What Outdoor Collegiate Records Could Fall In 2016?

NEW ORLEANS — Outdoor collegiate records beware.

Heed the warning from your indoor counterparts.

Spring has sprung and collegians are gunning for you.

During this past indoor track & field season — yes, the one that ended one week ago (time flies) — two collegiate records were broken (women’s shot put, pentathlon), two were tied (men’s shot put, women’s high jump) and several others were in serious peril (men’s 60, men’s 3000, women’s 800, women’s 5000).

All but one of those athletes who took aim at the record books this winter return (Texas’ Ryan Crouser ran out of eligibility), so it’s going to be a fun spring.

Here’s a look at five records that could fall, ranked in order of potential destruction.

Women’s Shot Put

Current Record: 18.99m (62-3¼) — Meg Ritchie, Arizona (1983)

Let’s start with an easy one.

During the indoor season, Mississippi’s Raven Saunders had two throws at the Iowa State Classic that would have obliterated this record. Saunders launched one 19.02m (62-5) on her third attempt and then crushed that throw with a heave of 19.23m (63-1¼).

If Saunders tops Ritchie’s mark, it would give her the indoor and outdoor all-time bests. Saunders broke Tia Brooks’ nearly three-year-old indoor record by one centimeter in Ames, Iowa.

Plus, Saunders should have some extra motivation pushing her forward. Saunders failed to make the final in Birmingham, Alabama and finished 12th.

Women’s Pole Vault

Current Record: 4.72m (15-5¾) — Sandi Morris, Arkansas (2015)

Remember "The Year of the Vault?"

Well, you just might want to make that time frame plural.

With Demi Payne returning to the collegiate ranks, Megan Clark‘s continued maturation and Lexi Weeks‘ emergence, there are going to be some fireworks.

This record will belong to Payne, though. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it.

The only question is, "How long does Payne let it stand?"

Here’s the thing: Payne already eclipsed Morris’ mark several times — most notably at the prestigious Millrose Games where she cleared 4.90m (16-¾).

That might be indoors, but Payne thrives outdoors. The reigning NCAA champ owns six of the top-10 clearances in collegiate history under the sky.

Women’s 800

Current Record: 1:59.11 — Suzy Favor, Wisconsin (1990)

Only four women in collegiate history have run 800 meters in less than two minutes: Favor, Alysia Johnson, Katie Erdman and Raevyn Rogers. Of those four women, only Rogers is still active — and is a heat-seeking missile tracking down records.

Rogers nearly took down the indoor record of 2:00.75 at the Millrose Games, but fell just shy (2:00.90).

Now Rogers returns to where she looks most comfortable — on an outdoor track. That’s where she burst on the scene as a freshman with the Ducks and won the NCAA title in 1:59.71.

With an extra year under her belt, Rogers should be in prime position once again come June to rewrite history.

Men’s 100 Meters

Current Record: 9.89 — Ngoni Makusha, Florida State (2011)

Did you watch the 60-meter final last week?

Those men were moving fast!

For the first time in collegiate history, the top-2 finishers broke 6.50 and everybody in the top-5 went 6.60 or faster.

TCU’s Ronnie Baker won in 6.47, the third fastest time in collegiate history (first at low altitude). Houston’s Cameron Burrell clocked what is now tied for the fourth fastest mark all-time (6.48).

Don’t forget about Clemson’s Tevin Hester either. Hester "only" ran 6.64 and finished sixth, but you add 40 meters and he’ll be right up there with those other guys.

Actually, Hester beat Makusha’s time last year at the ACC Championships (9.87 to 9.89). Yet there was this pesky thing called an illegal wind (just barely: 2.1 to 2.0) that nulled his time.

Baker said he’s hungry to continue to assert himself as one of the premier sprinters in the nation. Judging by his progression in the 100 (10.58-10.21-10.05), he may be in line for a huge breakthrough.

Women’s 400 Meters

Current Record: 50.03 — Courtney Okolo, Texas (2014)

Whenever the current record holder is still in the collegiate system, you can’t count them out.

Okolo returned to championship form indoors and is looking to add another title to her haul outdoors. If she just so happens to lower her own record in the meantime, it’s all good.

Judging by what she’s done in the past, we should see Okolo make her outdoor debut at the Clyde Littlefield Relays later this month and take a crack at her first open 400 two weeks later.