We’re getting ready to wind this indoor season down. Several countries will now put together their teams for the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, which will be the culmination of the season. Here in the U.S. that process will be a Trials meet this coming weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This won’t be the “knock down drag out fight” of a meet that we will see come June when the Olympic Trials take place in Eugene – as many athletes forego the indoor season and focus their preparation on outdoors. It will be an outstanding competition, however, as several individuals have performed well enough to lead the world in their events entering Albuquerque:
American World Indoor Leaders
| 1000 Meters | Tevan Everett | 2:19.68 |
| Long Jump | Will Claye | 8.24m / 27’ 0.25” |
| Triple Jump | Will Claye | 17.39m / 57’ 0.75” |
| Shot Put | Reese Hoffa | 21.87m / 71’ 9” |
| Weight Throw | A.J. Kruger | 25.18m / 82’ 7” |
| 60 Meters | Tianna Madison | 7.02 |
| 400 Meters | Sanya Richards | 50.89 |
| Pole Vault | Jenn Suhr | 4.88m / 16’ 0” |
| Weight Throw | Brittany Riley | 25.12m / 82’ 5” |
In addition to these “world leaders”, several of last year’s medalists from the outdoor World Championships have had solid indoor seasons and will be competing in Albuquerque, including: LaShawn Merritt, Matthew Centrowitz, Christian Taylor, Jenny Simpson, Brittney Reese and Jill Camarena Williams.
When the dust settles I expect that we will send a solid team to Istanbul. It won’t have the depth of our outdoor teams – far too many of our best missing indoors. As a matter of fact, there will be some areas where we will be uncharacteristically thin, such as the sprints. But I expect that we will send a team of individuals capable of competing for the podium. So here is my list of Projected U.S. Champions that I think will lead the charge in Turkey.
Projected Men’s Champions
| 60 Meters | Trell Kimmons |
| 400 Meters | LaShawn Merritt |
| 800 Meters | Tevan Everett |
| 1500 Meters | Matthew Centrowitz |
| 3000 Meters | Galen Rupp |
| 60 Meter Hurdles | Terrence Trammell |
| 3000 Meter Walk | Trevor Barron |
| High Jump | Jesse Williams |
| Pole Vault | Brad Walker |
| Long Jump | Will Claye |
| Triple Jump | Christian Taylor |
| Shot Put | Reese Hoffa |
| Weight Throw | A. J. Kruger |
Projected Women’s Champions
| 60 Meters | Tianna Madison |
| 400 Meters | Sanya Richards |
| 800 Meters | Phoebe Wright |
| 1500 Meters | Jenny Simpson |
| 3000 Meters | Sara Hall |
| 60 Meter Hurdles | Lolo Jones |
| 3000 Meter Walk | Joanne Dow |
| High Jump | Chaunte Howard |
| Pole Vault | Jenn Suhr |
| Long Jump | Brittney Reese |
| Triple Jump | Chrystal Manning |
| Shot Put | Jill Camarena Williams |
| Weight Throw | Brittany Riley |
Tags: Prediction