by Roger Freberg (6/3/04)

Well, Austin here we come! This meet is a return of sorts for me. In 1974, I came to Austin to compete in the NCAA Championships in the discus. Both my team (UCLA) and I finished as runner-ups that year. Since I was a married athlete, Laura and I could stay in the student housing for the meet. This time in Austin, I am coming back to cover the throwing events and watch the next generation of throwers. We are staying in a big fancy hotel, but in truth, I’m feeling rather nostalgic about the dorms again. It will be a great time.

The Regionals

The new regional system seems to be working. More and more local media coverage is flowing into track and field, and this can only help build our sport! Having a major track and field championship within reach of family, fans and athletes has generated considerable enthusiasm. The top athletes by virtue of their superior marks will always make it to the final championship, which is the way it should be. But this system offers an opportunity for others to gain a ticket into the big event by competing well in their Regional meets. In scanning the lists, there are a number of athletes who have won their shot at the title, not by impressive seasonal marks, but through fighting it out at the regional level. Congratulations!

Although there were some big differences in the winning throws across the four regions, 8th place was generally about the same. The new system did pass along a few great athletes in each event who stumbled in the regionals and failed to get into the top five places. They, too, live to fight another day! Yep, I am talking about you, Karen.

The SHOT PUT – Laura Gerraughty and Carl Meyerscough on top again to stay?

WOMEN’S SHOT

The women’s shot is dominated by names that have graced the All-American lists for many years. Laura, Becky and Jessica have all had their turn at being an NCAA shot put champion. Laura is the only one over 60 feet this year and looked in regionals like she had plenty more! Jill Camarena is long overdue for a top spot, after being one of the steadiest, most reliable throwers since her early days in high school. L’Orangerie Crawford of the USC Trojans is opting out of the hammer to concentrate on the shot, and already has a runner-up finish both in the Western Regionals and the Pac 10 Championships to her credit.

There are a number of outside ‘long shots’ (sorry about the pun) who could make it interesting. Michelle Carter, daughter of SMU throwing legend Michael Carter, may be up to the challenge of upsetting the apple cart. Candice Scott and Kim Barrett of Florida showed big, sudden improvements at Regionals, and might do it again here.

The remaining All-Americans and place winners will depend on who can reach for the big throw this year. In years past, 54 feet could land you 4th place; however, the world of women’s collegiate throwing has become much more competitive. It is likely that 55-56 feet will be what it takes to get 8th place. Becoming an All-American might be a bit easier with the list of those athletes that compete for foreign countries such as Candice Scott (Trinidad) and Kim Barrett (Jamaica) expanding the list of available All-American slots.

The main players with the top 10 marks belong to:

Laura Gerraughty – NCAA CHAMPION – North Carolina
Jill Camarena -- Stanford
Becky Breisch – NCAA CHAMPION -- Nebraska
Jessica Crosby – NCAA CHAMPION -- UCLA
Kim Barrett -- Florida
Michelle Carter -- Texas
L’Orangerie Crawford – USC Trojans
Candice Scott -- Florida
Aymara Albury -- Alabama
Janae Strickland – Missouri

Former All-Americans also competing: Ja’Nai O’Connor, Karen Freberg

MEN’S SHOT

The three biggest surprises this season in the men’s shot have been the remarkable gains made by Jeremy Silverman of UCLA (runner-up in the Pac 10), Steve Manz of Michigan State and Rhuben Williams of Cal Berkeley. Whether or not they are ready to fight it out for more than the bronze remains to be seen, but I wish them all luck!

The men’s gold looks like a repeat of the NCAA indoors. Carl Myerscough of Nebraska and Dan Taylor of Ohio State are once again ready to see who has to settle for the silver! Both of these giants have had their turn with the gold and it’s hard to imagine either of them dropping to a bronze. However, Jeff Chakouian popped a big 66 plus feet at regionals and clearly stated that it won’t be a slam-dunk for either Carl or Dan!

Dan Ames of UCLA is also in great position for a big throw along with Hannes Hopley of SMU. Who will leave as All-Americans or with – as Steve Manz is fond of saying – “just a pat on the back!”? Steve is looking good for some serious hardware this time around, and we hope to hear him give “directions” to his shot again!

The main players with the top 10 marks belong to:

Carl Myerscough – Nebraska – NCAA CHAMPION
Dan Taylor – Ohio State – NCAA CHAMPION
Jeff Chakouian – Kentucky
Dan Ames – UCLA
Steve Manz – Michigan State
Rhuben Williams – Cal Berkeley
Ronny Jimenez – Texas A & M
Jeremy Silverman – UCLA
Edis Elkasevic – Auburn
Hannes Hopley -- SMU

The DISCUS – Can Hannes Hopley or Becky Breisch be beaten? Is the real race for the silver?

WOMEN’S DISCUS

I really can’t see how Becky Breisch of Nebraska could possibly lose this meet without the loss of a limb or two. Becky has so completely dominated key meets this year that the odds makers would hardly bet against her (no, I am not encouraging gambling).

Dayana Octavien, who is also ranked in the hammer, looks like a good bet for second place. Dayana looked very tough in the indoor NCAA weight throw, and the Austin weather sure won’t bother her. Right behind Dayana are NCAA veterans Beth Mallory of Alabama, Loree Smith of Colorado St., and Melissa Bickett of Michigan.

It’s good to see Rachel Varner (Arizona) make a mark on the national collegiate scene after a stellar high school career in California. Another high school standout making a strong transition to the college game is Amarachi Ukabam of Ohio State.

Ina Reiber of Idaho, Ildiko Varga of Kentucky, Johvonne Hernandez of Syracuse, Stacy Martin of Auburn and Jelena Jurlina of Tulane looked fairly tough in their final meets.

Marks in this event are on the upswing, with 7 out of the top 11 ranked throwers getting their seasonal bests at Regionals.

The main players with the top 10 marks belong to:

Becky Breisch – Nebraska – NCAA CHAMPION
Dayana Octavien – South Florida
Beth Mallory – Alabama
Rachel Varner – Arizona
Loree Smith – Colorado State
Melissa Bickett – Michigan
Ina Reiber – Idaho
Ildiko Varga – Kentucky
Amarachi Ukabam – Ohio State
Jelena Jurlina -- Tulane

MEN’S DISCUS

What do you say when someone throws 221 feet in the men’s discus and sets the collegiate record? In an event dominated by great historical figures like Randy Matson, John Godina and Mac Wilkins, it is very impressive when someone comes along and sweeps aside all of the records of the past. Hannes Hopley may lose his national record someday, but he will have SMU’s school record forever! It’s really sad to see that SMU is closing their men’s track program after this year. We wish Hannes and the other Mustangs best of luck in the future.

The discus is always a tough event to predict, especially in the expected hot and very humid weather to be found in Austin, Texas. I remember seeing a rescue of a steeplechase runner from Oregon who nearly drowned in the water jump after he fell from heat exhaustion. A discus becomes slick and palms become sweaty in this weather and it takes everything to keep it together on every throw.

So, I think the boys from SMU, Hannes Hopley and Michael Robertson will be tough to beat. Carl Meyerscough (Nebraska), Jason Young (Texas Tech) and Josh Ralston (Texas A&M) figure to score big points. If anyone has a chance to break up the virtual state of Texas monopoly in the men’s discus, it would figure to be in the form of three fine discus throwers: Nik Arrhenius (BYU), Karl Erickson (Minnesotta) or Gaute Myklebust (Memphis).

The main players with the top 10 marks belong to:

Hannes Hopley – SMU – NCAA Champion
Michael Robertson – SMU
Jason Young – Texas Tech
Josh Ralston – Texas A & M
Gaute Myklebust – Memphis
Karl Erickson – Minnesota
Niklas Arrhenius – BYU
Sam Johnson – Texas State
Ryan McIntyre – Florida
Sam Segond -- Rutgers

The HAMMER –Will Lucais MacKay and Candice Scott repeat?

WOMEN’S HAMMER

In my preseason preview, I predicted that it would take 210 feet to make it as a medal winner. I still think this will be the case, in spite of the fact that at a couple of throwers have dropped out to concentrate on another event.

So who will win? Amber Campbell of Coastal Carolina looks in top form and it is not just the wiggle she does as she warms up to throw! Candice Scott and Jukina Dickerson of Florida have been there before and know what to do. Freshman sensation Jenny Dahlgren of Georgia is steadily improving, and set her seasonal best at Regionals.

However, there is a lot of thunder being heard out west in the form of perennial UCLA powerhouse Carrie Soong and fellow Bruin Jessica Cosby! Loree Smith had a huge throw earlier in the season, and may come back to make things interesting.

The real surprise is how many athletes are passing on the hammer to concentrate on other events. The great thrower from Troy, L’Orangerie Crawford, has opted to pass the hammer and concentrate on the shot—stay tuned. It didn’t help that both the hammer and shot events are on the same day.

The main players with the top 10 marks belong to:

Amber Campbell – Coastal Carolina
Candice Scott – NCAA CHAMPION – Florida
Loree Smith – Colorado State
Cari Soong – UCLA
Jukina Dickerson – Florida
Jenny Dahlgren – Georgia
Jessica Cosby – UCLA
Dayana Octavien – South Florida
Sultana Frizell – Georgia
Britney Henry -- LSU

MEN’S HAMMER

The men’s hammer throw seems in many ways to be an exact replay of the indoor weight throw. Most of the top indoor throwers are ranked very high outdoors.

So, who looks tough? Well, sorry boys, but I think Thomas Freeman of Manhattan at 71.12 m is the guy to beat! Watching him down in Gainesville in what could only be called the toughest conditions on the planet was a remarkable sight!

I am not slighting Lucais MacKay of Georgia at all. He was last year’s champion and if he gets over what appeared to be a flu bug, he should be tough at Nationals. Dan Taylor of Ohio State, Spyridon Jullien of Virginia Tech, John Smolenski of Purdue and Jerome Bortoluzzi of SMU appear likely to take home some hardware.

However, in an event in which victories are often measured by small differences, it won’t take much for someone with a big throw to jump into the center ring and grab a trophy and/or All-American status. UCLA’s Dan Ames was a monster in the indoor weight and it could be Dan or someone like him that does the same in Austin!

The main players with the top 10 marks belong to:

Thomas Freeman – Manhattan
Lucais MacKay – Georgia
Dan Taylor – Ohio State
Spyridon Jullien – Virgina Tech
John Smolenski – Purdue
Jerome Bortoluzzi – SMU
Lynden Reder – Minnesota
Michael Murray – USC
Zack Schaefer – Wyoming
Keith McBride -- Purdue

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE THROWS

With four throwing events, a team with good throwers can affect a championship significantly. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that if either UCLA or Florida is going to make a big splash in this championship, then their throwers have got to come through. It is also clear that Georgia and Nebraska want a little chunk of team glory and it will have to come – in part – from their throwers!

Check out the lists and you can see where the best men and women throwers come from: Colorado State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, Purdue, North Carolina, UCLA and USC, just to name a few.

Austin will be a great experience for every one. I’ll be on the field filming for the throwing community and you! Good luck to all those lucky enough to watch, coach or to compete in this year’s championship!

I hope to see y’all there!

Roger Freberg
roger@frebergsports.com