NCAA Indoor Championships, Texas, 11-12 March

There is plenty of British interest on the boards of the Gilliam Indoor arena in Texas where the NCAA Indoor Championships begin later today, stretching over two days, featuring sharply-rising prospects Tom Farrell and Chris O'Hare among others.

Farrell goes into the men's 3000m along with a resurgent Ross Millington, both having run PBs in the 7:54s this season, while the Scot is tackling his favourite mile where he has blazed his trail to a previously uncharted territory of 3:56.48 earlier in the season. Rich Peters is another young Brit to watch out for there.

Former European U20 silver medallist Amy Harris will be hoping to build on her recent UK-leading 6.43m in the long jump and advance her position in the British ranks ahead of the summer season, making a solid effort to rekindle her career.

Former World U20 'chase finalist Ruth Senior and season revelation Natalie Gray go down in the women's 5000m.

The eagerly anticipated men's 400m showdown between new world U20 record holder Kirani James (GRA) and runner-up in the global rankings Tony McQuay (USA) is building up as the highlight of the championships.

Starting-lists
Men
http://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/files/2011d1trackmen_start.pdf

Women
http://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/files/2011d1trackwomen_start.pdf

Full timetable and results:
http://www.flashresults.com/2011_Meets/indoor/03-11-NCAADiv1/

Chris O'Hare, season's middle distance find from Scotland, has qualified equal fastest out of the mile heats in 4:00.87, the same as Miles Batty in the following run, so he'll be fancying his chances of claiming his first NCAA gold in the final deeper into the champs.

However, talended Rich Peters had to endure disappointment as missed out by an agonizing 0.03 secs in 4:01.42 for fifth in that latter heat, both fastest losers coming from O'Hare's opening section.

The eagerly anticipated men's 400m, taking in a potential attempt on a new world indoor U20 record by Grenada's Kirani James, saw Tony McQuay earning the early impressions in a swift 45.82 secs followed by Bahamas' Dimitrius Pinter in 45.97 (SB) and James himself third fastest in 46.25 secs.

Jessica Beard was easily the fastest qualifier from the women's qualifying round over the distance to set a SB of 51.64 secs, fifth fastest in the world this winter, and promises fireworks in the final, as does Rakieem Salaam who blasted to the top of the world rankings with 20.39 secs (total PB) in the men's 200m heats.

Maurice Mitchell clocked an indoor PB of 20.47 secs to set up a mouth-watering final to take place shortly.

As a matter of fact, Salaam didn't confine himself in the 200m alone but also led qualifiers through the 60m tied with Mitchell, again, in 6.55 secs and Jeff Demps not far off in 6.59 secs.

The men's 200m final has turned equal to the promise left after the qualifying round as Rakieem Salaam and Maurice Mitchell crossed the line tied in 20.41 secs, a PB and second fastest in the world for the latter!

A report on Chris O'Hare's convincing qualifying win and progress to the final in the mile at the NCAA Champs, in full swing in Texas:

http://www.tulsahurricane.com/sports/c-track/recaps/031111aab.html

By the way, Amy Harris suffered a low flight in the long jump where she stayed well below her recent marks to come outside the top eight with only 5.99m. Her series (5.99, x, 5.60), though, suggest that she was probably lacking fitness so don't know whether some injury cropped up since posting a UK-leading 6.43m last month.

Quite unnoticed, but a real turn-up for the book was David Bishop's 3:54.3 over the anchor 1600m leg in the medley at the end of the first day, equating to something around a high 3:55-low 3:56 mile!

A report on the first day of action as seen on IAAF:

http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=59498.html

Chris O'Hare has won silver in the men's mile in 3:59.62 after a close tussle all along with main rival Miles Batty, the winner setting 3:59.49. That helps enhance a solid tradition of British milers at the champs following on Lee Emanuel's success in recent years.

http://www.flashresults.com/2011_Meets/indoor/03-11-NCAADiv1/Results5-2.htm

Meanwhile, Jessica Beard seared, as anticipated above, to the fastest time in the world of 50.79 secs over 400m to supplant fellow countrymate Natasha Hastings (50.83) at the top. That time also doubles as third-fastest ever by an American girl indoors!

Nevertheless, the highly anticipated men's 400m clash between Grenada's sensation Kirani James and American world runner-up Tony McQuay, who was fastest out of the qualifiers yesterday, never came to shape to massive disappointment around.

James failed to finish the race while McQuay trailed a disappointing last in 48.71 secs as the former seems to have dropped inside quite soon and was clipped from behind from the second heat's eventual winner Tabarie Henry (46.44), with Dimitrius Pinder (BAH) emerging to claim the spoils in a fast 45.33 secs from the opening final heat. That was the third fastest time in the world this winter.

Top marks keep flowing in from Texas as 21-year-old Canadian Derek Druin soared over a massive PB of 2.33m to clinch an overwhelming victory in the men's high jump, with pre-competition favourite Erik Kynard crashing out early with only 2.20m to his name. Both are lying equal fifth in the global lists now.

It hasn't been a very prolific weekend for the Brits at the NCAA Indoor champs, however, as Tom Farrell finished way down the field for a disappointing 16th in 8:14.16 over 3000m, where Ross Millington fared relatively better to place eighth in 8:08.40 - his second fastest ever.

This is the video of the main heat that, most unexpectedly, didn't produce the eventual winner due to that heavy stumble and fall of favourite Kirani James turning into the second lap:

http://speedendurance.com/2011/03/13/kirani-james-trips-and-falls-2011-ncaa-400m-indoor-champs-video/

The second day of action as seen through the 'eyes' of IAAF:

http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=59507.html

Enjoy plenty of imagery from the NCAA Indoor Champs courtesy of Track & Field:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30404885@N05/sets/72157626276872158/