Oddi's Odds

Each week, expect to see predictions and athlete highlights posted here from Vicky Oddi, current USATF Communications Coordinator, Temple University Master's Graduate, and former Coastal Carolina University pole vaulter.

During her four-year tenure with USATF, Oddi has gained unique track & field insight by traveling the globe with Team USA and covering USA Championships, IAAF World Championships, and Olympic Games. Be sure to catch her helpful tidbits and athlete picks in the NEW Pick-N-Win feature, Oddi's Odds.

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USA Indoor Track & Field Championships - Week #3

Heading into the last indoor meet of the Visa Championship Series, I have done ok with my picks so far. Just ok. Right now I’m tied for 81st place with 236 points. I lost ground in Boston when one of my new favorite athletes, Mark Hollis, failed to clear a height in the pole vault and thus earned me zero points for that event. You can see my scores HERE.

Now, it’s on to USA Indoor Championships with athletes vying for a spot on the national team and the right to represent our country at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar. Today I’ll start with the ladies. Men’s picks will be out Wednesday.

Women’s 60m

Lisa Barber has dominated the women’s 60m in the Visa Championship Series so far this season, winning both the Millrose Games and the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. But in Albuquerque, she’ll face Carmelita Jeter for the first time this season. The #1 world-ranked 100m woman for 2009, Jeter has the second-fastest time in the world so far this year over 60m. Oddi’s Odds pick: Carmelita Jeter

Women’s 400m

Two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist and three-time World Outdoor 200m champion Allyson Felix leads the field in the women’s 400m. Don’t let all those 200m accolades fool you, Felix ended 2009, not only ranked #1 in the world over 200m, but ranked #4 in the world over 400m. Natasha Hastings, who along with Felix, was part of the gold-medal winning 4x400m relay team at the 2007 World Championships and 2008 Olympic Games, has the fastest time by an American so far this year. And DeeDee Trotter is looking to continue her comeback from an injury plagued 2009. Oddi’s Odds pick: Allyson Felix

Women’s 800m

Anna (Willard) Pierce is entered in both the women’s 800m and 1500m. Should Pierce run the 800, the event is hers for the taking. Pierce’s break-through season in middle distance last year saw her end the season ranked #2 in the world over 800m and #6 in the world over 1,500m. Other contenders include 2007 USA Outdoor and NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion Alysia Johnson and 1,500m specialist Erin Donohue. Oddi’s Odds pick: Anna Pierce

Women’s 1,500m

Should Pierce decide to instead run the women’s 1,500m, it will be a battle between her and 2009 World Outdoor bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury, who is the current leader on the women’s side in the Visa Championship Series standings. Finishing 2009 as the third-best 1,500m woman in the world, Rowbury is definitely the one to watch in this race. Also watch out for two-time USA Indoor third-place finisher Sara Hall and 2009 NCAA Indoor champion Sara Bowman. Oddi’s Odds pick: Shannon Rowbury

Women’s 3,000m

Rowbury and Hall are also each entered in the 3,000m. The double is possible with the 3,000m final Saturday night and the 1,500m final Sunday night. Hall did the double last year and finished as the runner-up in the 3,000 and took third over 1,500m the following night. Oddi’s Odds pick: Shannon Rowbury for the double win

Women’s 60m hurdles

Lolo Jones has dominated the women’s 60m hurdles for the past three years. With three national indoor crowns and one World Indoor title, Jones has also claimed the past two Indoor Visa Championship Series trophies. But it won’t be a stroll in the park for Jones. Two-time USA Indoor champion Danielle Carruthers, 2008 Olympian Damu Cherry and two-time NCAA Indoor champion Tiffany Ofili will look to steal the win from her. Also watch for 2008 Olympic heptathlon silver medalist Hyleas Fountain to test out her legs in the hurdles. Oddi’s Odds pick: Lolo Jones

Women’s high jump

2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Chaunte Howard leads the field in the women’s high jump. High jumper turned heptathlete Sharon Day is focusing on the high jump this indoor season and hopes to take down Howard and win her first national title. Oddi’s Odds pick: Chaunte Howard

Women’s pole vault

It’s silver medal vs. silver medal as 2009 World Outdoor runner-up Chelsea Johnson takes on 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist Jenn (Stuczynski) Suhr. The indoor and outdoor American record-holder, Suhr’s indoor personal best is a whopping 4.83m/15-10. Johnson’s best indoor clearance came just last week in Flagstaff, Ariz., as she soared 4.62m/15-1.75. And then there’s Lacy Janson. Janson won in Arkansas two weeks ago with a lifetime best 4.66m/15-3.5. When Suhr is healthy, she is the best American woman ever to pick up a pole. But she pulled out of the 2009 Worlds with an Achilles injury and then pulled out of Millrose and Boston to make sure she was healthy for Nationals. Is she back? Oddi’s Odds pick: Jenn Suhr

Women’s long jump

Reigning World Outdoor champion Brittney Reese is the top entrant in the women’s long jump. But it’s Hyleas Fountain who has the farthest jump by an American this indoor season. Fountain won the event in 2008 and then finished as the runner-up to Reese last year. 2008 Olympic Games finalist Funmi Jimoh and 2009 World team member Brianna Glenn will also be jumping at the chance to win. Oddi’s Odds pick: Brittney Reese

Women’s triple jump

2008 NCAA Outdoor and ’07 NCAA Indoor champion Erica McLain is the next big thing in American women’s triple jumping. But right now that spot belongs to Shakeema Welsch, the two-time USA Indoor and reigning USA Outdoor champion. Oddi’s Odds pick: Shakeema Welsch

Women’s shot put

Four-time USA Indoor champion Jillian Camarena enters the women’s shot put looking for her fifth national indoor title. If anyone can keep it from her, it will be 2008 Olympic Games finalist and two-time USA Outdoor champion Michelle Carter. Oddi’s Odds pick: Michelle Carter

Women’s weight throw

Now I’m not going to lie. I am probably a little biased when it comes to the women’s weight throw. Amber Campbell and I were teammates at Coastal Carolina for four years. But, for the past three years, she has been a force to be reckoned with indoors and will by vying for her fourth consecutive national crown. The Indoor champion from 2004-2006, Erin Gilreath will also be competing for her fourth U.S. Indoor title as well. Oddi’s Odds pick: Amber Campbell

2/24/2010 - Part II

Before I get into my men’s picks for the USA Indoor Championships this weekend I have an update and an addition to the women’s picks.
 
Women’s pole vault
 
In the women’s pole vault, Jenn Suhr has unfortunately scratched from the competition. New Oddi’s Odds pick: Chelsea Johnson
 
Women's 3,000m RW
 
Four-time USA Outdoor champion and 2004 Olympian Teresa Vaill is entered in the women's 3,000m RW where she will face six-time USA Indoor champion Joanne Dow. Vaill has four USA Indoor titles of her own, but the race belongs to Dow at the shorter distance. Oddi’s Odds pick: Joanne Dow
 
Men’s 60m
 
So far this indoor Visa Championship Series season it has been the Ivory Williams show in the men’s 60m. 2009 USA Outdoor 100m champion Mike Rodgers hopes to change the channel this week and claim his second indoor national title. 2008 Olympic 100m and 200m bronze medalist Walter Dix is back, trying to reclaim his status as one of America’s premiere sprinters after an injury-plagued 2009. Oddi’s Odds pick: Mike Rodgers. This is the third time in a row I’ve picked Rodgers…third time’s the charm, right?
 
Men’s 400m
 
Two-time World 400mH champion Kerron Clement and 2005 World Champion Bershawn Jackson are switching it up to run the flat men’s 400m at the USA Indoor Championships. But Clement is no stranger to the flat 400; he holds the world indoor record. 2009 Pan Am Junior silver medalist Tavaris Tate has the fastest qualifying time of the entrants. FYI – Tate is only a freshman at Mississippi State University. Oddi’s Odds pick: Kerron Clement
 
Men’s 800m
 
The men’s 800m is a mix of veterans, rookies, and everything in between. Khadevis Robinson already has four U.S. Indoor titles and will be chasing a fifth. 2008 Olympic Trials champion Nick Symmonds has spent the past six weeks in Albuquerque preparing for this meet and wants to pick up his second Indoor crown. 2008 NCAA champion Jacob Hernandez and 2009 NCAA champion and 2008 Olympian Andrew Wheating are also entered. Oddi’s Odds pick: Nick Symmonds
 
Men’s 1,500m
 
Four-time NCAA champion (twice indoors, twice outdoors) and 2008 Olympian Leo Manzano leads the field in the men’s 1,500m. His main challengers will be 2009 USA Indoor 3,000m champion David Torrence, 2008 Olympic Trials fourth-place finisher Will Leer and 2008 USA Indoor runner-up Russell Brown. Galen Rupp is also entered but we’ll talk more about him in the 3,000m. Oddi’s Odds pick: Leo Manzano
 
Men’s 3,000m
 
Bernard Lagat has nine Olympic Games and World Championship medals. His first medal, a bronze at the 2000 Olympic Games, came when Galen Rupp was just 14 years old. But Rupp will try to take down Lagat this weekend in the men’s 3,000m. Lagat has been on fire so far this year. Winning a record eighth Wannamaker mile at the Millrose Games and then setting the American record over 5,000m at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Rupp ran in Boston when Lagat broke his (Rupp’s) American record and placed fourth in that race, while posting a time well below his old AR. Is this the changing of the guard, can young beat old? Not if Bernard Lagat has anything to say about it. Oddi’s Odds pick: Bernard Lagat
 
Men’s 60m hurdles
 
A two-time World Indoor 60m hurdle champion and four-time U.S. Indoor champion, Terrence Trammell also has five silver medals (3 World Outdoor and 2 Olympic Games) and two Indoor Visa Championship trophies. The current world leader, Trammell is trying to make his fourth World Indoor team. 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist and USA Indoor champion David Oliver is looking to rebound from an injury-filled 2009 season and win his second indoor national title. Oddi’s Odds pick: Terrence Trammell.
 
Men’s 5,000m RW
 
Is there really any question as to who will win the men’s 5,000m RW? Tim Seaman is chasing his 43rd career national race walk title. Oddi’s Odds pick: Tim Seaman
 
Men’s high jump
 
2008 World Indoor bronze medalist and 2008 and 2009 USA Indoor champion Andra Manson is hoping for the three-peat in the men’s high jump. Manson will face stiff competition from fellow 2008 Olympian Jesse Williams, who was ranked #4 in the world last year to Manson’s ninth. Also keep an eye on 2008 Olympian and NCAA Indoor champion Dusty Jonas. Oddi’s Odds pick: Andra Manson
 
Men’s pole vault
 
Two Olympic gold medalists will compete in the men’s pole vault. 2004 champion Tim Mack and 2000 champion Nick Hysong. Each has one US Indoor title to his name. Mack’s came in 2002 and Hysong won his way back in 1995…when I was a freshman in high school. Other entrants include 2008 Olympic Games fourth-place finisher Derek Miles, 2009 USA Indoor champion Jeremy Scott and 2010 Millrose Games champion Mark Hollis. Oddi’s Odds pick: Derek Miles
 
Men’s long jump
 
Current world leader Brian Johnson is the favorite to win the men’s long jump. If he is successful, it would be his third career indoor crown. Johnson will be challenged by defending USA Indoor champion Randall Flimmons. Others to watch include the world's two finest decathletes, Bryan Clay and Trey Hardee. Oddi’s Odds pick: Brian Johnson
 
Men’s triple jump
 
Reigning USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Brandon Roulhac is hoping to keep his streak alive and win another national title in the men’s triple jump. Trying to knock him off the podium will be two-time Olympian Walter Davis, a four-time World medalist – ’05 outdoor and ’06 indoor gold, ’03 indoor silver and ’07 outdoor bronze. Two-time Olympian Kenta Bell will also be in the mix. Oddi’s Odds pick: Brandon Roulhac
 
Men’s shot put
 
Reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Christian Cantwell, the current leader on the men’s side in the race for the Visa Championship, wants to add a fourth national indoor title to his growing collection of accolades. Cantwell has said his main goal this indoor season is to win a third world indoor title, something no man has ever done before. 2007 World Outdoor and 2006 World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa might have something to say about that. And don’t forget 2009 USA Indoor champion Dan Taylor. Noticeably absent is five-time silver medalist (2 Olympic, 3 World Outdoor) and 2005 World Outdoor champion Adam Nelson. Oddi’s Odds pick: Christian Cantwell
 
Men’s weight throw
 
Strong-man A.G. Kruger is hunting his fifth indoor national title this weekend but will face heavy opposition from 2008 USA Indoor champion Jake Freeman. 2009 World Outdoor Championships team member Michael Mai is also entered. Oddi’s Odds pick: A.G. Kruger