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Editor's Note: Our TSR writers were asked to produce three sentences or less of analysis on every entrant in every distance event for every division. We will be slowly rolling out these previews throughout this week leading up to the indoor national meets. Stay tuned!
It's abundantly clear that the Maroons are the co-national title favorites with Washington U. There are numerous lineup combinations that we could see from this squad, but it will likely be the group that helped them qualify for this meet that will toe the line (with a potential alternation on the lead-off leg). And truthfully, trying to figure out how the U. Chicago women are going to get an edge on Washington U. (and vice versa) is an impossible task as both teams are neck and neck.
The Bears are arguably just as good as the U. of Chicago women, but it will be extremely difficult to get an edge on their conference rivals. Lindsay Ott is a solid option for the lead-off leg, but the Maroons may be able counter her running prowess with a handful of other women. The good news is that the Bears could rally big-time if Emma Kelley effectively rebounds from the 800 meter prelims and posts a huge split in the middle of this lineup.
Windsor Ardner is the backbone of this DMR lineup via the anchor leg. But with Ardner contesting the 800 meter prelims two and a half hours beforehand, we have to wonder what she can do on this relay doubling back or if she'll even be on this relay. There's also a very good chance that this lineup order (and personnel) changes outside of Ardner with the (potential) introduction of Marcie Hogan, Lilly Fowler-Conner or Janelle Eckl.
There's not necessarily a weak point in this lineup and there are very few avenues where we could see the Eagles running poorly. But would it make more sense to move Emma Malooly or Julia Anderson to the 800 meter leg and then employ a different woman for the lead-off spot? There's no good answer to that question, especially since Greta Koehler is at least the "safest" option for that portion of their relay.
The goal for the Wartburg women is very simple: Get the baton to Aubrie Fisher as fast as you can. We could see Lily Campbell on this relay (which would be a big mid-lineup boost), but she's running the 800 meter prelims and the other legs in this relay and more long distance-based. The Knights have a home run-hitting anchor, but it's the women before Fisher who will determine just how competitive they can be.
Despite holding the sixth seed in this field, the Middlebury women are legitimate underdogs. They haven't had anyone run faster than 2:20 for the open 800 meters (unconverted) this winter and after Kate Kenny, they don't have another miler faster than 5:08 this season (unconverted). And yet, that seemingly didn't matter when the Panthers ran their qualifying time, meaning that it may not matter on the national stage, either.
Between Blakeley Buckingham and Molly Fitzgibbons, the Williams women probably have one of the better lead-off/closing duos in this field. But with both women running in the mile prelims earlier that day, is it safe to assume that they will both double back for the DMR? That question gets even trickier when you remember Lucy Gagnon is also running in the mile prelims.
The success of this relay depends on a handful of factors. Those factors include Gillian Roeder's ability to double back from the mile prelims, Julia Howarth's ability to double back from the 800 meter prelims and Christina Crow having one of the better races of her career. We could also see Lexi Fernandez enter this lineup at some point, but trying to figure out where this group is going to finish is a major challenge.
Morgan Lee is a solid name to have as your anchor leg, but she'll need one or two other members of this relay to post some big-time splits. The Engineers can certainly emerge as All-Americans, especially since they'll all be fresh, but this has to be a true team effort.
Just get the baton to Caroline McMartin. It's really that simple. Megan Johnson is a really underrated lead-off leg, but the Central College women will need to hope that McMartin's recent postseason peak extends to her anchor leg.
Ellie Jankowski is a serviceable option on the lead-off leg of this relay, but the make-or-break portion of Hope's relay will be seeing how much work the middle of this lineup leaves for a doubling Ana Tucker.
We really like Maeve Hoffman who feels like a fairly underrated talent. However, if the Wesleyan women are going to contend for an All-American honor, they're going to need the entirety of their relay to put together some of the best performances of their careers.