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I would love to but probably don't have the time. I think you were doing a great job and should keep it going!
By the way the pre-meet poll came out with both Shocker teams 4th. I think the coaches have underestimated WSU. Remember in cross country the Shockers were picked 2nd/5th and went 1st/4th. Rainbolt and Burns get their teams to perform when it counts.
My main thoughts on this meet and keys for the Shockers to do well:
MEN - UNI should win this meet, they are still just too deep in several events and will have to completely fall apart at home. The battle will be between WSU, SIU, and Indiana State for 2nd. WSU will need a big meet from the sprinters and jumpers and will need to get some production from the distance events (which are improving greatly each week). The top 4 teams will go head to head in most of the sprint events for the top places so major point swings can take place.
WOMEN - SIU appears to be a slight favorite and although Indiana St and Missouri State are picked 2nd and 3rd, I don't think they are much ahead of WSU. The performance list is not exactly accurate because both ISU and MSU have girls in events they won't be able to enter (example Earnest in the 200/400/800) so just with that the Shockers should be in the mix for 2nd. SIU might be too tough to beat but they are definitely within reach with a great performance for WSU. The thing is WSU is depending heavily on freshmen and newcomers and you just don't know how they will react to their first conference championship. It is a different kind of environment and while one freshman might go nuts and have a great meet another one might pee down their leg and go the other way.
But both Shocker teams seem to be getting better each week. The two matchups of the meet will be Kellyn Johnson against Pasca Cheryiot in multiple distance races (both are big-time runners of national caliber) and the men's heptathlon where there are 2 returning national qualifiers (Dickman WSU, Clark UNI) as well as Justin Taylor (WSU) and a UNI freshman who scored 5400 in his first college multi this year. Should be epic battles.
For those of you who have never been to a conference track and field meet, it is really an amazing competition full of drama for 2 (or 3 outdoor) days. Hopefully we'll see plenty of Shocker fans in Cedar Falls!
By the way the pre-meet poll came out with both Shocker teams 4th. I think the coaches have underestimated WSU. Remember in cross country the Shockers were picked 2nd/5th and went 1st/4th. Rainbolt and Burns get their teams to perform when it counts.
My main thoughts on this meet and keys for the Shockers to do well:
MEN - UNI should win this meet, they are still just too deep in several events and will have to completely fall apart at home. The battle will be between WSU, SIU, and Indiana State for 2nd. WSU will need a big meet from the sprinters and jumpers and will need to get some production from the distance events (which are improving greatly each week). The top 4 teams will go head to head in most of the sprint events for the top places so major point swings can take place.
WOMEN - SIU appears to be a slight favorite and although Indiana St and Missouri State are picked 2nd and 3rd, I don't think they are much ahead of WSU. The performance list is not exactly accurate because both ISU and MSU have girls in events they won't be able to enter (example Earnest in the 200/400/800) so just with that the Shockers should be in the mix for 2nd. SIU might be too tough to beat but they are definitely within reach with a great performance for WSU. The thing is WSU is depending heavily on freshmen and newcomers and you just don't know how they will react to their first conference championship. It is a different kind of environment and while one freshman might go nuts and have a great meet another one might pee down their leg and go the other way.
But both Shocker teams seem to be getting better each week. The two matchups of the meet will be Kellyn Johnson against Pasca Cheryiot in multiple distance races (both are big-time runners of national caliber) and the men's heptathlon where there are 2 returning national qualifiers (Dickman WSU, Clark UNI) as well as Justin Taylor (WSU) and a UNI freshman who scored 5400 in his first college multi this year. Should be epic battles.
For those of you who have never been to a conference track and field meet, it is really an amazing competition full of drama for 2 (or 3 outdoor) days. Hopefully we'll see plenty of Shocker fans in Cedar Falls!
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