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Bowie, Harris, Moline Headline Pro Entries at Florida Relays

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   Apr 2nd 2015, 3:41pm
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Sprint and Hurdle Stars Open Up Outdoors

By Scott Bush

The Pepsi Florida Relays is annually one of the best early season outdoor meets in the United States. Not only do scores of the top collegiate stars head to Gainesville to square off, but many of the top sprint and hurdle pros use the event as their outdoor season launching point. This year's edition is no different, with stacked races and big stars across the board. Here are a few of the top events and athletes to keep an eye on.

Men's 110m Hurdles: Harris v. Oliver v. Richardson

The men's 110m hurdles will be an event to follow all season long. The "old" guard continues to put up world-class performances, but a young group of up-and-comers are hungry to win national titles and make World and Olympic teams. Such a collision course takes place this weekend. Fresh off a huge season in 2014, Aleec Harris is ready for his first full season as a pro. The former USC standout ranked sixth in the world last year and showed consistency throughout the season. He'll be the favorite this weekend, but he'll have plenty of competition. 

Those "old" pros we speak of are none other than the past two reigning World Championship gold medalists in 32 year old David Oliver and 28 year old Jason Richardson. The two veterans have proven themselves time and time again the past few years, always putting themselves in contention to challenge for victories around the world, but they'll have their hands full with Harris, especially as the adidas athlete comes off an indoor season where he won the men's 60m hurdle title at the USATF Indoor Championships. 

Not to be overlooked, Trinidad and Tobago star Wayne Davis Jr. seeks to improve upon his world #12 ranking from last year, while 2014 IAAF World Indoor gold medalist Omo Osaghae looks to get his outdoor season underway and take another big step forward in 2015. Throw in Spencer Adams (world #23 in 2014), Mikel Thomas (#36) and Eddie Lovett (#37), and you see the field is stacked and ready to see some fast times thrown down. 

Women's 200m: Bowie is Back

No sprinter captured more attention in the front half of the 2014 season than Tori Bowie. The former Southern Mississippi All-American at one point ranked number one in the world in the 100m and 200m. Slowed by injury in the back half of the season, Bowie still finished the season ranked top four in each event. Healthy and hungry to prove last year wasn't a fluke, Bowie get her season underway in the women's 200m. She owns a 22.18 personal best in the event, and while it's probably too early in the season for her to come close to that mark, don't be surprised to see her run a world-leading time. 

Bowie sees competition from a variety of competitors. 2013 World Championship 100m finalist Octavious Freeman looks to get her groove back after a challenging 2014 season, while veterans Jessica Beard, Kineke Alexander, Proscha Lucas and DeeDee Trotter all have enough talent to challenge for the win. 

Not to be overlooked, collegian Dezerea Bryant, the 2014 NCAA Indoor 200m champion, bounced back from a season-ending injury last spring to place third at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships in her specialty event. The University of Kentucky senior hopes to add to her impressive list of accomplishments and make a statement against the tough field in Florida this weekend. Do not be surprised if she comes away with the victory. 

Men's and Women's 400m: Mitchell, Moline Seek Victories

The men's 400m field is loaded, with a handful of top pros and collegiate athletes capable of bringing home the win. Leading the charge is reigning 300m USATF Indoor champion Manteo Mitchell. Mitchell ran a stellar indoor campaign, with his big win in Boston, now seeking to continue his success outdoors. The 2012 Olympic 4x400m relay medalist seeks to dip under the 45-second barrier again this season and a win in Florida would be a good first step toward achieving that goal. 

Mitchell finds plenty of competition in fellow pros Brycen Spratling and Bershawn Jackson, both world-class 400m runners in their own right. Jackson, known globally as a gold medal contender in the 400m hurdles, loves to run the flat one-lap event, while Spratling wants to build off a success indoor season. The top collegiate athlete in the field is Najee Glass, who placed third at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 400m

On the women's side, Olympic 400m hurdler Georganne Moline kicks off her outdoor season. The former University of Arizona Wildcat  looks to improve upon her outdoor PR of 52.92. Her 400m best indoors earlier this year was 53.02, so do not be surprised if she upsets the field and comes away with a new best. While fans can't wait to see her open up in her primary event of the 400m hurdles, the flat 400m is equally as entertaining.

Best of the Rest

Women's 100m: Michelle-Lee Ahye ranked world #2 in the 100m event last year, running a best of 10.85. She always seems to be in top form, and enters this weekend's contest facing NCAA Indoor 60m champion Remona Burchell (Sr., Alabama), runner-up Ky Westbrook (Fr., USC) and sixth-place finisher Shayla Sanders (So., Florida). The Burchell v. Westbrook battle should provide plenty of entertainment.

Men's 400m Hurdles: Olympic silver medalist and World Championship gold medalist Kerron Clement headlines the field, but the favorite will be Roxroy Cato of Jamaica. Clement continues to seek the form he showed a few years ago, while Cato enters off a season in which he ranked world #5 in the event with a best of 48.48. American Johnny Dutch is also entered, coming off a season ranked top 20 in the world and a best of 48.93.

Men's 200m: This race is loaded and it's anyone's guess who'll end up winning. Dedric Dukes (Sr., Florida) ran an eye-opening 19.97, good enough for world #6, in 2014, but finished fifth at NCAA Indoors over the 200m distance last month. Andre De Grasse (Jr., USC) comes off a runner-up performance at NCAA Indoors, while Tevin Hester (Jr., Clemson) was sixth. 

Add in 400m pros David Verberg and Tony McQuay, along with world top ten in 2014 Antoine Adams and veterans Churandy Martina and Rondel Sorrillo and the field is simply ridiculously deep. 

Women's 4x400m Relay: Yes, this isn't a pro race, but six of the top ten 4x400m relay squads from the NCAA Indoor Championships are here. USC, Clemson, Florida, Kentucky, Florida State and Miami - the six squads placed 3-4-5-7-9-10. That's depth and will make for one fast final.



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