Cantwell got his automatic mark in the shot put at Kansas (kuathletics.com)

Kentucky hosted the SEC East Challenge as South Carolina won the meet title for the women with 170 points and Tennessee finished first with 139.50 points on the men's side. In a meet with many automatic and provisional marks, the SEC continues to show why it is the best collegiate track & field conference. Some of the meet highlights included Jonathan Fortenberry of South Carolina edging out Gary Kikaya of Tennessee in the 400 meters 46.19 to 46.26. Both times also met the NCAA automatic standard.

Six athletes ran under 1:50 in the 800 meters along with three automatic marks as Otukile Lekote led the way with his time of 1:46.88. David Freeman of Kentucky took second place with his personal best time of 1:47.40. Corey Taylor of South Carolina and Josh Walker of Florida both ran an automatic time of 7.74 in the 60 meter hurdle prelims. Shamar Sands of Auburn won the final in 7.75.

Women's highlights included Aleen Bailey of South Carolina winning the 60 meter dash in 7.31. Bailey then took home the 200 meter title in 23.59. Teammate Demetria Washington won the 400 meters in automatic fashion with her time of 52.36. Faith Rein of Florida and Lashinda Demus of South Carolina also hit the automatic mark with their times of 52.83 and 58.03, respectively. Beth Heimann of Kentucky won the 800 meters with her provisional time of 2:07.70. Erin Gilreath of Florida hit the automatic mark in the weight throw with her toss of 66-02.50. The lady Gators came through in the 4x400 meter relay by upsetting South Carolina with their time of 3:36.21.

The Kansas tri took place on Friday as the host Jayhawks also competed against Kansas State and Missouri. The Wildcats of Kansas State took both team titles for the men and women. On the women's side, Missouri pole vaulter Jennifer Bennett set her second school record in as many weeks, winning the pole vault with a leap of 13-00.25 which also set a provisional qualifying mark. Rebekah Green of Kansas State continued her domination in the shot put by setting the school record for the second straight week. She won the shot at 56-8.50, improving her previous-best from last week by a half-inch. On the men's side, Missouri's Christian Cantwell automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the shot put with a throw of 65-07.75. Coby Cost of Kansas State stayed on par with the best in the nation so far in the weight throw with his toss of 67-11.50.

Opening up the weekend on a fast note was Jason Smoots of NC Central at the Tar Heel Classic. Smoots, the defending Division II indoor and outdoor short sprints champion, won the 60 meters in 6.66 seconds. Smoots also boasts a personal best of 6.56 in which he placed second at the USA Indoor Championships last year. Laura Gerraughty of North Carolina blasted out another big throw in the shot put with her automatic mark of 57-02. Her throw was farther than anyone else during the regular season last year. Gerraughty also opened the meet with an NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 65-6.75 in the weight throw, breaking her own school record by nearly two feet.

Notre Dame opened their home season between Ball State and the Western Michigan women in a tri meet. Headlining the action was Fighting Irish freshman Molly Huddle who won the 3000 meters with a provisional time of 9:31.53.

Michigan hosted the Red Simmons Invitational as Wolverine Nick WIllis won the 3000 meters in a talented field with his provisional time of 7:59.19.

At the Princeton Relays, Thomas Freeman of Manhattan kept on his pace of outstanding marks this season in the weight throw with his toss of 70-04.25.

Texas Tech hosted the Red Raider Open as Maresa Cadienhead of Abilene Christian won the high jump with her leap of 6-1.50. Darold Williamson of Baylor opened up his season by winning the 400 meters in 46.62. Teammate and true freshman Jeremy Wariner placed third in 46.97. Jonathon Johnson of Texas Tech won the 800 meters in 1:50.24.

Perdita Felicien nearly broke her own collegiate record in the hurdles (Illinois sports info)

BYU and Utah combined to host the Olympic Oval Invitational which produced many fast times on the 442 meter mondo indoor track. Perdita Felicien of Illinois went sub 8 seconds in the 60 meter hurdles by winning in 7.95 seconds. She was .05 seconds off her own collegiate record in the event in which she set last year. Teammate Chequetta Bearfield hit the automatic standard in the 60 meters with her time of 7.30. Kip Kangogo of BYU won the mile run in 4:05.78. Teammate Scott Adams won the 800 meters with his time of 1:49.96.

Nebraska hosted the Holiday Inivtational over the weekend as several qualifying marks were met. Veronica Campbell of Barton Community College posted a blazing 23.16 in the 200 meters. Campbell will transfer to Arkansas next year. Becky Breisch of Nebraska hit an automatic mark in the shot put with her toss of 53-11.25.

Kent State was the host to the Central Collegiate Championships as Eastern Michigan took the men's title and Penn State took the women's title. Beata Rudzinska of Akron made her season debut by winning the 800 meters in 2:08.85. Consuella Moore of Penn State took home the 60 meter title in 7.51. Keith Roberts of Kent State won the 60 meter hurdles in 7.86. Gavin Thompson of Eastern Michigan won the mile run by edging out teammate Boaz Cheboiywo 4:05.37 to 4:05.40.

Purdue hosted a tri meet that included Ohio State and Indiana. Some of the impressive marks included Dan Taylor of Ohio State hitting automatic in the weight throw with his toss of 21.66m. Taylor then came back to claim the shot put but just miss the automatic mark with his distance of 19.45m. Danielle Carruthers of Indiana opened up with a provisional time of 8.20 in the 60 meter hurdles. Kenneth Baxter of Purdue hit the automatic standard in the 200 meters with his time of 21.07.

Houston hosted the Indoor Opener with several schools and athletes from the southwest competing. Headlining the results was freshman Sanya Richards of Texas winning the 60 meters with her automatic time of 7.28. Teammate Aleah Williams finished second in 7.37. Defending 400 meter champion Allison Beckford of Rice opened her season in winning style by clocking 54.47. Nichole Denby of Texas won the 60 meter hurdles by coming close to the automatic mark with her time of 8.20. Aundre Edwards of TCU also came close to the automatic standard in the long jump with his leap of 25-07.25. Houston won the men's team title while Texas won the women's team title.

The Iowa State Open featured two athletes go under 8 minutes in the 3000 meters from Southern Methodist. Mindaugas Pukstas won the event by posting 7:59.06 while teammate Dalibor Balgac finished second in 7:59.29.

Boston Univerisity hosted the Terrier Invitational at their new indoor facility. Liam Reale of Providence won the mile run in 4:04.96. Richard Kiplagat of Iona came in a close second with his time of 4:05.07. Sam Burley of Penn opened up his 800 meter campaign with his time of 1:48.16. Kate and Laura O'Neill of Yale both ran outstanding 3000 meters as Kate hit the automatic mark with her time of 9:14.71 and Laura clocked in at 9:24.85.

LSU hosted the Purple Tiger Invitational as Muna Lee lead the way in the 60 meters with her automatic time of 7.20. Lacy Janson of Florida State hit the automatic standard in the pole vault with her clearance of 13-09.25. Mallory McDonald of LSU won the weight throw with her toss of 64-05.