McCravy Boasts Another Elite Field: What to Watch?
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – For at least the third year in a row the eyes of the collegiate track and field world are focused squarely upon Nutter Field House for the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet on this January weekend.
The meet has become the nation’s best gathering of elite teams and athletes at least early in the year, and 2017’s edition is no exception.
Thursday’s Part I preview looked at the precedent that’s been set the last few years regarding the standard of competition at the McCravy and the meet’s status as a springboard to greater glory later in the year. This second preview will focus on races to watch this weekend.
Plenty are worthy. Such is the reason those who follow such things have pinpointed The McCravy as this weekend’s top meet , once more.
A good deal of past McCravy stars have come back for more this year. Furthermore, some of the brightest young talents in the sport have entered into this year’s meet.
The individuals collectively make up a stellar field. One made up of 14 universities –10 ranked teams from eight universities. The men’s side features No. 6 USC, No. 7 Texas and No. 20 Penn State, while the women’s field is led by No. 4 USC and No. 5 Texas and also includes No. 8 Kentucky, No. 10 Purdue, No. 13 Baylor, No. 14 Miami, and No. 21 Ole Miss.
Want Olympians?
2016 Olympians, you say?
The McCravy’s got them. Headlining would be Ole Miss’ Raven Saunders.
She took fifth as a collegiate sophomore in Rio after breaking the collegiate record. She started her 2016 season by breaking the Nutter Field House record at last year’s Kentucky Invitational. So coming off a Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Week performance to start her seasosn she could quite easily to turn some heads this weekend. The women’s shot put starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Saunders is in the second flight.
Olympic finalist Leah Nugent – who trains under UK head coach Edrick Floreal in Lexington – is entered in a stacked 60m hurdles field, in addition to what could be a NCAA final preview 400m dash – both races are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
World-Class Pros?
Well one of the biggest names in the game lives in Lexington, and continues to train at UK after a decorated Wildcat collegiate career.
Of course that’s world-record holder and 2016 Diamond League winner Kendra Harrison.
She headlines a 60m hurdles field that includes Dior Hall – last year’s NCAA hurdles favorite before missing most of the year injured. Hall – a redshirt sophomore at USC – placed third to Harrison’s gold in the 2015 NCAA 100m hurdles final. Devynn Charlton – NCAA Bronze Medalist in the event last year – is also entered, as is 2016 IAAF World U20 Champion in the 400m hurdles: Anna Cockrell, now a freshman at USC. And s at quick glance of at that field. The 60h heats are at noon, with the final scheduled for 12:45 p.m. to coincide with the opening of the SEC Network+ broadcast window.
Jordan Brand’s Kori Carter is entered in the 200m and 400m. Carter holds the collegiate record in the 400m hurdles from her time at Stanford, where Floreal recruited her.
NCAA Champions?
Plenty.
Randall Cunningham Jr. begins 2017 as reigning NCAA Outdoor High Jump Champion. Yes he of the NFL legend father and teenage Olympian sensation sister. Referring to Vashti, not Sydney McLaughlin – a clarification intended for those who may confuse their track wunderkinds – especially in a Kentucky track and field context. (McLaughlin would be on track to compete at the 2018 McCravy though. For now she’s busy obliterating every record in her sight, but that’s another story.)
Last year the winner of the men’s 60m at the McCravy – Trayvon Bromell — went on to win the World Title in that event later that season, and make the Olympic final in two events. The runner-up placed second at NCAAs. Many of last year’s men’s 60m headlines aren’t here this year, but Texas’ Senoj-Jay Givans finished third in the NCAA 100m outdoors. That race’s scheduled to run prelims at 12:30 p.m., with finals at 1 p.m.
The women’s 60m field features the event’s reigning NCAA Champion: Teahna Daniels (Texas). She will make her 2017 debut against a field filled by three sprinters ranked in the NCAA top-10 this year, including Kentucky’s All-American and 60m SEC bronze medalist Javianne Oliver. Prelims are at 12:20 p.m., the final goes off at 12:55 p.m.
And that just scratches the surface of the races to watch – and matchups you can’t miss – at this year’s McCravy.
Past meets have been enthralling. Time will tell how 2017 shakes out.
