Field Events

If there is one thrower to keep an eye on — and he shouldn’t be hard to miss standing 6-feet 8-inches — it’s Kansas freshman Mason Finley. The Big 12 Male Outstanding Freshman of the Year and Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year will compete in both the shot put and discus for the Jayhawks. Finley is ranked second and third in those events, respectively. Virginia Tech freshman and Germany native Alexander Ziegler will look to take home his first outdoor title as the top-ranked competitor in the men’s hammer throw. Two Missouri Tiger All-Americans will look to challenge world-record-holder Eaton in the decathlon — Nick Adcock and Lars Rise — though the hometown favorite clearly has the edge heading into the event with a 606-point lead on the second-ranked Adcock.
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