There are seven returning women's outdoor track and field individual event champions in 2022 and the road to a repeat performance won't be without competition. Here are the biggest challengers to each reigning champion at the season's start.
Camryn Rogers | California | Hammer
Challengers
- Shey Taiwo | Ole Miss
- Jillian Shippee | UNC
- Tara Simpson-Sullivan | Rice
The biggest challenger to Camryn Rogers — a record-setter in the hammer — is Shey Taiwo from Ole Miss. Taiwo is coming off a record-setting indoor season in the weight throw. While the hammer is an outdoor-only event, Taiwo enters the outdoor season with great momentum. Taiwo also finished second in the hammer last spring.
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Lisa Gunnarsson | LSU | Pole vault
Challengers
- Rachel Baxter | Virginia Tech
- Tuesdi Tidwell | Baylor
- Sydney Horn | High Point
Lisa Gunnarsson leads a loaded pole vault field this spring. You have 2022 indoor champion Rachel Baxter and third-place 2021 outdoor finisher Tuesdi Tidwell. There's also the always competitive Sydney Horn, who often flies under the radar a High Point, but is sure to make her presence known come championships.
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Adelaide Aquilla | Ohio State | Shot put
Challengers
- Jorinde van Klinken | Arizona State
- Josie Schaefer | Wisconsin
- Akealy Moton | North Dakota State
Adelaide Aquilla was swept the 2021 shot put titles, but in the 2022 indoor season, Arizona State's Jorinde van Klinken ended her streak, taking home the title. Elsewhere, Wisconsin's Josie Schaefer and North Dakota State's Akealy Moton were the only athletes not named Aquilla to land a mark above 18 meters last spring.
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Ruth Usoro | Texas Tech | Triple Jump
Challengers
- Jasmine Moore | Florida
- Deborah Acquah | Texas A&M
- Ruta Lasmane | Texas Tech
The triple jump crown is up for grabs this spring. Texas Tech's Ruth Usoro is the reigning champion, but Florida's Jasmine Moore set collegiate records during the indoor season. Texas A&M's Deborah Acquah seems to always finish near the top in the event too. Usoro also faces a challenger in her title defense from her own team in Ruta Lasmane; Lasmane joins the Red Raiders after finishing fifth in the event at Florida State last spring.
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Tyra Gittens | Texas | Heptathlon
Challenger
- Anna Hall | Florida
- Kristine Blazevica | Texas
- Erin Marsh | Duke
After transferring from Texas A&M to Texas, Tyra Gittens remains a power in the Heptathlon. However, Florida's Anna Hall won the pentathlon during the indoor season and poses a legitimate threat after her own transfer from Georgia. Texas's Kristine Blazevica and Duke's Erin Mash finished third and fourth last year in the heptathlon, respectively.
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Jorinde van Klinken | Arizona State | Discus
Challengers
- Seasons Usual | Texas Tech
- Gabby Bailey | Kent State
- Essence Henderson | Virginia Tech
Jorinde van Klinken won the discus by almost two meters with a mark of 65.01 meters last spring, but there are challenges in 2022. Texas Tech's Seasons Usual, Kent State's Gabby Bailey and Virginia Tech's Essence Henderson are the top three finishers returning this spring.
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Rachel Glenn | South Carolina | High Jump
Challengers
- Lamara Distin | Texas A&M
- Tyra Gittens | Texas
- Morgan Smalls | Southern California
Predicting who will win the 2022 women's high jump crown is a toss-up. South Carolina's Rachel Glenn will be defending her title from Texas A&M's Lamara Distin — the 2022 indoor champion — and Tyra Gittens, a 2022 olympian. Morgan Smalls from defending champion Southern California is a sleeper in the event too.
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