Maura Beattie
Mar 12, 20205 min
Our TSR staff is previewing each athlete in each distance event for the Indoor National Championships. Below, we offer analysis and evaluate how each of these athletes will fare at the National Championships. Names are ordered by seed time.
Other Events: 3k + DMR (not expected to run)
Izzo’s success at Arkansas has continued this indoor season following her 3rd place finish at the cross country national meet this past fall. Way back in December, Izzo ran a jaw-dropping 15:13 and then ran two more PR’s of 8:55 (3k) and 4:35 (mile) later in the season. She is one of the few women in the NCAA who can match Kelati's aggressive pacing in these longer distance races.
Other Events: 3k + DMR (not expected to run)
After winning a national title in the 10k at the outdoor national meet and the cross country national meet, Kelati will be going after her first indoor national title and the 5k should be her best bet after her 15:14 performance earlier in the year (where she finished behind Izzo). Kelati will be racing on her home track, giving her a distinct advantage of her non-altitude competitors. An aggressive pace like we saw in Boston a few months ago is less likely this time around.
Other Events: N/A
Hasz redshirted the 2019 cross country season, but has been on a roll since her 15:25 5k PR from December. She has raced in the mile and 3k two times each, eventually recording a mile PR of 4:38. She has been consistently great this season and looks like someone who understands how to position herself in a variety of races.
Other Events: 3k + DMR (not expected to run)
Cardama Baez has finished three individual events this indoor season and each one has been a PR. She has recorded a 4:42 mile, a 9:01 3k and a 15:25 5k. Based on the way she has been racing since her runner-up finish in the 10k during outdoor’s, a big performance could be coming her way. She has a ton of momentum right now.
Other Events: 3k + DMR (not expected to run)
Last year, Morley doubled at the indoor national meet and recorded a 6th place finish in the 3k and a 7th place finish in the 5k (both All-American finishes). She has since taken 11 seconds off of her 5k PR this season, finishing only nine seconds behind teammate Dani Jones. Between the altitude and her history of peaking in the postseason, Morley is primed to find major success this weekend.
Other Events: N/A
In her first season at Alabama, Chelangat has already qualified for the indoor national meet. She recorded her national qualifying time at the Husky Classic, placing 3rd in a fast race won by a professional athlete. Chelangat is coming off of a runner-up finish in the 5k at SEC’s and a 3k PR of 9:16, so her momentum is at an all-time high heading into this weekend.
Other Events: N/A
Kimeli, the 14th place finisher from the 2019 cross country national meet, is entered in the 5k after shaving 29 seconds off of her PR at the Boston Season Opener back in December. The Auburn runner has also recorded a 4:38 mile and 9:14 3k this indoor season. Although she only finished 5th at SEC’s in the 5k, I would expect her to bounce back come Nationals. She has consistently posted outstanding marks, but continues to be an under the radar talent.
Other Events: N/A
Earning her qualifying time at the Boston Season Opener in December, Wheeler is coming off of a dominating win at the BIG East Championships in the 5k. Wheeler was 24 seconds ahead of 2nd finisher Emily Royston (Butler), winning in 15:49, only nine seconds off of her personal best. Her new 9:08 3k PR and 3k/5k conference wins should bode well for Wheeler in a strong 5k field at NCAA’s.
Other Events: N/A
Mettler’s last two races have been PR’s. A 15:49 at the Iowa State Classic and an altitude-converted 9:12 3k at the Mountain West Championships are tough to ignore when looking at athletes who are peaking at the right time. This will be Mettler’s first indoor national meet, but after a breakout cross country season where she earned All-American honors, she hasn’t been afraid to stick her nose into the top levels of competition. She will also have an advantage in this race due to the fact that she trains at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level.
Other Events: N/A
Logue is an experienced runner, but surprisingly enough, this is her first national meet on the track. The Iowa State athlete owns a 15:40 5k PR and has run 15:50 and 15:51 this indoor season, proving her consistency. If that consistency follows her into Nationals, she could potentially sneak into one of the final All-American spots.
Other Events: DMR (not expected to run)
New Mexico’s Emily Martin will be joining Kelati in the 5k on their home track. This season, Martin has run personal bests in the mile, 3k and 5k. Her 15:52 national qualifying time came from the Boston Season Opener in December, but Martin has been solid since. Her recent runner-up finish in the 3k at the Mountain West Championships gives her an altitude-converted 9:13. Martin shouldn’t struggle racing at altitude given that she trains in Albuquerque daily.
Other Events: N/A
Richardson was expected to have a breakout track season following her cross country season and sure enough that has been the case. She ran a 24 second PR in the 5k at the Husky Classic, placing 7th overall and crossing the line as the third collegiate. Richardson doesn’t have any experience at the indoor national meet, but after her 19th place showing at the cross country national meet this past fall, it's clear that she can handle the national stage better than most.
Other Events: DMR (not expected to run)
Clark secured a national qualifying time at SEC’s when she finished 3rd in the 5000 meters. She owns a 15:38 PR for the distance and when she brings her "A" Game, she is one to watch for, especially after her solid cross country season. Her first race of the season was a 9:17 3k PR at the Husky Classic which was a promising start to a short indoor season. Clark will have teammate Izzo to work with in this race and that should come in handy if the race turns tactical. Or, at the very least, Clark may know what's coming if Izzo decides to make a move at the front.
Other Events: N/A
Chmiel will enter this race as the youngest entrant in the field seeing that she is only a true freshman. After earning All-American honors in cross country, Chmiel ran a 16:02 at Boston in December. Since then, the NC State athlete has recorded a 4:46 mile and a 9:10 3k. Based on the way her cross country season ended and her recent improvement, Chmiel will go into this race with nothing to lose.
Other Events: N/A
In a fast race featuring professional runner Jenny Simpson and the Colorado duo of Dani Jones and Makena Morley, Delanis walked away with a shiny new 16:03 PR and a national qualifying time at the BU Valentine Invite. She didn’t have the greatest showing at ACC’s, finishing 9th in the 5k and 10th in the 3k. However, if the race turns tactical and she is able to hang with the chase pack, Delanis could surprise some people.
Other Events: N/A
Drop is no stranger to the indoor national meet seeing as how she was 4th in the 5k during the 2018 indoor season. Drop may only have a 16:04 season best in 2020, but she has run 15:38 over 5k before. When she is in the right race, Drop has a way of staying with the pack and earning a solid finish. She hasn't hit her peak yet this season, leaving her with the most upside out of anyone in the field.