Weekend Preview: Collegiate History Could Be In The Offing in Boston & Fayetteville

Forty-one years.

That’s how long Delisa Walton’s collegiate record lasted in the 600 yards until Michaela Rose of LSU shattered it this past weekend in Lubbock, Texas.

From The USTFCCCA InfoZone: Meets & Results | Records & Lists

Seven years, 361 days.

That’s how long Brannon Kidder’s collegiate record lasted in the 1000 meters until Yusuf Bizimana of Texas took it down earlier this month in Louisville, Kentucky.

One week.

That’s how long Bizimana’s collegiate record lasted until Tinoda Matsatsa eked under Bizimana’s mark by 0.05 seconds this past weekend in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Collegiate records aren’t lasting as long as they used to, huh?

Lawi Lalang’s 5000-meter best stood for nearly 11 years until both Graham Blanks of Harvard and Ky Robinson of Stanford rendered that to the third-best effort back in early December at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Blanks went 13:03.78 for the top spot, while Robinson followed close behind in 13:06.42.

Now, Blanks could find himself second or third after the John Thomas Terrier Classic this upcoming weekend. That’s because Robinson and Northern Arizona standout Nico Young are scheduled to race in one of two elite sections of the 5000 meters that will be paced through 3000 meters in 7:50-7:52. Robinson already proved himself over 5000 meters, while Young is now the top-ranked athlete on the Descending Order List in both the mile and 3000 meters. (It should be noted that Young tuned up for this race with a 3:57.33 mile at 7000 feet.)

Robinson and Young aren’t the only ones looking to make history in Boston.

Stanford teammates Juliette Whittaker and Roisin Willis have eyes on 2021 The Bowerman winner Athing Mu’s 800-meter standard of 1:58.40. Both are entered in the elite section of the four-lapper alongside four other women seeded under 2:01 with a pacer set to go through 400 meters in 58.5. Willis is the only woman in collegiate history with multiple sub-2:00 efforts that sit No. 2 (1:59.93) and No. 3 (1:59.95) on the all-time chart, while Whittaker is right behind her with the fourth-fastest performance at 2:00.05.

For those wanting to see fast times in the sprints and big marks in the field, feast your eyes on the Razorback Invitational. That’s where you’ll see the likes of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, LSU, Texas A&M, Southern California … You get the point. Pay close attention to the Women’s 60 Meters, because you won’t see them on the track for long: Kaila Jackson of Georgia and Jadyn Mays of Oregon are tied as the fourth-fastest performer in collegiate history at 7.07.

This is going to be a great weekend for collegiate track & field.