2024 Penn Relays Preview & Predictions (4xMile, 4x1500m, 4x800m & DMR)

The Penn Relays have a special place in my heart.

As a Philadelphia native (which more accurately means that I grew up in the suburbs because no one outside of the area has heard of my hometown), I was able to attend the Penn Relays in each of my four years in high school. And it isn't until you attend the Penn Relays in person that you can truly appreciate the historic prestige of the Franklin Field-hosted meet.

The venue has seamlessly meshed a weekend of racing for athletes who range anywhere from wide-eyed middle schoolers to accomplished Olympians and everything in between.

However, maybe the most interesting aspect of this meet is the pride and bragging rights associated with it. Sure, there are individual/open events, but it’s the distance-based relays, the races that mean nothing for NCAA Championship qualification, that hold the most weight.

Due to the timing of the entries being released and the meet schedule, we weren't able to highlight/preview the individual distance events for this year’s Penn Relays. However, we do have analysis for the men’s 4xMile relay, women’s 4x1500-meter relay, the men’s and women’s DMR as well as the men’s and women’s 4x800-meter relays.

Let’s begin…

NOTE: The Stride Report is basing this preview off of the entries shown on Thursday, April 25th as of 5:00pm EST. It is possible that these relay entries could change.

Entered Lineup: Shannon Flockhart, Jillian Fenerty, Alex O'Neill, Kimberley May

There is a very good argument to be made that the Providence women boast the best two legs in this entire field. Shannon Flockhart and Kimberley May are top-tier milers who helped the Friars win the 4x1500-meter relay at last year's Penn Relays. And given how strong 800-meter leg Alex O'Neill looked at the indoor national meet, expect the Friars to be even more dangerous with fresh legs.

Entered Lineup: Margot Appleton, Alahna Sabbakhan, Esther Seeland, Anna Workman

Across the board, this is a very strong lineup that doesn't seem to have any weaknesses. Margot Appleton is a true ace while Esther Seeland and Anna Workman are two national-caliber names in their own right. If they simply stay the course and avoid anyone having a true "off" day, then the Cavaliers could have a shot at the win.

Entered Lineup: Sophia Gorriaran, Chloe Fair, Victoria Bossong, Maia Ramsden

Some may argue with me, but I think the Harvard women may actually be favored to win this race. A lot of that is because Maia Ramsden is likely going to be their anchor leg. And as long as she is close enough to the lead, she'll likely come out on top. But with Sophia Gorriaran and Victoria Bossong emerging as upper-echelon middle distance runners, they should fare well against a DMR field that isn't necessarily littered with star names prior to the anchor leg.

Entered Lineup: Samantha Friborg, Marlena Preigh, Wilma Nielsen, Chloe Foerster

Much like Virginia, there isn't necessarily a weak spot in this lineup. Everyone on Washington's entered relay should be able to add meaningful value. However, the order of this lineup will largely dictate just how effective this team can be on Friday. Chloe Foerster will undoubtedly be a great anchor leg, but any of the remaining three women listed for this relay could run in any of the three remaining spots.

Entered Lineup: Julia Fenerty, Samantha Wallenstrom, Iris Downes, Charlotte Tomkinson

Not having Amina Maatoug, who recently entered the transfer portal as a future graduate student, admittedly limits the ceiling of what this Duke team will be able to do. That said, Julia Fenerty is better than some people may realize and I would argue that the rest of the women in this lineup are due for breakout performances. No, I don't think that's going to put them in contention with the top teams, but they probably won't be flailing, either.

Entered Lineup: Hayley Kitching, Zoey Goldstein, Allison Johnson, Kileigh Kane

If Hayley Kitching takes the 1200-meter leg, then the Penn State women may have the best lead-off runner in the field depending on the order of their opposing lineups. Across the board, the Nittany Lions are going to be competitive throughout the race, but after Kitching, they're going to have a major challenge trying to find an edge on this field. That's because other relays seemingly get stronger after their opening runner hands off the baton.

Entered Lineup: Gladys Chepngetich, Jessica McLean, Brynne Sumner, Silvia Jelelgo

The Clemson women aren't going to win this race, but they could improve upon their 11:00 mark from the indoor track season. Gladys Chepngetich is an excellent ace to have and Silvia Jelelgo will at least raise the floor of this team going into Friday. Even so, the Tigers' DMR is certainly going to have their work cut out for them.

Entered Lineup: Madison Martinez, Oliva Allen, Micah Trusty, Emma McGill

This is a team that is built for the 4x800-meter relay as both Madison Martinez and Micah Trusty have run under 2:05 (800) at certain points in their careers. Sure, the Wildcats will hold their own in this race, but they aren't expected to be major factors. Saturday, however, may be a slightly different story in the 4x800-meter relay.

Entered Lineup: Nicole Vanasse, Sydney Goldson, Olivia Schmitt, Phoebe Anderson

Nicole Vanasse and Phoebe Anderson are going to be the two women who this relay is built around. The former has been looking awesome as of late, recently running 4:11 for 1500 meters, while the latter has some of the best aerobic strength in this entire field. Sure, the Lions aren't necessarily built for the DMR, but they have high-impact names at the two most important spots of their lineup.

Entered Lineup: Anya Hirschfeld, Kaira Brown, DeAnna Martin, Chloe Gonzalez

Without Melissa Riggins, it's hard to see the Georgetown women truly being a factor in this race. That, of course, isn't to say that they don't have some solid names. Each of these women fit perfectly into their projected legs of this lineup. So while I don't necessarily expect them to have a high ceiling, I do think they have a somewhat high floor.

Entered Lineup: Elizabeth Stockman, Ginny Beringer, Caroline Donohoe, Madison Trippett

The Richmond women are admittedly going to have their work cut-out for them on Friday. Each of these ladies has shown recent promise and progression. Plus, they don't seemingly have a major drop-off in talent between legs. However, they'll need a big-time performance from one or two of these women to boost themselves out of the backend of this field.

Entered Lineup: Tabitha Ngao, Dreunna Washington, Jasmin Muhammad-Graham, Gracie Morris

Despite their underwhelming DMR effort at the Alex Wilson Invite during the winter months, I still think this team is better than what their 11:04 performance previously showed. Gracie Morris is one of the better anchors in this field who has looked very strong as of late. I'm not saying that the Horned Frogs are going to be anywhere near the winning group, but Morris is at least going to keep things interesting...I think.

Entered Lineup: Aniya Mosley, Gia Napoleon, Carina Napoleon, Amelia Figler

Aniya Mosley is having a fairly respectable season, but the Ohio State women are simply not as accomplished as the other teams in this field. That, of course, is because many of their best runners are longer distance talents.

Entered Lineup: Bailey Goggans, Kennedy Wade, Avery Perkins, Kennady Fontenot

The middle distance duo of Bailey Goggans (2:02 for 800 meters) and Kennedy Wade (52.10 seconds for 400 meters) should give this lineup a really nice boost. However, the other half of the Aggies' DMR lineup are going to be racing against women who are flat-out stronger across the board.

Entered Lineup: Camden Gilmore, Joshua Paige, Tinoda Matsatsa, Abel Teffra

I would not argue with anyone who says that the Georgetown men are favored to win this race. They did, after all, finish a narrow runner-up in this event at the NCAA Indoor Championships and this lineup is just as good. There are legitimate heavy-hitters at each point of this relay and they can mostly match the top-tier names on other relays. However, if Abel Teffra gets the baton on the anchor leg at the same time as Gary Martin and Liam Murphy, then he is going to have his hands full trying to defeat those men.

Entered Lineup: Conor Murphy, Alex Sherman, Alex Leath, Gary Martin

This is a complete DMR lineup void of any major deficiencies. Gary Martin is a true ace on the anchor leg of this lineup and his teammates should keep him within reach of the lead. However, Conor Murphy will be the key name to watch. He hasn't been at his best since the month of February. Even so, Murphy at 70% should still make him a strong enough name to keep the Cavaliers competitive.

Entered Lineup: Charlie O'Donovan, Dan Watcke, Sean Dolan, Liam Murphy

On paper, I think this is the best lineup in the field. Liam Murphy is the best anchor leg who is entered, Sean Dolan might be the best 800-meter leg who is entered (depending on what you think about Sam Whitmarsh and Handal Roban) and Charlie O'Donovan is as good as any 1200-meter leg who he'll toe the line next to. No NCAA program at the Penn Relays takes this meet as seriously as Villanova does. And with tons of experience on their side, I would tab the Wildcats as the focal favorites of this DMR race.

Entered Lineup: Rheinhardt Harrison, James Harding, Matthew Erickson, Simeon Birnbaum*

NOTE: Simeon Birnbaum is listed in the entries, although the Register Guard reported earlier this month that the Oregon freshman is not expected to compete for the remainder of the academic year due to injury.

Both James Harding and Matthew Erickson are better than some people may give them credit for. However, the youth and inexperience of both Rheinhardt Harrison and Simeon Birnbaum will be interesting to monitor in a field as loaded as this. The Ducks' DMR lineup is packed with tons of natural talent, but Oregon's general lack of racing has made it tricky to gauge expectations.

Entered Lineup: Miles Brown, Michael Hancock, Camden Law, John O'Reilly

I've said before that I really like Miles Brown when he's on Michigan's DMR. He has consistently stepped up and provided great value every time that he has a baton in his hand. However, without standout anchor leg Nick Foster, this team is simply going to be limited on firepower compared to a few of their counterparts.

Entered Lineup: Yukichi Ishii, Cheickna Traore, Handal Roban, Evan Dorenkamp

Across the board, this is a really strong relay with pockets of explosive speed (i.e. Cheickna Traore and Handal Roban). If Yuikichi Ishii can keep the Nittany Lions in contention through the first leg (which we're assuming he'll run), then the middle portion of this lineup should be good enough to put Evan Dorenkamp within reach of the leaders. And if that happens, then I wouldn't sleep on the underrated closing speed of the Penn State veteran.

Entered Lineup: Ryan Wilson, Alejandro Rodriguez, Jeremy Kain, Beck Wittstadt

When everyone is at their best, this is a somewhat underrated lineup, especially with Beck Wittstadt showing a lot of promise of late. Ryan Wilson isn't quite in top form yet, but he's still very solid and Jeremy Kain has been fairly reliable as well. While they may not have tons of upside in a race like this, I also don't see a scenario where the Blue Devils struggle in any dramatic way on Friday.

Entered Lineup: Cooper Cawthra, DeMarco Escobar, Sam Whitmarsh, Ondrej Gajdos

Assuming that the order listed above is the order that Texas A&M actually employs for this race, the men from College Station may have a legitimate shot at a top-five finish. DeMarco Escobar and Sam Whitmarsh are a lethal duo to have in the middle portion of this lineup while Cooper Cawthra and Ondrej Gajdos are no slouches, either. Other teams will have more impactful lead-off and anchor legs, but the Aggies have an overall better DMR than some may give them credit for.

Entered Lineup: Zach Hughes, Xavier Branker, Wesley Larson, Brett Gardner

I like this NC State lineup, but I don't necessarily love it. Having veteran Zach Hughes on the lead-off leg should be a good fit for him and Brett Gardner is seemingly at/near the best fitness in his career. However, ensuring that Gardner gets the baton in a good enough position will be a challenge when looking at the competition that the Wolfpack's first three legs will have to face.

Entered Lineup: Luke Nester, William Gravitt, Carson Sloat, Samuel Keeny

For whatever reason, the Patriot League always seems to have a sneaky-good amount of middle distance depth. And sure enough, the Naval Academy is a good example. Even so, this team is built more for the 4x800-meter relay than the DMR.

Entered Lineup: Brian Kweyei, Charles Crick, Gabriel Ludwick, Corentin Serbource

Without Blaik Slavinski, Cameron Rose, Tarees Rhoden, Aman Thornton or Victor Ndiwa, there's only so much that Clemson's DMR lineup will be able to do on Friday. That said, Brian Kweyei is a 1:45 (800) runner who recently came over from Kenya. He hasn't replicated that kind of effort yet, but he has proven to be a strong and competitive name.

Entered Lineup: Winslow Atkeson, Aaron Miller, Thomas Cirrito, Owen Karas

I would not sleep on the Yale men this Friday. If you piece together the best performances of the men entered in this relay, then they could pull off a few upsets. Thomas Cirrito has run 1:48 (800) this season, Winslow Atkeson is a sub-four miler and Owen Karas is fresh off of running 3:40 for 1500 meters. No, I'm not saying that they'll win, but it would not at all surprise me if Yale ended up in the top-half of this race.

Entered Lineup: Victoria Vanriele, Allison Johnson, Madaline Ullom, Hayley Kitching

If the Penn State women win this race, it's going to be because their first three legs positioned their presumed anchor leg, Hayley Kitching, in a good enough position to take down the Washington women. I would argue that the Huskies have the advantage through the first three legs, but it won't be by a lot. If the Nittany Lions can stay within striking distance, then I would take Kitching over any other leg in this field (yes, that includes Wilma Nielsen and Gladys Chepngetich).

Entered Lineup: Wilma Nielsen, Samantha Friborg, Marlena Preigh, Chloe Foerster

Each of these women would be focal names on nearly every other relay in this field. In fact, this is probably the best four-person collection of middle distance runners that you'll find in this race. Sure, the talent of this group is admirable, but their consistency and reliability is what puts them over the top. Of course, if the rest of the field is close enough to Chloe Foerster when she gets the baton, then the sophomore will have quite the fight on her hands as she aims to shake off top-tier half-milers.

Entered Lineup: Maya Dorer, Madison Martinez, Alex Stasichin, Micah Trusty

There isn't necessarily one name on this relay who stands out in a major way. However, in theory, it feels like the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Both Madison Martinez and Micah Trusty are sub-2:05 (800) runners and Alex Stasichin is a respectable name as well. Admittedly, Maya Dorer hasn't looked like herself this year, but as long as she can continue to chip away at her times like she recently has, then the Wildcats will have a shot at placing inside the top-half of this field.

Entered Lineup: Brynne Sumner, Kayan Green, Jessica McLean, Gladys Chepngetich

There isn't a woman on this relay who has an 800-meter PR that is slower than 2:06. That is a really impressive stat when you consider that Clemson's ace, Gladys Chepngetich, has run 2:00 for the half-mile distance before. Simply put, I see very limited downside and tons of upside for the Tigers this weekend.

Entered Lineup: Alex O'Neill, Kimberley May, Maeve O'Neill, Shannon Flockhart

While this may be Providence's entered lineup for the 4x800-meter relay, it's highly doubtful that this is the personnel who the Friars will use for Saturday's race. That's because the women's 4x1500-meter relay is two hours beforehand and that's almost certainly the event that Coach Ray Treacy and his women will want to go "all-in" for.

Entered Lineup: Esther Seeland, Alahna Sabbakhan, Maggie Hock, Tatum David

Having a 2:02 (800) runner like Esther Seeland certainly makes the Virginia women an interesting team in this field and similar to Clemson, the Cavaliers don't have anyone in this lineup with an 800-meter PR slower than 2:05. Rookie Tatum David will be the main x-factor for this team. Her latest 2:11 (800) mark isn't encouraging, but a 4:19 (1500) mark most certainly is.

Entered Lineup: Melissa Riggins, DeAnna Martin, Chloe Gonzalez, Sierra Dinneen

Most people will look at this Georgetown lineup and assume that Melissa Riggins will simply carry this team on Saturday. And while it's true that she is the focal star of this relay, the rest of these women are hardly pushovers. Having DeAnna Martin, who is seemingly due to improve upon her 2:05 (800) PR, should be a nice complement to Riggins.

Entered Lineup: Charlotte Tomkinson, Iris Downes, Julia Fenerty, Lauren Tolbert

Even without Amina Maatoug, this is a really good lineup that could absolutely finish among the top-five on Saturday. Everyone but Iris Downes owns a 2:03 PR in this event and Downes is someone who just ran a promising 2:05 PR last weekend. I really like this group a lot and they wouldn't surprise me if they upset a handful of top teams in this race.

Entered Lineup: Caroline Donohoe, Ginny Beringer, Dylan Miller, Morgan Lyons

Keep an eye on Carolina Donohoe who has run 2:07 for 800 meters. Otherwise, this lineup may be overwhelmed against teams that are simply better than them.

Entered Lineup: Elizabeth Orr, Chloe Hassman, Camille Jordan, Phoebe White

Elizabeth Orr just ran a recent 2:09 (800) PR, Chloe Hassman just ran a recent 2:06 (800) PR, Camille Jordan just ran a recent 2:08 (800) PR and Phoebe White is a bit of a wildcard who can run faster than her 2:13 mark suggests. Racing on their home track with tons of momentum under their legs should allow the Penn women to beat expectations.

Entered Lineup: Kami Joi Hickson, Emma Pegg, Katie Turk, Anna Coffin

On paper, the 800-meter times of these women don't necessarily capture your attention. Even so, this is an experienced Maryland group that has produced a handful of new personal bests as of late. They're massive underdogs compared to the rest of the field, but it feels like they're slightly better than their times suggest.

Entered Lineup: Alexandra Wercinski, Kayla McGuire, McKenna Brophy, Eleanor Abraham

Sure, this team won't make headlines tomorrow, but they're a respectable group. The women of Navy boast a few sub-2:10 (800) runners while Eleanor Abraham has been posting some really solid times as of late.

Entered Lineup: Shae Harbaugh, Alison Ziehl, Sarah Coyne, Reese Powers

With a 2:07 (800) mark, Shae Harbaugh is a nice name to have headlining this lineup. However, the rest of her teammates are going to have their work cut out for them as the other women in this field boast personal bests that are noticeably faster.

Entered Lineup: Yukichi Ishii, Darius Smallwood, Olivier Desmeules, Handal Roban

Each of the men entered for Penn State in the 4x800-meter relay all own personal bests under the 1:48 mark. Handal Roban is a true star who has run 1:45 (800) before and Desmeules can be very underrated at times. This team isn't unstoppable, but with Yukichi Ishii and Darius Smallwood often acting as reliable names in their own right, the other teams in this field will need their best-ever efforts to secure gold.

Entered Lineup: Caden Norris, Cooper Cawthra, Kimar Farquharson, Sam Whitmarsh

Potentially the biggest threat to the Penn State men is Texas A&M. With two star-caliber legs on this relay, Kimar Farquharson and Sam Whitmarsh, the potential for gold is very much present for this group. However, Caden Norris and Cooper Cawthra, while solid, will need some of their best-ever races to match the names who Penn State and Georgetown will field.

Entered Lineup: Tim McInerney, Abel Teffra, Matthew Payamps, Tinoda Matsatsa

I really like every single name in this lineup. Tim McInerney has quietly evolved into one of the more reliable half-milers in the country, Abel Teffra has made a leap in his fitness, Matthew Payamps is near his peak fitness and Tinoda Matsatsa showed us how talented he is during the winter months. The only caveat, however, is that Teffra is also listed in Georgetown's 4xMile relay. Would he really try to double back from that race from two hours beforehand?

Entered Lineup: Aman Thornton, Gabriel Ludwick, Brian Kweyei, Tarees Rhoden

I don't know if I personally see the Clemson men winning this race, but it's certainly possible. Tarees Rhoden is All-American talent and Aman Thornton is one of the more underrated half-milers on the east coast. However, the real differentiator for the Tigers will be Brian Kweyei, a recent Kenya recruit who owns a 1:45 (800) PR. Admittedly, Kweyei has "only" run 1:48 this year, but knowing what his potential is makes the Tigers plenty scary.

Entered Lineup: Matthew Erickson, James Harding, Tomas Palfrey, Elliott Cook

If you're looking for a deep sleeper team, I would suggest taking the Oregon men. Matthew Erickson has run 1:46 (800), James Harding has run 1:47 (800), Tomas Palfrey has run 1:48 (800) and Elliott Cook has run 1:46 (800). On paper, that lineup may be just as complete as what Penn State and Georgetown have.

Entered Lineup: Sean Dolan, Jamie Moreland, Dan Watcke, Evan Addison

This is a very solid relay with a lot to like. However, Sean Dolan is the engine that makes this group truly competitive. And for as much as I like him and Dan Watcke, there are other teams that are simply more complete and feature more firepower.

Entered Lineup: Conor Murphy, Alex Leath, Shane Cohen, James Donahue

It would take a monumental team performance for the Virginia men to win this race...but it's not impossible. Alex Leath and Shane Cohen have quietly become extremely reliable 800-meter talents and James Donahue has exhibited more raw talent than what his 1:49 (800) PR would suggest. If Conor Murphy can return to his peak for this weekend, then maybe, just maybe, the Cavaliers could pull off a major upset.

Entered Lineup: Miles Brown, Henry Johnson, Camden Law, John O'Reilly

This is a much stronger relay than they may get credit for. Miles Brown is a borderline ace over 800 meters and is historically awesome in the relay events. Meanwhile, both Law and Johnson have run comfortably under 1:49 before. Sure, they may not have the top-end firepower that a few other relays do, but this is not a team that you'll be able to easily shake come Saturday.

Entered Lineup: Denis Gallagher, Edwin Klanke, Liam Going, Titus Bretzke

On paper, this is a deep group with a very high floor. Admittedly, they only have one guy who has run under 1:49 (800) and two men who own PRs that "only" sit at 1:50 for the half-mile distance. Even so, this team should remain relatively competitive throughout most of this race, even if they aren't contending near the front.

Entered Lineup: Justin Gottlieb, Matt Gatune, Michael Danzi, Justin O'Toole

The Columbia men have a relay that is very similar to the Penn men. They have strong depth and little downside, but only so much firepower. The one difference, however, is that the Lions have Justin O'Toole, a 1:47 (800) guy with 1:46 (800) potential. The catch? O'Toole hasn't raced since early February when he ran 1:54 for 800 meters at Boston U. In other words, O'Toole's fitness is largely an unknown going into this weekend.

Entered Lineup: Stephen Sutton, Mahamed Sharif, Samuel Geisler, Travis Martin

On paper, this is a relay that could finish in the top-half of this field. The challenge, however, is that each of these men are capable of running much faster than they recently have. If everyone's firing on all cylinders, then the Huskies could maybe scare the top-five. That, of course, would require a lot of different things falling in their favor.

Entered Lineup: Matthew Newell, Jack Lange, Garrett Baublitz, Tate Frost

Navy is typically known for their middle distance depth, at least in the Patriot League. Even so, they'll be deficient on the top-end talent necessary to truly contend with the teams that we have highlighted so far.

Entered Lineup: Melissa Riggins, Chloe Gonzalez, Anya Hirschfeld, Chloe Scrimgeour

Having someone like Melissa Riggins on your relay will certainly keep you in contention with the top teams in this field. Both Chloe Gonzalez and Anya Hirschfeld are respectable milers, but if the Hoyas want to win, then those two women will need to have big days and Chloe Scrimgeour will need to effectively drop down in distance.

Entered Lineup: Samantha Bush, Hannah Gapes, Amaris Tyynismaa, Angelina Napoleon

The very best version of this relay can likely win the women's 4x1500-meter title on Saturday. We're confident in what Sam Bush can do, but it's the rest of this lineup that features numerous x-factors. The good news is that Amaris Tyynismaa is slowly rounding back into form, something that could allow the Wolfpack to remain in the hunt for gold.

Entered Lineup: Margot Appleton, Caroline Timm, Tatum David, Anna Workman

On paper, this might be the most complete 4x1500-meter lineup in the field. And if Penn State isn't favored to win, then Virginia likely is. Margot Appleton is a true star who should be able to match (or come close to) the top runner on any relay. More importantly, Anna Workman has thrived at this distance and Caroline Timm is a true veteran who recently produced a 1500-meter personal best the other weekend. Tatum David is the main wildcard on this team, but she doesn't necessarily have to be her superstar self in order for the Cavaliers to win gold.

Entered Lineup: Ella Borsheim, Julia David-Smith, India Weir, Haley Herberg

I like most of the women in this lineup, although I would also say that they are better suited for the longer distances rather than the 1500 meters. India Weir is a really solid miler and her teammates should be fit enough to remain competitive. But in a race that features four different 1500-meter legs, having a lineup of mostly non-milers is an interesting development.

Entered Lineup: Leane Willemse, Victoria Heiligenthal, Kylie Finger, Madison Mooney

This isn't the flashiest lineup, but it doesn't need to be. The Wisconsin women have four fairly solid names among this group and Madison Mooney should be provide great value on the anchor leg. Not only that, but Victoria Heiligenthal is a 4:40 miler who has recently ripped off a handful of personal bests. In other words, she's due for a big mile/1500-meter race.

Entered Lineup: Kileigh Kane, Florence Caron, Madaline Ullom, Hayley Kitching

If the Virginia women aren't favored to win this race, then the Penn State women most certainly are. This four-person lineup is crazy talented with Kileigh Kane holding a 4:32 mile PR, Florence Caron holding a 4:33 mile PR, Madaline Ullon holding a 4:35 mile PR and Hayley Kiching boasting a 4:14 PR for 1500 meters. If everyone on this relay is firing on all cylinders, then I'm not sure how they would lose. That, of course, is not a given.

Entered Lineup: Lauren Freeland, Katie Osika, Makenna Veen, Olivia Millen

This is a really strong lineup with multiple veterans who have built their reputations over the 1500-meter and mile distances. Lauren Freeland and Katie Osika offer tremendous stability and should keep the Spartans in the hunt for a top-five result. Veen is more of a longer distance talent, but her recent improvements suggest that she'll be plenty helpful on this relay. The main x-factor for Michigan State is Olivia Millen. She's a still-developing sophomore, but as long as she can hold her own, then this team will have a good shot at cracking the top-five.

Entered Lineup: Brynne Sumner, Madelyn Dinneen, Madison Roush, Silvia Jelelgo

Silvia Jelelgo and Brynne Sumner are respectable milers, although the former is coming down in distance and the latter is moving up in distance. With the rest of the field simply being more talented, the Tigers are likely placing more emphasis on the 4x800-meter relay and DMR rather than this event.

Entered Lineup: Gracie Marston, Helena Lindsay, Lottie Chappell, Mary Brady

The Georgia Tech women are certainly underdogs, but don't let this race be a reflection of their talent. Both Helenda Lindsay and Mary Brady have been making great progress as of late which should give them some momentum heading into Saturday.

Entered Lineup: Sean Donoghue, Xian Shively, Marco Langon, Devon Comber

Some may say that the Villanova men are favored to win this race while others may say the same thing about Wisconsin and Virginia. Regardless, all four men in this lineup are really strong talents who can make up ground if necessary. Marco Langon is probably closer to being a true "ace" than not, but opponents like Adam Spencer and Gary Martin have proven to be far more formidable at this distance.

Entered Lineup: Adam Spencer, Jackson Sharp, Benjamin Nibbelink, Joe dosReis

Having Adam Spencer on this relay automatically puts the Badgers into contention for the win regardless of what the rest of this lineup looked like. However, adding in Jackson Sharp who is also a sub-four miler only boosts Wisconsin's chances even more. Both Benjamin Nibbelink and Joe dosReis are sub-four milers, but they'll need to replicate their best efforts to give Spencer an optimal position for the win (assuming that he's anchoring).

Entered Lineup: Yasin Sado, Nathan Mountain, Wes Porter, Gary Martin

This relay is very similar to what the Villanova men boast. They have a handful of accomplished talents who each hold great value with one name standing out above the rest (Gary Martin). The dynamic distance star once split 3:51 on an anchor leg this past winter, making him one of the most dangerous runners in this entire field. Even if the Cavaliers are at a deficit when he gets the baton, Martin will likely find a way to put them back in the mix.

Entered Lineup: Lucas Guerra, Peter Herold, Parker Stokes, Camden Gilmore

Both Parker Stokes and Camden Gilmore have proven that they can be competitive milers. Thankfully, Lucas Guerra is beginning to come into his own, running 3:41 (1500) last weekend and posting a sub-four mile effort this past winter. If Peter Herold can maintain his position, then the Georgetown men may have an outside shot of placing in the top-five.

Entered Lineup: Tom Brady, Nick Foster, Riley Flemington, Trent McFarland

Everyone knows how good Nick Foster is, especially in a relay setting. He'll be the name who keeps this group competitive. Neither Tom Brady or Riley Flemington will hurt the Wolverines' position during this race, but Trent McFarland is the one who can likely make up some ground on teams who may jump out in front of them.

Entered Lineup: Carter Solomon, CJ Singleton, Daelen Ackley, Jake Renfree

For the most part, we know what we're getting out of this lineup...well, for everyone except CJ Singleton. Both Carter Solomon and Daelen Ackley are sub-four milers while Jake Refree is a veteran who has been here before. On paper, Singleton is in the best shape out of all of those men right now, recently posting an 8:33 steeplechase PR, but how will that effort translate to the mile distance?

Entered Lineup: Aiden Coles, Bradley Giblin, Nick Soldevere, Damien Dilcher

This is a much better lineup than some people may realize. Three of these guys are sub-four milers and the only one who isn't has run 4:00. Damien Dilcher is fresh off of a 3:39 (1500) effort and has all of the momentum in the world. There is a lot to like about the Gaels and they should be on your radar as a team that could surprise and crack the top-five.

Entered Lineup: Evan Dorenkamp, Luke Seymour, Ryan Watson, Yukichi Ishii

If you've read our content for long enough, then you likely know how good Evan Dorenkamp can be when he's firing on all cylinders. Even so, this Nittany Lion veteran can only take this lineup so far given the lack of true milers he'll be teaming up with.

Entered Lineup: Charlie Smith, Myles Collins, Alexander Arrambide, Nick Nyman

Nick Nyman is a fairly solid name who is having a nice season. And while the other men in this relay have shown flashes of promise this year, the Georgia Tech men will need more than that if they want to crack the top-half of this field.

Entered Lineup: Andrew Nolan, Riley Hough, Luke Perelli, Owen Huard

Riley Hough is beginning to show that he can be nationally competitive this spring and Owen Huard just ran 3:43 for 1500 meters. Andrew Nolan has run 4:02 in the mile and Luke Perelli just ran a 3:45 (1500) PR. This may not be the flashiest group, but if they all come in and execute, then they can take down teams with more volatility.

Entered Lineup: Ryan Wilson, Zubeir Dagane, Austin Gabay, Beck Wittstadt

I'm not sure why the Duke men are listed towards the bottom of the entries -- this is a strong lineup with a lot of potential! Ryan Wilson isn't at his best (yet), but he's still a really solid metric miler. Austin Gabay just ran 3:40 (1500) and Beck Wittstadt could be due for an improvement upon his 3:41 (1500) mark after running 1:47 over 800 meters two weeks in a row. With Zubeir Dagane showcasing promising consistency via back-to-back 3:42 (1500) marks, I don't see much downside on this relay.

Entered Lineup: Sawyer Dagan, Brandon Garcia, Corentin Serbource, Brian Kweyei

The Clemson men are not going to have an easy time on Saturday as they are simply outclassed compared to the rest of this field. Brian Kweyei could play a key role, but it feels more likely that he'll keep his legs fresh for the 4x800-meter relay.

Assumes all collegiates will contest every race that they are entered in fresh.