We continue our preview with the distance events. The indoor season is certainly seems more distance friendly and this season may shape up that way. We lost quite a few champions to the professional ranks and graduation. There is still some talented defenders along with a strong crop of returnees. Let us discuss.
DISTANCE
Women
Starting with the shortest distance event on the track, the
800 meters, we were treated to a special 2021 season. Courtesy of Olympic Gold
Medalist and freshman Athing Mu of Texas A&M both indoor and outdoor NCAA
records have been reset. A new champion will be crowned, and the top returnee
is Laurie Barton of Clemson. Barton did her major running last outdoor season
finishing second at the NCAA Championship running a time of 2:00.65. Clemson
has had solid 800-meter runners over the year including a NCAA Champion in Natoya
Goule. Look for her continue that strong tradition. Gabrielle Wilkinson of
Florida is another big name to watch. The young junior has developed well under
Chris Solinksy.
The mile has proven to be unpredictable almost every indoor
season. This season that trend will likely continue. The top returnee from last
indoor season is Krissy Gear. Gear finished second at the NCAA Championship and
is the top miler for Arkansas. The Razorbacks have been so dominant over the
past few years thanks to their well-rounded program. The distance core is the
strength of their team and should be again this season. Challenge should come
from Ella Donaghu of Stanford.
In the 3,000 Joyce Kimeli of Auburn played an excellent game
of cat and mouse at both the SEC Indoor and NCAA Indoor championships last
season with Kate Izzo of Arkansas. It worked well at the SEC Indoor but at the
NCAA Indoor meet she found herself finishing in the third. She has the top
returning time in the country with 8:56.02 and will be a heavy favorite for the
crown. Lauren Gregory of Arkansas will serve as challenger.
Kimeli is also the favorite to defend her 5,000 NCAA crown.
It is currently her only national title. She will see strong challenges from
Mercy Chelangat of Alabama and potentially the recently crowned Cross Country NCAA
Champion Whittni Orton of BYU.
Men
In the men’s 800 a new champion will be crowned. Finley
McLear of Miami (OH) nearly claimed the NCAA title for himself with a time of
1:45.91. He lost to Charlie Hunter of Oregon who ran 1:45.90. McLear is the
clear top returnee and should have an impressive indoor season. You however
cannot forget the incredible season that Brandon Miller of Texas A&M had as
a freshman last outdoor season. He defeated Hunter in that race by still
finished second to Olympian Isaiah Jewett of USC. Miller’s time of 1:44.97 is
the top returning time either indoors or out from last season. This should be a
great race.
In the mile the top returnee is Eliud Kipsang of Alabama. He
has had quite the impressive start to his career. As a freshman he finished
second at the NCAA indoor meet last season. He has already claimed the Cross-Country
SEC title and for a miler with that level of endurance bodes well for what
should be a championship season for him. Adam Fogg of Drake is a potential
challenger.
The 3,000 or 3k will also be crowning a new champion. It may
come from the defending 5k champion in Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State. Kipsang is
a well-versed long-distance athlete capable of running every long-distance
event. He is one of the top returnees in the 3k and as the defending champion
in the 5k do not be surprised if he tries to double. Challenging him is that
man that beat him at the Cross-Country championship in November, Conner Mantz
of BYU. Mantz was atop the list a lot of last indoor season but instead ran at
the Covid delayed NCAA Cross Country championship instead of the NCAA Indoor
Championship. With the delay no longer in the way he very well could challenge
Kiptoo in both events.
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