![\"Spearmon\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/trackchill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Spearmon.jpg\" "\\"Spearmon\\"")
<\/a>Scanning the results earlier looking for elite marks, my eyes had to do a double take because Spearmon who ran a windy 10.05 last weekend doubled the distance at the Bobby Lane<\/a> Invitational and came away with a 19.95 (+1.8) victory! That\u2019s sub-20 and we aren\u2019t even talking about Easter Break just yet! There\u2019s no doubt now whether or not Spearmon is healthy \u2013 he\u2019s healthy, fit, and must be considered a threat to PR this year (current PR 19.65). The conversation over 200 just added another contender to the grouping of Bolt, Gay, Blake and Dix \u2013 and the deuce just became the most interesting of the all the sprints in my humble opinion \u2013 as this is easily the earliest we\u2019ve seen Spearmon in this kind of form and his history is that he knows how to peak at the right time. So while it\u2019s quite early, I have to believe he will be peaking, or near peaking at Trials and Games time. Now I\u2019m dying to see the debuts of the other contenders!!<\/p>\nAnother who\u2019s history says we should be expecting even better things is 200 runnerup Jeremy Wariner who finished in 20.53 \u2013 easily his fastest in March and confirmation that he too is both fit and fast. I would have to think that by the summer \u2013 Trials\/Games \u2013 his speed should be somewhere near his 20.19 PR which would bode well for him running sub-44 this year. That takes the 400 conversation to the Merritt, James, Wariner stage and means the rest of the world has a lot of work to do if they want to have a shot at the podium in London! The 200 wasn\u2019t the only event at a hyper level in Texas however, as Darvis (Doc) Patton eyed \u201csub\u201d in the 100 clocking a WL legal mark of 10.04 (+1.1). It\u2019s not quite the realm that we see Bolt and Gay opening at \u2013 9.8\/9.7 in a good year \u2013 but for Patton to be near sub-10 so early bodes well for the veteran. Patton was a finalist in Beijing and if he\u2019s near his PR (9.89) in Eugene will have a say about who makes the team for London. <\/p>\n
Before I leaving Arlington, Charles Silmon (TCU) cranked out another top level 100 with his 10.21 (+1.5), and Kenyan Kennedy Kithuka (Wayland Baptist) had a very nice 13:37.95 5000 meters. Silmon is beginning to look like one of the top collegiate sprinters so far this season, and if he continues to improve could make some noise at the Trials in June. I will be mentioning several other collegiate athletes\/marks as I go on, but suffice it to say that it\u2019s looking like the outdoor collegiate season is going to be a bit hotter than the indoor season.<\/p>\n
Staying in the state of Texas for a minute there were some interesting results at the UTEP Invitational. Often marks at UTEP are somewhat poo pooed because of the altitude (1140m above sea level), but this weekends marks were hindered by headwinds. So when a known quantity like Texas Tech\u2019s Gil Roberts runs 10.37 (-1.2) and 20.54 (-0.6) in March I have to take notice. Same for Omo Osaghe and his 13.65 (-1.2). At the very least they have to be considered as approaching form very early. It also bodes well for quarter miler Vernon Norwood (South Plains) as 45.72 is a very good time this time of year. <\/p>\n
The best 400 action of the weekend however, took place in California at the Trojan Invitational<\/a> at USC where USC\u2019s Josh Mance covered the oval in 45.65 before combining with his teammates for a 3:02.24 4×4 to defeat defending NCAA champion Texas A&M\u2019s 3:03.16! Only 20 squads ran faster than USC\u2019s mark all of last year, 15 of them national teams! Texas A&M returned the favor in the 4×1 with a 39.48 as things were hot all afternoon in Southern California. Trojan Aaron Brown won the 100 in 10.25 (+1,0) inserting himself into the collegiate 100 conversation. Then indoor 200 champion Ameer Webb (TxAM) continued to run well in the deuce,, this time with a 20.46 win. A hot 800 saw Mike Preble (TxAM) win in 1:46.43 over Elijah Greer (OR) 1:46.84 with both programs showing overall team depth as they will play prominent roles later at the NCAA Championships. On that note, hurdlers Reggie Wyatt (USC) 49.95 and Jonathan Cabral (OR) 13.74 (+1.4) gave indication that they will also be individual factors this year. Cabral\u2019s mark is quite impressive as he is a freshman (last year\u2019s CA HS champion) and is adjusting quite well to the higher international barriers. <\/p>\n Speaking of hurdlers, I see that Johnny Dutch (USA) is continuing to double and work on his hurdling early. This time running a 110h\/400H double at the Weems Baskin Invitational<\/a> in South Carolina. At 13.67 (+1.1) in the short race and 50.66 around the oval, Dutch\u2019s season appears to be on track. Also in SC was hammer thrower A.J. Kruger (USA) with a nice early toss of 75.46m\/247\u2019 7\u201d. <\/p>\n I spotted results from a couple other veterans at the UCF Invitational<\/a> in Florida where Travis Padgett (USA) and Simone Facey (JAM) look to be preparing for the season\u2019s ensuing sprint wars. Padgett at 10.21 (+2.3) and Facey (+2.0) riding barely illegal and legal winds to their times. There was also some nice collegiate 4×1 running with Clemson (43.50), UCF (43.58), and Ohio St (43.88) turning in nice times \u2013 and an unattached squad clocking 3:28.39 in the 4×4. <\/p>\n