2023 D1 Outdoor Track End of Season Awards

Written by Maura Beattie, Gavin Struve, Scotty Loughlin & Finn Birnie, votes via TSR D1 staff

Additional edits and commentary by Garrett Zatlin

Welcome back to a trimestrial classic, our End of Season Awards!

Below, we listed our five seasonal awards for the men and five seasonal awards for the women, all for the Division One level. These awards are a way to highlight the accomplishments of certain individuals from the entirety of this outdoor track season. You'll also find our criteria for each of these awards as we list our nominees.

In the second-half of this article, you'll find the votes from our TSR contributors (click that link if you want to skip all of the summary parts). Click here if you want to read our D2 End of Season Awards. Click here if you want to read our D3 End of Season Awards.

Let's begin...

*Athletes who hold freshman status stemming from any type of eligibility extension (not including missions) are not considered for this award. International freshmen are included amongst these nominees unless we have reason to believe that they do not meet our criteria. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Will Sumner (Georgia), Handal Roban (Penn State), Nick Plant (Virginia Tech), Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona), Gary Martin (Virginia), Paul Specht (Wake Forest), Brian Masai (Akron), James Corrigan (BYU), Vivien Henz (Harvard)

Will Sumner (Georgia)

Will Sumner entered the outdoor track season with an indoor SEC title over 800 meters and a 7th place All-American honor from the indoor oval. It was a great resume, but not Earth-shattering given the elite potential that he had shown at the prep level. However, a whole new Sumner was on display this spring as the Bulldog superstar earned another SEC title and an NCAA gold medal over 800 meters with a mind-blowing 1:44 PR which was done via a negative split. This Georgia rookie is nothing short of a generational talent.

Handal Roban (Penn State)

Pkacing 3rd at the indoor national meet? Check. Placing 3rd at the outdoor national meet? Check again. Handal Roban has quickly established himself as one of the most reliable NCAA performers on the national stage despite specializing in one of the more chaotic distances, the 800 meters. As daunting as it may sound, this Nittany Lion star legitimately possesses the potential to meet or exceed the level of success that Isaiah Harris experienced during his time in State College.

Nick Plant (Virginia Tech)

This Hokie star emerged as one of the most tactically-sound middle distance runners in the ACC as Nick Plant stunned his competition with a conference title victory over 800 meters after setting a PR in the preliminary rounds. After validating his ACC performance with a national meet berth, it’s safe to say that Virginia Tech’s freshman ace has arrived ahead of schedule and will be a factor for years to come.

Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)

When you factor in his high school pedigree, it’s no surprise to see Colin Sahlman being nominated for this award -- but he truly earned this nomination in a blue collar way. Although he may not have made the same headlines that he did at Newbury Park, the Lumberjack newcomer quietly hit marks of 13:42 (5k), 3:38 (1500) and 1:46.99 (800) this spring. He also picked up BIG Sky titles in the latter two events and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships over 1500 meters.

Gary Martin (Virginia)

Similar to Sahlman, it is somewhat expected for Gary Martin to be featured here, but you still have to admire his ability to rise to the occasion given the pressure on him to perform as a true freshman. Running PRs of 1:47 (800) and 3:39 (1500) validate the Virginia star’s resume as a nationally competitive middle distance runner. It feels like the best is still yet to come.

Paul Specht (Wake Forest)

After running a 4:00 (mile) during indoor track season, fate landed Paul Specht on the right end of the 3:40 barrier as he clocked a time of 3:39.89 (1500) on his home track at the Wake Forest Invitational. Better placements at national caliber meets will come with experience for Specht, but the Demon Deacon rookie has already flexed a brilliant level of talent during his initial campaign on the ovals.

Brian Masai (Akron)

The brightest star for the Akron Zips this season has been Brian Masai. The long distance specialist recorded formidable marks of 13:39 (5k) and 28:45 (10k) on the outdoor oval while also showing composure beyond his years at the NCAA East Regional Championships. The MAC rookie navigated a strong field and punched his ticket to the national meet over 5000 meters.

James Corrigan (BYU)

With an eyebrow-raising 8:52 (steeple) result at the Bryan Clay Invite, James Corrigan slowly rose onto the competitive scene and made a case for being an eventually sidekick to national champion, Kenneth Rooks, in his premiere event. With two 5k races under 13:50 (en route to a 13:40 PR) as well as an altitude converted mile which produced a 3:38 (1500) mark, it feels like this mission returnee could be another gem in Coach Ed Eyestone’s cross country lineup in the not-so-distant future.

Vivien Henz (Harvard)

Luxembourg native Vivien Henz rode the momentum that he established during the indoor track season to a huge performance of 3:39 (1500) at the Wake Forest Invitational. While he lacked the same level of consistency that he put on display during the winter months, Henz showed once again that he is a unique talent with sky-high potential.

*Athletes who hold freshman status stemming from any type of eligibility extension (not including missions) are not considered for this award. International freshmen are included amongst these nominees unless we have reason to believe that they do not meet our criteria. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Roisin Willis (Stanford), Juliette Whittaker (Stanford), Sylvia Chelangat (South Carolina), Hayley Kitching (Penn State), Riley Chamberlain (BYU), Billah Jepkirui (Oklahoma State), Klaudia Kazimierska (Oregon), Grace Hartman (NC State), Jenna Hutchins (BYU), Jane Buckley (Providence)

Roisin Willis (Stanford)

Although a 4th place finish in the 800 meter finals at the NCAA Outdoor Championships was not quite on par with the electric title performance that Roisin Willis displayed at the indoor national meet, it was still a testament to how high this Cardinal ace’s floor is. She is reliable on the national stage and genuinely has the talent to add more national titles to her trophy case if she sticks around in Palo Alto.

Juliette Whittaker (Stanford)

Despite failing to advance to the national meet in an individual event, this season wasn’t without any accolades for Juliette Whittaker as she was crowned PAC-12 champion over 800 meters with a seasonal best of 2:01. That, along with a 4:12 (1500) mark at the Mt. SAC Relays, was also very encouraging for the freshman superstar as she seeks to emerge as a true dual threat in both middle distance disciplines over her career.

Sylvia Chelangat (South Carolina)

She may be overshadowed in a freshman class with Roisin Willis and Juliette Whittaker, but South Carolina’s Sylvia Chelangat has legitimate potential to be an All-American over 800 meters at some point in her career. The Gamecock star found a groove this season, setting a new half-mile PR of 2:02 and later finishing runner-up in the SEC Outdoor Championships in a race that was essentially a battle for silver behind Michaela Rose.

Hayley Kitching (Penn State)

An exciting development on the east coast has been the emergence of Hayley Kitching as one of the more consistent 800 meter runners in the BIG 10. With four performances at 2:05 or better, a bronze medal at the BIG 10 Outdoor Championships and a national meet berth, the future is bright for this Nittany Lion newcomer.

Riley Chamberlain (BYU)

Showing range as a true dual threat in the middle distance world, Riley Chamberlain recorded commendable personal bests of 4:13 (1500) and 2:05 (800) this season. She’s made noise early and has shown the potential to follow Anna Camp-Bennett's trajectory of a Diljeet Taylor-coached Cougar.

Billah Jepkirui (Oklahoma State)

Billah Jepkirui simply reached a new tier of success this spring. Her potential had been evident since she ventured to Oklahoma State, but now she has fine-tuned her level of talent and has undergone a massively impressive learning curve of racing tactics. This, in turn, led to a BIG 12 title and a 5th place All-American finish in which she set a PR of 4:10 (1500).

Klaudia Kazimierska (Oregon)

The west coast was loaded with elite 1500 meter runners this season, but arguably the biggest addition to that crop of superior metric mile talents was most certainly Klaudia Kazimierska. In a deeper field 1500 meter than the indoor national meet had in the mile, Kazimierska improved to 4th place at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, showing once again that she has the uncanny ability to peak in the collegiate postseason despite her relative inexperience.

Grace Hartman (NC State)

Grace Hartman made noise in multiple disciplines this season, first flexing strength at the Raleigh Relays with a 15:49 (5k) ark before setting a PR of 4:15 (1500) at the ACC Outdoor Championships (and later scoring a point with an 8th place finish in the finals). Given Coach Laurie Henes’ track record of development, this season was an encouraging preview of the value that Hartman could bring to the Wolfpack as her career progresses.

Jenna Hutchins (BYU)

In the early portion of this season, we saw the version of Jenna Hutchins that we’ve been waiting for. After her historic high school campaign, it was only a matter of time before Hutchins began performing at a high level with this elite BYU program. Sure enough, she did just that at the Stanford Invitational where she set a personal best of 15:35 (5k) while defeating Cailie Logue, Greta Karinauskaite, Lexy Halladay-Lowry and other established veterans in the process. The rest of her season was relatively quiet, but that 5k effort was too hard to ignore.

Jane Buckley (Providence)

Performing at a similarly high level that we saw from her during the 2022 cross country season, Friar freshman Jane Buckley checked many boxes this season, including a 15:41 (5k) PR and a qualification to the NCAA Outdoor Championships where she finished a respectable 13th place overall. Now having national meet experience on both the grass and the oval, it will be exciting to see just how high this Providence rookie can fly in the future.

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this spring. Prior seasons are used as a comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Nominees for this award do not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of outdoor track) of NCAA competition. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Mehdi Yanouri (Oklahoma State), Aidan McCarthy (Cal Poly), Kash Powell (Long Beach State), Ezekiel Rop (Iowa State), Chandler Gibbens (Kansas), Toby Gillen (Saint Louis), Perry Mackinnon (Cornell), Victor Kibiego (UTEP), Zach Jaeger (Georgia Tech)

Mehdi Yanouri (Oklahoma State)

Two seconds is a lot of time over 800 meters and Oklahoma State’s Mehdi Yanouri dropped those two seconds easily when he ran 1:46 three times this spring. The junior Cowboy runner, who had transferred from NJCAA program South Plains CC earlier this year, consistently performed well at the half-mile distance during the regular season, but really took off in the postseason. Thanks to a runner-up finish in his marquee event at the BIG 12 Outdoor Championships, Yanouri rode that momentum into the regional and outdoor national meets. The Oklahoma State middle distance ace held his own in a quick 800 meter national meet final and earned his first All-American honor by finishing 6th place overall.

Aidan McCarthy (Cal Poly)

Under the guidance of Coach Ryan VanHoy, Cal Poly’s Aidan McCarthy picked up excellent PRs in both the 800 meters and the 1500 meters this spring. McCarthy dropped an outstanding PR of 1:46 in the postseason, a two-second improvement from his previous overall best. He also posted an excellent 3:39 (1500) PR earlier this spring, showcasing promising levels of strength. McCarthy would later earn his first All-American honor over 800 meters with a 7th place showing on the national stage.

Kash Powell (Long Beach State)

Long Beach State’s Kash Powell hadn’t broken the 1:50 barrier over 800 meters until this spring. But when he did, he made a heckuva statement. The junior middle distance runner ran 1:49 at Cal State Fullerton in mid-March, but then two weeks later, Powell again improved upon that mark when he ran 1:47. For those keeping track, the half-mile standout began the season with a personal best of 1:51 and ended up running four seconds faster. Powell squeaked into the NCAA Outdoor Championships and although he failed to qualify for the finals, he has proven to be a nationally competitive name.

Ezekiel Rop (Iowa State)

It took time for Ezekiel Rop to reap the full benefits of training under the Iowa State coaching staff, but the junior found his groove this year over 1500 meters after focusing on the 5k early in his career. The Cyclone talent opened his 2023 outdoor track season with a respectable 3:40 (1500) mark at Stanford, but then he made a massive jump at the Bryan Clay Invite when he crossed the line in a jaw-dropping time of 3:36. From there, Rop earned runner-up honors in the metric mile at the BIG 12 Championships and secured a bid to the outdoor national meet by winning an extremely tactical West Regional Championship heat. In yet another tactical race at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Rop held on for 7th place All-American honors and will return in 2024 with the idea of placing much, much higher.

Chandler Gibbens (Kansas)

Heads were turning when Chandler Gibbens finished runner-up over 5000 meters at the Stanford Invite in a fantastic time of 13:28, an improvement of 31 seconds on his previous PR. The rising Kansas star remained fairly quiet after that performance, running two 1500 meter races and easily winning a 5k race at a home meet. Gibbens would then secure a pair of 5k/10k victories at the BIG 12 Championships where he beat top talents from Oklahoma State and Iowa State, validating his breakout result. The Jayhawk runner later snuck into the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and even though he didn’t have his greatest day, finishing 17th place overall, Gibbens is someone who we have to keep an eye on, especially if he translates his track success to the grass.

Toby Gillen (Saint Louis)

If you look past the indoor track season, Saint Louis’s Toby Gillen had a modest 14:07 (5k) personal best. But from December to May, the sophomore Billiken took 37 seconds off of that mark en route to running 13:30 (5k) at the West Regional Championships. Earlier in the spring, Gillen broke onto the scene when he won the 5k at the Raleigh Relays over an experienced field. Things didn’t slow down there as he went on to run a 3:42 (1500) PR, an improvement of 10 seconds from 2022. He also completed his season by qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. As we await to see how Gillen does next season after committing to Ole Miss as a transfer, we will applaud the Billiken ace for his 13th place finish at the outdoor national meet.

Perry Mackinnon (Cornell)

Perry Mackinnon caught our attention after he won his 10k heat at the Stanford Invitational in a surprisingly great time of 28:33, a 38-second improvement from his 2022 PR. The Cornell senior didn’t stop surprising us as he went and knocked 23 seconds off of his 5k PR by running 13:33 at the Payton Jordan Invite three weeks later. Mackinnon would carry that momentum all the way to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. And although he struggled a bit in Austin, Texas, that performance doesn’t take away from the growth that Mackinnon showed us in a singular season.

Victor Kibiego (UTEP)

Redshirt freshman Victor Kibiego of UTEP shocked the NCAA in the steeplechase this season as he went from a season opening time of 9:15 and finished with a remarkable 8:26 PR. Kibiego’s showing at the West Regional Championships was just a precursor to what we would see at the outdoor national meet as he nearly ran down Montana State’s Duncan Hamiliton. Ultimately, a 3rd place finish and All-American honor was earned for Kibiego, but given his confidence and grit in consistently placing himself amongst the leaders, this Miner’s nationally competitive career is just getting started.

Zach Jaeger (Georgia Tech)

Georgia Tech’s Zach Jaeger had a personal best of 9:06 in the steeplechase entering the 2023 outdoor track season. But by the end, the Yellow Jacket junior took that mark all the way down to 8:40 en route to winning the Penn Relays in upset fashion. After a learning moment at theACC Championships, the newly-minted steeplechase star punched his ticket to the outdoor national meet. Although he wasn’t able to qualify for the finals, the experience Jaeger gained this spring will prove valuable when he dips his toes into the event in 2024.

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this spring. Prior seasons are used as a comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Nominees for this award do not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of outdoor track) of NCAA competition. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Star Price (Virginia Tech), Meghan Hunter (BYU), Kayla Bell (Murray State), Lorena Rangel Batres (LSU), Maddy Elmore (Oregon), Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist), Mazzie Melaney (Utah Valley), Monica Hebner (Texas), Pauline Meyer (Arkansas State), Yasmin Austridge (Lamar)

Star Price (Virginia Tech)

Virginia Tech’s Star Price began the outdoor track season with a modest 2:05 (800) PR, but by the time the season ended, the sophomore talent lowered that mark down to a 2:02 personal best. Surprisingly, Price had never qualified for an ACC Championship final over 800 meters, but that changed this spring in a big way when the Hokie athlete picked up a bronze medal. The 2023 outdoor track season saw Price find her groove and gain valuable experience that will benefit her when she graces the oval again.

Meghan Hunter (BYU)

Meghan Hunter had what some would call a "Cinderella season" as the Cougar middle distance athlete ran a huge 2:01 (800) PR and landed an 8th place All-American finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Entering this spring season, the BYU junior hadn’t run faster than 2:04 for 800 meters since 2021 and she had never competed as an individual at the outdoor national meet. Hunter’s improvements during the postseason were remarkable and for the most part, very unexpected.

Kayla Bell (Murray State)

Rather than focusing on the 800/1500 and building a mix of speed and strength, Murray State’s Kayla Bell opted for being a speed-based half-miler this spring. The Racer junior was able to use her 53.47 (400) speed to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships over 800 meters (although she also used front-running tactics), as well as help her improve by six seconds in the event when she ran 2:02 in the semifinals in Austin, Texas. With some valuable experience gained by competing at the outdoor national meet, Bell will be one of the top returners next spring.

Lorena Rangel Batres (LSU)

Lorena Rangel Batres found her main event this spring over 1500 meters. After two seasons of jumping back and forth between the 800 meters and the 1500 meters, Rangel Batres was able to piece together a five-second PR en route to a 4:11 (1500), as well as a runner-up finish in the event at the SEC Outdoor Championships. Even though the LSU Tiger’s 2:03 (800) PR is head-turning, the junior seemingly found her niche in the metric mile distance and thrived beyond expectations.

Maddy Elmore (Oregon)

Maddy Elmore, a redshirt freshman out of Oregon, put some early emphasis on the 5k and the 10k distances before dropping down to the 1500 meters which was ultimately a smart move for the Duck talent. She debuted in the event with a 4:13 (1500) PR at the Payton Jordan Invite and even though that’s a solid time, Elmore was able to chop five more seconds off of that mark when she ran 4:08 to earn her outdoor national meet berth! The young Duck was part of a fierce three-headed metric mile contingent with teammates Izzy Thronton-Bott and Klaudia Kazimierska at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. And while Elmore finished 10th overall, she still ran one of the fastest 1500 meter times of anyone in the NCAA this year and made it to the 1500 meter finals in one of the most stacked fields that the event has ever seen.

Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

Greta Karinauskaite made some massive jumps this season across three different distances (5k, 10k and steeple), but it was her performances over the barriers that truly caught our attention. The California Baptist star shaved a complete 25 seconds off of her steeplechase PR when she dropped a 9:26 mark at the West Regional Championships, completely running away from her competition and immediately putting her in contention to vie for the national title. Karinauskaite pulled away from the steeple field at the outdoor national meet, but wasn’t able to hold off Notre Dame’s Olivia Markezich. Still, the CBU stud settled for NCAA silver, ran one of the fastest steeplechase times ever (collegiately) earlier this spring and even posted a 15:36 PR for 5000 meters. Across the board, she was excellent.

Mazzie Melaney (Utah Valley)

Utah Valley’s Mazzie Melaney had a stellar regular season when she took to the outdoor oval in both the 5k and the 10k. The Wolverine senior began her season by winning low-key 1500 meter and 5k races prior to cutting 58 seconds off of her 10k PR with a 32:37 mark at the Stanford Invitational. Two weeks later, the distance standout went 15:51 over 5000 meters at the Bryan Clay Invite. These two performances earned Melaney a spot on the line at the West Regional Championships and although she came up shy of heading to Austin, Texas, her career growth at Utah Valley has been highly impressive.

Monica Hebner (Texas)

Texas veteran Monica Hebner qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 10k while competing for Duke back in 2019, the same season where she ran her then-PR of 33:52. Fast forward four years and two transfers later, and Hebner once again qualified for the outdoor national meet, picking up the last 10k qualifying spot earlier this spring. By doing so, she shaved off an incredible 58 seconds from her PR en route to a 32:54 (10k) mark. The Longhorn distance ace showed that patience and trusting the process pays off in the long run (no pun intended).

Pauline Meyer (Arkansas State)

Pauline Meyer of Arkansas State was a surprise All-American finisher at the outdoor national meet when she finished 8th in her first-ever appearance on that stage. The Red Wolf senior flew under the radar the entire spring, posting fine, but relatively unexciting times. Meyer’s big breakthrough came at the West Regional Championships when she crossed the line in a time of 9:44, a whole 24 seconds faster than her previous PR. Arkansas State’s steeplechase star peaked at the right time and was rewarded appropriately with a spot on the podium. She was arguably the most surprisingly All-American finisher this spring with the possible exception of Meghan Hunter.

Yasmin Austridge (Lamar)

Last year, Lamar’s Yasmin Austridge had a rocky performance at the 2022 West Regional Championships in the steeplechase, finishing 44th overall. That, however, led to a far greater campaign this spring. Austridge went from 10:14 to 9:52 in the steeplechase over the last few months and missed out on qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships by just a few spots. Combine her steeplechase growth with her 2:04 (800) PR and you’ve got a runner who has some serious range. Austridge will be transferring to Colorado State later this fall and has the potential to continue climbing the improvement ladder in a new training environment.

*Must have run attached at least once this spring. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, performances that are amplified by the results of other meets/individuals with appropriate context are included. TSR writers can vote for the performance that they believe is either the most impressive, the most entertaining or the most surprising. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Will Sumner wins 800 meter national title by negative splitting a 1:44.26 PR, Nathan Green splits 51.88 seconds on final lap to win 1500 meter national title, Ky Robinson wins 5k national title two nights after winning 10k national title, Kenneth Rooks outruns Duncan Hamilton to win steeplechase national title, Kenneth Rooks runs 8:17 steeple PR (NCAA #3 all-time) to take down elite pro field, Duncan Hamilton solos 8:16 steeple PR (NCAA #2 all-time) to win West regional title, Fouad Messaoudi runs NCAA #4 all-time 1500 meter time of 3:35 at Bryan Clay Invite, Charles Hicks barely wins 10k at Stanford Invite with tight last-minute kick

Will Sumner wins 800 meter national title by negative splitting a 1:44.26 PR

There was no denying that Will Sumner is talented and we knew that coming into the spring months. He qualified for the indoor national meet over 800 meters this past winter and even made the finals on that stage to earn a backend All-American honor. But then he ran 1:46.00 in the 800 meter prelims at the outdoor national meet. And in a stunning statement performance, the Georgia rookie dropped an insane 1:44.26 (800) PR to win the national title by negative splitting the race and leading wire-to-wire. That mark now sits at NCAA #5 all-time.

Nathan Green splits 51.88 seconds on final lap to win 1500 meter national title

We simply didn't have much data to analyze on Nathan Green this season. The Washington sophomore only competed in one race before the West Regional Championships, winning the PAC-12 title over 1500 meters with a blistering last lap. And on the national stage, we saw the exact same thing as Green dropped an incredible 51.88-second split over the final 400 meters to win the national title in a race where all 12 men were in contention to win.

Ky Robinson wins 5k national title two nights after winning 10k national title

While we don't combine two races into one singular performance, knowing that Ky Robinson won the 5k national title on the double, after already winning the 10k national title two nights before, is wildly impressive. The Stanford star bided his time perfectly and looked like the superior runner on the last lap against a field that simply had no response for him.

Kenneth Rooks outruns Duncan Hamilton to win steeplechase national title

In a "Clash of the Titans" battle, it was Kenneth Rooks who executed his national meet game plan to perfection. While Duncan Hamilton led the race and put in a surge, it was the BYU veteran who patiently waited to make his own move. Rooks would put in a hard charge late in the race and overtake Hamilton to eventually win NCAA gold with ease.

Kenneth Rooks runs 8:17 steeple PR (NCAA #3 all-time) to take down elite pro field

We knew that Kenneth Rooks was one of the NCAA's top steeplechasers earlier this season, but we wanted to see him battle more competitive fields than what he saw at the Bryan Clay Invite and the Stanford Invite. Sure enough, against a loaded field of pro athletes, it was the BYU star who pulled off a stunning upset at the Sound Running Track Fest, running 8:17 over the barriers and taking down some of the top steeplechasers in the country.

Duncan Hamilton solos 8:16 steeple PR (NCAA #2 all-time) to win West regional title

Following Kenneth Rooks' incredible 8:17 effort over the barriers and water pits, Duncan Hamilton wanted to make a statement of his own. The Montana State star soloed a monster 8:16 (steeple) mark out of nowhere at the West Regional Championships, giving himself the NCAA #2 all-time performance in that event and further solidifying himself as one of the best steeplechasers in collegiate history.

Fouad Messaoudi runs NCAA #4 all-time 1500 meter time of 3:35 at Bryan Clay Invite

After an incredible indoor track season, Fouad Messaoudi toed the line for the 1500 meters at the Bryan Clay Invite. And against an elite field, the Oklahoma State star dropped an incredible time of 3:35 for 1500 meters. Not only did he run the NCAA #4 all-time mark in that event, but he also gave Nike pro Cooper Teare a run for his money.

Charles Hicks barely wins 10k at Stanford Invite with tight last-minute kick

Slowly but surely, Charles Hicks has improved his kick over the last few seasons. And at the Stanford Invite earlier this year, we saw Hicks put together one of the best finishes of anyone in the NCAA this spring. Despite Alabama's Victor Kiprop getting a jump on the 10k field, Hicks threw down an incredible kick over the final 200 meters, barely getting the lead in the final five meters and taking home the overall win in a time of 27:57.

*Must have run attached at least once this spring. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, performances that are amplified by the results of other meets/individuals with appropriate context are included. TSR writers can vote for the performance that they believe is either the most impressive, the most entertaining or the most surprising. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Michaela Rose goes wire-to-wire to win 800 meter national title in 1:59.83, Michaela Rose runs 1:59.08 over 800 meters for NCAA #2 all-time, Maia Ramsden pulls off upset to win 1500 meter national title in 4:08 PR, Parker Valby runs 15:30 to win 5k national title despite not being fully healthy, Parker Valby runs 15:25 to win SEC 5k title despite not being fully healthy, Everlyn Kemboi makes perfect move to take down loaded field for 10k national title, Olivia Markezich makes up late-deficit to win steeplechase national title in NCAA #3 all-time mark of 9:25, Katelyn Tuohy runs NCAA record over 5000 meters of 15:03

Michaela Rose goes wire-to-wire to win 800 meter national title in 1:59.83

In an 800 meter national meet field that was historically top-heavy, at least in terms of times, Michaela Rose still went to the front. The LSU star led wire-to-wire despite being chased by a former prep phenom in Roisin Willis. Rose threw down her third sub-2:00 time over 800 meters this season and would secure a well-deserved gold medal in the process.

Michaela Rose runs 1:59.08 over 800 meters for NCAA #2 all-time

After showing sub-2:00 (800) potential during the winter months, Michaela Rose battled to the line at the Bryan Clay Invite to break the barrier. The LSU ace comfortably defeated a collegiate field, which would ultimately act as a national meet preview, and barely missed out on taking down pro runner Nikki Hiltz who just got Rose at the line. Regardless, the Tiger sophomore was able to secure the NCAA #2 all-time mark in the event, further validating her insane raw talent.

Maia Ramsden pulls off upset to win 1500 meter national title in 4:08 PR

The women's 1500 meter national title was heavily favored to go to Katelyn Tuohy. But in a stunning turn of events, it was Maia Ramsden getting the win. The Harvard star put together the fastest and most tactically-sound race of her career, swinging off the final curve and securing NCAA gold with a new 4:08 PR in one of the biggest upset wins of the year.

Parker Valby runs 15:30 to win 5k national title despite not being fully healthy

Despite facing a talented Alabama duo at the SEC Championships, Parker Valby's competition at the outdoor national meet over 5000 meters was undeniably deeper. That, however, didn't stop the Florida star from hammering the pace and simply pulling away from the field en route to her first national title. And even in post-race interviews, Valby would admit that she won NCAA gold despite not being fully healthy due to an ongoing leg injury.

Parker Valby runs 15:25 to win SEC 5k title despite not being fully healthy

In her first legitimate battle of the 2023 outdoor track season, Parker Valby toed the line at the SEC Championships against an elite Alabama duo of Mercy Chelangat and Hilda Olemomoi. The Gator ace hit the gas over the 5000 meter distance in an attempt to pull away from her Crimson Tide opponents despite there being a clear hitch in her stride. In the end, Valby would barely get the win in a blistering 5k time of 15:25 despite not being fully healthy and taking down two of the best long distance runners in the NCAA.

Everlyn Kemboi makes perfect move to take down loaded field for 10k national title

It wasn't surprising to see a group of five women in the final lead pack in the 10,000 meter finals at the outdoor national meet. But with 600 meters to go, as the pack began to string out ever-so-slightly, it was Everlyn Kemboi who made a perfectly-timed move. She began to open up her stride and take advantage of a faltering field that wasn't able to respond to her move in time. This, in turn, led to the Utah Valley star securing NCAA gold by a comfortable margin.

Olivia Markezich makes up late-deficit to win steeplechase national title in NCAA #3 all-time mark of 9:25

Olivia Markezich was the only one to chase after Greta Karinauskaite in the steeplechase finals at the outdoor national meet. And for a moment, the aggressive pace for the California Baptist star nearly dropped her Notre Dame opponent entirely. But in the final moments of the race, Markezich stormed back, making up a 30 meter (ish) gap, catching Karinauskaite in the final lap, taking home the national title and running an NCAA #3 all-time mark of 9:25 over the barriers and water pits.

Katelyn Tuohy runs NCAA record over 5000 meters of 15:03

We knew that Katelyn Tuohy was capable of breaking the collegiate outdoor 5k record of 15:07 earlier this spring. And admittedly, seeing her run 15:03 for the distance wasn't totally shocking. Of course, just because it wasn't surprising doesn't mean that her ability to break the collegiate record by four seconds wasn't wildly impressive.

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2023 outdoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Andy Powell (Washington), Ricardo Santos (Stanford), John Gondak (Penn State), Dave Smith (Oklahoma State), Mick Byrne (Wisconsin), Lyle Weese (Montana State), Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina), Vin Lananna (Virginia), Ed Eyestone (BYU)

Andy Powell (Washington)

Andy Powell has developed the most formidable middle distance group in the country and it’s now home to three NCAA champions. Nathan Green's victory the other weekend makes him the Huskies' third different mile/1500 meter champion in 365 days! Joe Waskom also secured silver in that race while Luke houser also made the 1500 meter finals. Oh, and we can't forget about how good Sam Ellis (1:46 over 800 meters) and Ed Trippas (8:31 in the steeplechase) were this spring.

Ricardo Santos (Stanford)

Ky Robinson and Charles Hicks have always been a devastating duo, but their 1-2 finish over 10,000 meters on the national stage was truly remarkable. Robinson came back just two days later to secure his second title (in the 5k) while Hicks finished a valiant 6th place to earn another set of All-American honors. The duo has been consistent all season long, but major props have to go to Coach Ricardo Santos for further developing the rest of his squad. Evan Burke and Robert DiDonato both ran 13:44 for 5000 meters. Devin Hart ran 28:07 for 10,000 meters, a massive PR. Cole Sprout, after coming back from injury, still put together a 28:30 (10k) mark at the Payton Jordan Invite. Overall, this team was as good as ever.

John Gondak (Penn State)

After the winter months, we posed the question “Is '800U' back?” In short, yes, they are. The Nittany Lions had seven men run 1:48 or faster for 800 meters this spring, two of which qualified for the outdoor national meet. Freshman superstar Handal Roban was the pick of the bunch as he picked up a spectacular 3rd place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, clocking a breathtaking 1:45.95 (800) PR. And while Penn State's 800 meter crew was seriously impressive, let's not forget about Evan Dorenkamp who returned with All-American honors in the 1500 meters this year after sustaining a season-ending injury in 2022.

Dave Smith (Oklahoma State)

It’s unfair to let Fouad Messaoudi’s disappointing national meet showing dampen the outstanding season that Dave Smith’s Cowboys had. Mehdi Yanouri had a remarkable spring campaign, placing 6th in the national meet 800 meter finals in a new PR of 1:46.50. Isai Rodriguez had one of the best races of his career with a 5th place showing in the 10,000 meter finals at the outdoor national meet. Victor Shitsama earned himself an All-American accolade in the steeplechase after a consistently great season. And while the 1500 meter finals may not have gone according to plan, Messaoudi clocked 3:35.16 (1500) at the Bryan Clay Invite to go NCAA #4 all-time. In addition to all of this, Dave Smith also helped Alex Stitt and Christopher Middleton-Pearson to their first NCAA Championship appearance (both over 1500 meters).

Mick Byrne (Wisconsin)

This season, the Badgers proved to be one of the most well-rounded distance groups in the NCAA with national meet finalists in the 800 meters, the 1500 meters, the 5000 meters and the 10,000 meters. Adam Spencer was nothing short of phenomenal this spring, boasting 1:46 (800) and 3:37 (1500) personal bests which he then validated by placing 3rd in the 1500 meter finals at the national meet. Veteran Jackson Sharp closed out his spring campaign with yet another podium finish, this time a 3rd place finish in the 5000 meters while Abdullahi Hassan thrived in the 800 meter finals en route to a 4th place All-American finish. Oh, and Bob Liking ran incredible times of 13:27 (5k) and 28:00 (10k) earlier this year. It's safe to say that Mick Byrne has got the very best out of his athletes at every distance this season.

Lyle Weese (Montana State)

Coach Lyle Weese has formed a seriously lethal steeplechase group spearheaded by none other than Duncan Hamilton. Hamilton’s accolades this year have been truly remarkable. He ran an NCAA #2 all-time mark in the steeplechase and came away with a silver medal at the NCAA Championships. Alongside Hamilton, Lyle Weese had Levi Taylor and Rob McManus qualify for the national meet in the steeplechase, as well as Ben Perrin who could be found in the 10,000 meter finals. 2022 was excellent, but 2023 was an even greater year to remember for this Bobcat distance coach.

Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Parker Wolfe’s accolades are well documented and he had yet another terrific season by finishing 5th in the 5000 meter finals at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. But the way that Coach Chris Miltenberg has helped milers Ethan Strand and Jesse Hunt progress after their superb indoor track seasons has bolstered this team significantly. Both of those men cracked 3:39 (1500) this spring and both men qualified for the national meet 1500 meter finals with Hunt earning All-American honors. Not only that, but Marshall Williamson also qualified for the national meet in the steeplechase!

Vin Lananna (Virginia)

During the winter months, it was the milers who stood out for Vin Lananna’s distance group. But on the outdoor oval, it was the steeplechasers who really shined. There is no denying that three men running under 3:40 (1500) is impressive, but two All-Americans in an event as variable as the steeplechase is what really captures our attention. Nathan Mountain and Derek Johnson were incredibly consistent this season and that reliability helped them finish 4th and 8th, respectively, at the national meet. Another athlete who was just as consistent was Conor Murphy who picked up another All-American honor, this time over 800 meters.

Ed Eyestone (BYU)

Ed Eyestone had a number of stars perform fantastically this season. Casey Clinger picked up a terrific bronze medal over 10,000 meters and cemented himself as a potential national title favorite heading onto the grass. But it was steeple star Kenneth Rooks who stole the show for the Cougars. Rooks ran an NCAA #3 all-time mark of 8:17 in the steeplechase and took down one of the finest steeplechasers in NCAA history to pick up his first national title. With exceptional long distance depth over the 5k and 10k distances, the ongoing development of Sebastian Fernandez and the quick rise of Caleb Johnson and James Corrigan, Coach Ed Eyestone deserves a lot of credit for yet another great season.

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2023 outdoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Shalane Flanagan (Oregon), Diljeet Taylor (BYU), JJ Clark (Stanford), Nick Stenuf (Alabama), Houston Franks (LSU), Laurie Henes (NC State), Matt Sparks (Notre Dame), Joe Franklin (New Mexico), Ray Treacy (Providence), Maurica Powell (Washington)

Shalane Flanagan (Oregon)

Izzy Thornton-Bott, Klaudia Kazimierska and Maddy Elmore were the driving force for the Ducks this spring. All three women made the 1500 meter finals at the national meet with Thornton-Bott and Kazimierska finishing 2nd and 4th, respectively. What makes things even more impressive is that this Duck trio all posted 4:08 (1500) PRs, an insane level of high-end firepower. With Ella Nelson emerging as an 800 meter national qualifier, it's fair to say that Shalane Flanagan's first year with the Oregon women was a cracking success.

Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

The BYU women have been as good as you would expect. Lexy Halladay-Lowry was as dependable as ever, finishing 4th in the steeplechase finals at the national meet to earn her first All-American honor on the track. Meanwhile, Claire Seymour closed out her collegiate career with a 3rd place finish in the 800 meter finals. She clocked three 2:00 (800) performances in one season. And those were just the focal stars of this roster! Meghan Hunter made massive improvements to be a surprise All-American, Jenna Hutchins rounded back into top form, Aubrey Frentheway was exceptional as always, Riley Chamberlain, Cameron Alder and Taylor Rohatinsky offered excellent youth-based depth and Sadie Sargent also dipped under 10:00 in the steeplechase. Yet again, Coach Diljeet Taylor did a more-than-fine job of ensuring that her athletes were on top of their game throughout the entirety of this season.

JJ Clark (Stanford)

While this spring may not have been quite as spectacular as their winter campaign, Coach JJ Clark’s distance group was still mighty impressive this season. Freshman standout Rosin Willis continued to excel, adding a 4th place All-American finish (800) to her indoor national title. While they failed to advance to the NCAA Championships, Zofia Dudek and Melissa Tanaka still had great seasons, posting PRs of 15:32 (5k) and 4:09 (1500), respectively. It's a similar story for Juliette Whittaker who was still excellent despite not advancing to the national stage. We even saw Lucy Jenks advance to the national meet over 5000 meters after running a 15:33 PR at the Stanford Invite earlier in the year. With plenty of remaining eligibility on their side, there is a lot to like about this roster. They are all going to get better as their collegiate careers progress.

Nick Stenuf (Alabama)

Mercy Chelangat and Hilda Olemomoi were as elite as ever for Alabama this spring. And while they may not have quite run the way that they wanted to on the national stage, placing 3rd and 5th, respectively, over 10,000 meters is still superb. Chelangat’s 31:55 (10k) PR -- a time which sits at NCAA #7 all-time -- may just be the highlight of Alabama's season. Dropping down in distance, Flomena Asekol’s postseason may have been underwhelming, but she has continued to develop upon her terrific bronze medal from the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Houston Franks (LSU)

What Houston Franks has done with Michaela Rose is truly breathtaking as she has been unbelievable this spring. Rose absolutely dominated the half-mile distance, winning the national title in commanding fashion and running 1:59 THREE separate times! We also saw Lorena Rangel Batres make massive improvements of her own, developing into one of the best 800/1500 meter hybrid talents in the NCAA this spring. Also, shoutout to Cindy Bourdier who proved herself to be a top talent by qualifying for her first NCAA Championship (in the 800 meters).

Laurie Henes (NC State)

Much of what was said about Coach Dave Smith in the men's section can be said about Coach Laurie Henes. Yes, Katelyn Tuohy’s tactics in the 1500 meter finals at the national meet didn't pay off, but she still ran a collegiate record over 5000 meters (15:03) and clocked a speedy 4:08 mark for 1500 meters. Let's also not forget about Amaris Tyynismaa’s excellent 4th place finish in the 5000 meters and shiny new 15:30 (5k) PR along with an ACC title. Kelsey Chmiel was an All-American yet again, Alexandra Hays was insanely impressive over 10,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays and Grace Hartman showed tremendous promise as a rookie. Sam Bush also ran 15:39 (5k) earlier this spring, but didn't race after mid-April.

Matt Sparks (Notre Dame)

Olivia Markezich was the star of the show for the Fighting Irish this season (and over the past year). A monumental victory in the steeplechase at the NCAA Championships was impressive enough, but clocking a 9:25 mark (NCAA #3 all-time) en route to that victory was truly breathtaking. We also saw the promising development of underclassman Siona Chisholm (15:37 for 5k), the steady improvement of 800 meter runner Kaitlin Ryan, a breakout steeplechase race from Sophie Novak, a surprise national meet qualification for Erin Strzelecki and the ongoing excellence of steeplechase standout Katie Thronson. Naturally, you can see why Coach Matt Sparks receives our nomination.

Joe Franklin (New Mexico)

Much like they did on the indoor oval, the Lobos were flexing their firepower and depth this spring. Amelia Mazza-Downie continued to be the forerunner for New Mexico and her 4th place finish over 10,000 meters on the national stage was a fantastic conclusion to a strong season. Meanwhile, Elise Thorner was one of the most consistent steeplechasers on the circuit and was rewarded with All-American honors. Gracelyn Larkin, Maisie Grice and Abbe Goldstein also had impressive seasons, once again highlighting the depth of this roster.

Ray Treacy (Providence)

What a season for the Friars! This team was quietly excellent in the middle distance events this season and despite a majority of the best women being underclassmen, they still impressed when the lights were brightest. A marquee victory in the 4x1500 meter relay at the Penn Relays set the tone for the season. That momentum allowed the Friars to send Shannon Flockhart (1500), Kimberley May (1500) and Jane Buckley (5k) to the outdoor national meet. An All-American finish for Flockhart rounded off a strong season for Ray Treacy who should be very excited about what the future holds for his team.

Maurica Powell (Washington)

While the postseason may have been disappointing, there is no denying that the roster talent of the Washington women is among the best in the NCAA. Sophie O'Sullivan and Anna Gibson have been a dynamic duo over 1500 meters with O’Sullivan owning a lightning-fast 4:08 PR for the distance. Carley Thomas's 2:02 (800) result was enough to secure herself a spot at the NCAA Championships while Kayley DeLay was able to snag a top-10 finish on the national stage in the steeplechase despite not being at 100% this season. Based off of talent alone, Maurica Powell is certainly deserving of a nomination.

*Must have run attached this season. Performances past 6/10 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Will Sumner (Georgia), Nathan Green (Washington), Ky Robinson (Stanford), Kenneth Rooks (BYU), Duncan Hamilton (Montana State), Yusuf Bizimana (Texas), Charles Hicks (Stanford), Graham Blanks (Harvard)

Will Sumner (Georgia)

Will Sumner was arguably the most dominant performer in any distance event at the NCAA Championships, but will his specialist status hold him back in the voting for this award? This freshman won his second SEC title in as many tries before taking the 800 meter national title with an NCAA #5 all-time mark of 1:44.26. Not only that, but he did so with a negative split! We’re now wondering if Sumner can make a World Championship team this summer and how long he’ll stick around as a perennial title favorite in Athens which speaks to the significance of this all-time freshman for the Bulldogs.

Nathan Green (Washington)

Even if he didn’t run blazing fast times in the process, Nathan Green was undefeated over in the metric mile finals this season, dominating the event throughout the postseason. He won his first PAC-12 title, ran a 3:38 (1500) mark at the West Regional Championships and closed in 51.88 seconds to win the 1500 meter national title. In achieving the latter feat, Green became the third Washington runner to win the mile or metric mile national title in as many seasons.

Ky Robinson (Stanford)

After an unassuming few months, Ky Robinson had one of the best performances of anyone at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming the first man to win the 10k/5k double in the same season since NCAA legend Edward Cheserek did it in 2016 (and 2015). While the performances admittedly felt like they came out of nowhere, perhaps we should have seen it all coming. Robinson broke 28:00 in 10k during the regular season, finished runner-up to Green in the 1500 meters at the PAC-12 Championships and ran the fastest 5k mark of the regional meets (13:22). But thanks to having the best closing speed in both races, Robinson more than exceeded even the massive expectations that he built for himself as a six-time All-American entering the national meet.

Kenneth Rooks (BYU)

Kenneth Rooks was not only the most complete steeplechaser in the NCAA this season or the best runner on an elite distance-running program, he was the most dominant athlete in any endurance event. The Cougar veteran didn’t lose a single steeplechase race this season outside of the regional meet. That stretch included a victory over a host of professionals with a blazing fast 8:17 mark and an NCAA Championship performance in which he comfortably took control in the latter stages of the race and ran away from Duncan Hamilton, an all-time NCAA steeplechase talent in his own right.

Duncan Hamilton (Montana State)

Sure he didn’t win his first national title this season, but Duncan Hamilton earned his third-straight outdoor track All-American finish and second-straight runner-up result on the national stage. It was also Hamilton, not Rooks, who ran the nation’s fastest (and NCAA #2 all-time) mark of 8:16 in late May. Hamilton also continued to prove himself as one of the most versatile strength-based athletes in recent years. Remember, this is someone who ran 13:31 (5k) and an altitude converted mark of 3:36 (1500) earlier this spring.

Yusuf Bizimana (Texas)

Even if he didn’t add a second national title to his resume, Yusuf Bizimana still validated his indoor 800 meter national title victory as he finished runner-up at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on his home track. In that race, he displayed patience, strength and consistency, running a new 800 meter PR and the NCAA #2 mark this season with a 1:45.74 effort, twice dipping under 1:46. He also won a BIG 12 title and has emerged as one of Great Britain’s better half-milers. Not bad for a guy who initially earned his first collegiate All-American honor in the mile and not the 800 meters.

Charles Hicks (Stanford)

If Charles Hicks’ indoor track campaign was underwhelming coming off of an individual national title on the cross country course, then the outdoor track season was a course correction. After taking down a loaded field at his home invite with the nation’s fastest time in the 10k this season (27:57), he peaked perfectly for the postseason as he so often does. In finishing as the 10k runner-up, he recorded his best-ever track result at the national meet. Hicks then doubled back for a 6th place finish in the 5k. That helped the Cardinal men finish 3rd in the nation as a team on the backs of just three scorers.

Graham Blanks (Harvard)

Graham Blanks replicated Hicks’ results on the national stage, but in an inverse way (national runner-up in the 5k and 6th place in the 10k). In doing so, he showcased previously undisplayed closing speed and excellent positioning. His ability to double should not have been in doubt given that he won the 5k and the 10k at the Ivy League Championships a month ago. Nonetheless, Blanks carried as much momentum as anyone this season. He won a loaded Wake Forest Invitational 5k race, finished runner-up at the Raleigh Relays in his first time contesting the 10k (collegiately) and then set a personal event in the latter distance at the national meet.

*Must have run attached this season. Performances past 6/10 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Michaela Rose (LSU), Maia Ramsden (Harvard), Katelyn Tuohy (NC State), Parker Valby (Florida), Olivia Markezich (Notre Dame), Everlyn Kemboi (Utah Valley), Emily Venters (Utah), Greta Karinauskate (California Baptist)

Michaela Rose (LSU)

Michaela Rose was dominant in a historically unpredictable event this season, going undefeated in 800 meter finals against collegiate competition. In the process, she ran the NCAA #2 all-time mark in the event (1:59.08) and broke the 2:00 barrier on three different occasions. In addition to her first national title, she won a second SEC title in the event (her first on the outdoor oval) as the Tiger front-runner relied on her unmatched firepower.

Maia Ramsden (Harvard)

A surprise national champion who perhaps shouldn’t have been so much of a surprise, Maia Ramsden rounded into form perfectly in the postseason. The Ivy League star notched a personal best 4:08 (second-fastest in the nation this year) as she hawked down Katelyn Tuohy before the rest of the field for the 1500 meter gold medal. She also contested the 5000 meters at the national meet and won the 1500/5k double at her conference meet, displaying laudable range and incredible scoring value.

Katelyn Tuohy (NC State)

No, she didn’t have the finish to the season that many people expected or hoped for, but Katelyn Tuohy was still elite all season, running the nation’s fastest time (4:08) over 1500 meters and finishing as an All-American in that event. She went for broke and paid the price on the national stage, but her versatility and value as the face of a powerhouse program still triumphs over one bad day. I mean, after all, she broke the NCAA record over 5000 meters (comfortably) earlier this season.

Parker Valby (Florida)

Parker Valby deservedly won her first national title, fittingly in her premiere event, after several seasons of knocking on the door. She took advantage of a 5k field absent of Katelyn Tuohy and controlled the race en route to a victory. It doesn’t hurt that she also won that event at the SEC Championships in an exceedingly tight finish over Alabama star, Mercy Chelangat. But what does hurt (which also helps her case for this award) is that she did it all while overcoming an injury. Despite that, she exhibited metronomic consistency, running all four of her 5k races between 15:25 and 15:33.

Olivia Markezich (Notre Dame)

Olivia Markezich emerged from a wide-open (but talented) steeplechase field and followed Greta Karinauskaite to a fast pace before pulling away for an NCAA #3 all-time mark and the national title. Markezich wasn’t an overwhelming national title favorite, but her NCAA gold medal made sense after finishing runner-up in the 3000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Surprisingly, this was Markezich's first All-American finish in the steeplechase, but it felt like the final element necessary to establish herself as a true NCAA superstar. After all, she led Notre Dame to a 1-2-3 sweep at the ACC Championships over the barriers and won the 5k at the Raleigh Relays in a time of 15:33.

Everlyn Kemboi (Utah Valley)

Everlyn Kemboi was elite all season, but she rose a level in the postseason with a praiseworthy distance double, winning the national titles in the 10k (her first) and later finishing runner-up in the 5k. She proved to be one of more complete aerobic-based runners in the nation this year, winning a loaded Stanford Invitational 5k race with the nation’s fastest time (15:20) after finishing runner-up to Emily Venters at the Stanford Invitational with a 32:03 (10k) mark (NCAA #3 this spring) before flipping their finishes at the national meet.

Emily Venters (Utah)

Even if she finished behind her Beehive State contemporary, Emily Venters was arguably just as complete this season, save for winning a title. Venters earned her first NCAA Outdoor Championship All-American finish by settling for a runner-up result in the 10k behind Kemboi who she defeated at that distance earlier in the season. The Utah star continued her momentum by taking bronze in the 5k. Not only that, but she won the PAC-12 title in the 10k and ran the nation’s fastest mark in that event (31:48), emerging as one of the most consistent and dependable endurance athletes in the country.

Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

A relative unknown entering this season, Greta Karinauskaite gained steam throughout her spring campaign, building up to when she shocked the nation with an NCAA #6 all-time mark of 9:26 at the West Regional Championships. Before that, she won the WAC title in that event with a 9:35 mark and she finished 4th at the Bryan Clay Invitational in the same event with a 9:46 effort. Oh, and she ran 15:36 (5k) this year. On paper, Karinauskaite didn’t continue that progress at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Even so, her national meet performance should still be viewed as a major success after setting a torrid early pace to make it a two-person race and finishing runner-up in 9:30.

Men

Garrett: Will Sumner (Georgia)

Maura: Will Sumner (Georgia)

Ben: Will Sumner (Georgia)

Finn: Will Sumner (Georgia)

Scotty: Will Sumner (Georgia)

Gavin: Will Sumner (Georgia)

Women

Garrett: Roisin Willis (Stanford)

Maura: Roisin Willis (Stanford)

Ben: Roisin Willis (Stanford)

Finn: Roisin Willis (Stanford)

Scotty: Roisin Willis (Stanford)

Gavin: Roisin Willis (Stanford)

Men

Garrett: Chandler Gibbens (Kansas)

Maura: Victor Kibiego (UTEP)

Ben: Victor Kibiego (UTEP)

Finn: Toby Gillen (Saint Louis)

Scotty: Toby Gillen (Saint Louis)

Gavin: Chandler Gibbens (Kansas)

*Tie broken via TSR contributor, Conor Daly

Women

Garrett: Pauline Meyer (Arkansas State)

Maura: Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

Ben: Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

Finn: Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

Scotty: Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

Gavin: Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

Men

Garrett: Kenneth Rooks runs 8:17 steeple PR (NCAA #3 all-time) to take down elite pro field

Maura: Nathan Green splits 51.88 seconds on final lap to win 1500 meter national title

Ben: Will Sumner wins 800 meter national title by negative splitting a 1:44.26 PR

Finn: Will Sumner wins 800 meter national title by negative splitting a 1:44.26 PR

Scotty: Will Sumner wins 800 meter national title by negative splitting a 1:44.26 PR

Gavin: Will Sumner wins 800 meter national title by negative splitting a 1:44.26 PR

Women

Garrett: Katelyn Tuohy runs NCAA record over 5000 meters of 15:03

Maura: Olivia Markezich makes up late-deficit to win steeplechase national title in NCAA #3 all-time mark of 9:25

Ben: Katelyn Tuohy runs NCAA record over 5000 meters of 15:03

Finn: Maia Ramsden pulls off upset to win 1500 meter national title in 4:08 PR

Scotty: Maia Ramsden pulls off upset to win 1500 meter national title in 4:08 PR

Gavin: Olivia Markezich makes up late-deficit to win steeplechase national title in NCAA #3 all-time mark of 9:25

*Tie broken via TSR contributor, Grace McLaughlin

Men

Garrett: Andy Powell (Washington)

Maura: Andy Powell (Washington)

Ben: Andy Powell (Washington)

Finn: Andy Powell (Washington)

Scotty: Ricardo Santos (Stanford)

Gavin: Andy Powell (Washington)

Women

Garrett: Shalane Flanagan (Oregon)

Maura: Shalane Flanagan (Oregon)

Ben: Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

Finn: Shalane Flanagan (Oregon)

Scotty: Shalane Flanagan (Oregon)

Gavin: Shalane Flanagan (Oregon)

Men

Garrett: Kenneth Rooks (BYU)

Maura: Ky Robinson (Stanford)

Ben: Kenneth Rooks (BYU)

Finn: Ky Robinson (Stanford)

Scotty: Kenneth Rooks (BYU)

Gavin: Ky Robinson (Stanford)

*Tie broken via TSR contributor, Grace McLaughlin

Women

Garrett: Michaela Rose (LSU)

Maura: Michaela Rose (LSU)

Ben: Everlyn Kemboi (Utah Valley)

Finn: Michaela Rose (LSU)

Scotty: Michaela Rose (LSU)

Gavin: Everlyn Kemboi (Utah Valley)