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Conference Championships Preview

• Men - Only two throwers have surpassed 200 feet so far this season: Ben Harpenau (Purdue) and Dave Ebersole (Ohio State).  They faced for the first time last weekend, but Harpenau besting Ebersole at Ohio State.
  
• Women - Veronica Jatsek (Ohio State) won this competition a year ago with a personal best.  So far this season, she again leads the conference and is the only thrower to have thrown over 200 feet.  Liz Alabi (Minnesota) and Astin Steward (Purdue) both have approached 200 feet this season, but will likely just be battling for second place.
  

• Men - Egor Agafonov (Kansas) is coming of his second straight NCAA Indoor title, but has yet to find his form outdoors.  The two-time defending champion is still the favorite with the top mark so far this season, but Jason Morris (Missouri) and Chris Rohr (Missouri) have come close to him this season.  While both Missouri throwers have not been as consistent as Agafonov, they have proven that they could bring an upset this weekend.
  
• Women - Loren Groves (Kansas State) improved her personal best last weekend to become the clear favorite heading into the conference championships.  Her best 65.36m is almost two meters ahead of her teammate and top contender Laci Heller (Kansas State).  Heller struggled mid-season, but has thrown well lately.  Ozie Okolie (Texas Tech) has also been very consistent during the entire season and will be in the mix.

• Men - Boldi Kocsor (UCLA) will be looking for his second conference championships after leading the conference the entire season.  Kocsor won the conference championship as a freshman, but only placed fourth last season.  The big challengers will be Colin Veldman (Oregon), Jordan Stray (Oregon), and Zack Midles (Washington).  Both Veldman and Stray beat Kocsor at the Oregon/UCLA dual meet last month and will be looking to do the same.   Midles has also thrown very well entering the conference meet.
• Women - National leader Eva Orban (USC) won the conference title in 2008 and was second last season.  She is the heavy favorite again this season, but Arizona State has a few throwers who might be able to step up and contend for the title.  Jessica Pressley (Arizona State) has thrown 68 meters this season while Sarah Stevens (Arizona State) is approaching 67 meters.  Tai Battle (Arizona State) could find her way into the mix.

• Men - The SEC is probably the top conference for the men's hammer throw this season with five throwers over 65 meters.  Cory Martin (Auburn) and Jake Dunkleberger (Auburn) are the heavy favorites in this competition.  Dunkleberger was the surprise winner of last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships, yet Martin is the defending conference champion and leads the nation this season.  Rabun Fox (LSU), Andy Fryman (Kentucky) and Nate Rolfe (Georgia) and are clustered around third.  Rolfe was an All-American last season, but has struggled lately.  Fox is coming off an from injury last season and has been impressive so far this season.
  
• Women - Shanna Dickenson (Tennessee) and Shawneise Williams (Miami) enter the competition with virtually identical personal bests.  Williams beat Dickenson earlier in the season, but Dickenson has been much more consistent while Williams has faltered as season draws to a close.