mweidenbruch
Mar 10, 20206 min
Updated: Mar 12, 2020
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: DMR (expected to run)
Analysis: Charlie Hunter has the fastest outright, non-converted mile time in the NCAA this year (Joe Klecker’s altitude-converted time is faster, although he scratched the mile at NCAA's) and he ran it during the final weekend of national qualifying. His season began to heat up when he ran the 800 meter leg of Oregon’s NCAA record-setting DMR and he has looked great ever since. While Hunter has the fastest seed time by over a second and is peaking at the right time, it is difficult to call him a singular favorite in such a deep field…
Other Events: DMR (expected to run)
Analysis: Oliver Hoare has been slotted as a national title favorite in nearly every race he has toed the line for since he secured the 1500 meter national title in the spring of 2018 after upsetting Josh Kerr. In 2020, that narrative will be no different. Hoare has finished in the top four of every NCAA Championship 1500/mile final that he has run in his career (three times), and it is safe to say that this is his specialty event. Whether the race goes out fast or slow, it is a near-guarantee that Hoare will be in the mix at the bell. The only question is if he will be able to close the deal and win NCAA gold...
Other Events: N/A
Analysis: Carlos Villarreal has established himself as one of the top middle distance runners in the NCAA. The Arizona standout finished 4th in this race last year and was one of three collegiates who ran 3:56 at the Millrose Games in February of this year. Villarreal has great 800 meter speed (1:46.70 PR) which, in theory, gives him tremendous upside in a championship-style race which often requires a fast finish. However, recent issues with back spams have us staying cautious about the current status of his health.
Other Events: 3k
Analysis: Geordie Beamish shocked the NCAA by winning the mile title last year and is back to try to make it two in a row with a potential altitude advantage this time. Beamish held an unconverted mile PR of 4:06 going into last year’s national meet which led many fans to doubt his legitimacy. However, a lethal kick silenced his nay-sayers. This year, his true, unconverted PR is 10 seconds faster and now he gets to compete at NCAA's with the altitude in his favor.
Other Events: N/A
Analysis: The Ole Miss junior will be out for redemption after missing out on All-American finishes during both lasts winter and last spring. Suliman took 20th place at the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships in the fall, showing that he may be a stronger athlete (especially in the longer distances) than in previous years. With a combination of cross country strength and middle distance speed, Suliman has one of the best resumes out of anyone in this field. However, he'll need to remedy his tactical woes in championship races.
Other Events: 3k
Analysis: Few athletes have had as big of a breakout season as Tuntivate. He races aggressively and it has been paying off for him all year. This is his first time qualifying for an NCAA Championship on the track, so it will be interesting to see if he continues to utilize aggressive race strategies, especially with the meet being held at altitude.
*Tuntivate will not be competing after being scratched by Harvard due to Coronavirus concerns
Other Events: 3k + DMR (Unclear whether or not he will run)
Analysis: Fresh off an indoor collegiate record in the 1500 meters (3:36.93), James West comes into NCAA’s with a legitimate shot at a title in every event he is entered in. Running four races in a weekend is no easy task, but if anyone is able to pull it off, it's the Oregon Duck who had a 7:47/3:57 double one weekend and a 3:36/1:48 double another week. No one in the NCAA is better prepared for multiple races in a single weekend than West.
Other Events: 3k
Analysis: While Kieran Tuntivate has made a case to call himself the Breakout Athlete of the Year, Ryan Adams may be tough to beat in that same category. A seven second PR in the mile put the Furman senior at 3:57 earlier in the season and he has hardly missed a beat since, earning a 7:49 3k PR as well. Adams has made a big jump this winter, but it will be interesting to see how he handles the national meet where he wont be as much of an underdog as he used to be.
Other Events: N/A
Analysis: Sam Ellis is another athlete who has broken onto the national stage this season. The mile seems to be a step up for Ellis who more frequently competes in the 800 meters and the 1000 meters (with a 2:22 PR), but he has adjusted quite well to the eight-lap affair. He carries great momentum, not finishing worse than 3rd in any race he has entered this indoor season, and has plenty of excellent middle distance speed which will come in handy if the prelims or finals require a fast finish.
Other Events: N/A
Analysis: Mick Stanovsek has left national meets disappointed more times than he probably cares to count. His resume indicates that he is an All-American caliber athlete, but between falls, tactical errors or flat-out poor performances, Stanvosek has just been unlucky a LOT at the NCAA Championships. He is set up with as good a chance as any to finish inside the top eight this weekend. Will the Washington veteran be able to get over the hump this weekend?
Other Events: 3k
Analysis: George Kusche has showcased his range this season, putting up impressive performances in the 800 meters, the mile, and the 3k. He will have his hands full with multiple events, but the Nebraska school record holder in the mile and 3k has had very few hiccups this year. His BIG 10 performances left something to be desired, but he'll have a better chance to make adjustments as he heads into the national meet this weekend.
Other Events: DMR (expected to run)
Analysis: Diego Zarate is the only man in this field who has not actually broken four minutes in the mile, as his time is converted from a flat-track at the Camel City Elite meet. However, Zarate has consistently been one of the top milers in the ACC for a few years now and is getting his first shot at an Indoor National Championship. He has great speed over shorter distances as well and is one of the best athletes in the nation when it comes to racing tactically.
Other Events: DMR (expected to run)
Analysis: Franco has run personal bests in three events this season (800, mile, 3k) and has anchored BYU's DMR to a national qualifying time. Franco has consistently been one of the better mile/1500 meter runners in the NCAA, but breakout performances this winter validated that belief. As a relatively underrated talent, an All-American finish would be a nice finishing touch for the BYU veteran heading into the outdoor season.
Other Events: N/A
Analysis: Theo Quax is part of NAU’s stable of young rising stars who will be testing themselves against the nation’s best in Albuquerque. Joining Geordie Beamish in the mile, Quax will be hoping to bring NAU’s perennial dominance down from the 3k and 5k to the middle distance events. The son of the late New Zealand distance running legend Dick Quax, Theo’s 3:58 mile performance from earlier in the year made him and his father one of only 12 father-son pairings to have run sub-four minutes in the mile. After getting over the learning curve and missing the national meet last spring (despite owning a 3:39 1500 meter PR), Quax has an opportunity this weekend to show that he can translate his regular season accolades to a championship stage.
Other Events: DMR (Unlikely, but possible)
Analysis: Cole Hocker was one of the top recruits from the high school class of 2019 and has made an immediate impact for Oregon. Running 3:58 at the Boston University Last Chance meet, Hocker snuck into NCAA's after picking up some serious momentum in the latter half of the season. If the Oregon freshman can carry that momentum into NCAA's, then Hocker could find a spot into the finals.
Other Events: DMR (expected to run)
Analysis: Schadler has been an integral part of Indiana’s DMR as the 1200 meter leg all season long, and his primary goal is likely to go after an NCAA title in that event. He lacks the championship experience that some of these other athletes have, but the Indiana redshirt freshman has been running well all season long, posting consistently strong performances and displaying underrated speed (such as a 2:23 1000 meter PR). His season as a whole has been arguably just as impressive as his singular 3:58 mile performance. Despite being the last seed in this field, Schadler has a very good shot at getting to the finals.