2022 D1 Indoor Top 25 Rankings (Men): Preseason (Part Two)

TSR Collaboration
Dec 17, 2021
12 min read

Written by Garrett Zatlin and Michael Weidenbruch

Click here to see our Just Missed and Honorable Mention names.

Click here to read Part One of our women's D1 Indoor Top 25 Rankings

Listed eligibility takes redshirts and Covid-related extensions into consideration.

TFRRS is used as a general guide when determining eligibility.

13. Charles Hicks, Sophomore, Stanford

Hicks is an interesting runner. He could have been ranked as high as TSR #6 or as low as TSR #20. That's why a TSR #13 ranking seems appropriate -- it's the middle ground.

On paper, Hicks has a handful of marks and times that make him a fairly easy name to put into these rankings. He owns personal bests of 13:33 (5k) and 27:47 (10k), times that place him into the upper-echelon of national competitiveness.

However, some people will be quick to point out that Hicks actually has slower times than a handful of names ranked behind him. They may also note that the 10,000 meters, which has proven to be his best event so far in his career, isn't contested on the national stage during the indoor season.

Hicks also hasn't toed the line for an indoor track race since the winter of 2020 just before the pandemic began.

All of those are valid points.

Even so, there are other aspects of his resume that are simply too good to ignore.

Yes, Hicks boasts fast times and even has an All-American finish on the outdoor oval from last spring. However, the reason we're so confident in his ability is because of his cross country results.

During the NCAA XC Championships last March, Hicks secured a huge 15th place finish to validate a monster breakout season. Then, just when you thought he couldn't get much better, the Stanford runner elevated his fitness even more. He had a dominant cross country season this past fall which he capped off with a jaw-dropping 4th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships before winning the U23 European XC Championships.

On the grass, Hicks has entered a new tier and that alone should make him one of the best names in the country. Yes, it's true that certain personal bests of his could be faster, but it's clear that this Cardinal superstar is better than he has ever been and just needs an opportunity to fully translate that success to the indoor oval this winter.

12. Reed Brown, Rs. Junior, Oregon

During the entirety of his career at Oregon, dating back to the fall of 2017, Reed Brown has lived in the shadows of some of the best runners in NCAA history.

There were years where Brown would have been the top guy on many of the best teams in the country. However, depending on what point in the season we're talking about, Brown was only the fourth-best miler on his team despite boasting a 3:56 personal best.

While guys like Cooper Teare, Cole Hocker, Charlie Hunter and James West likely pushed Reed Brown to become a better runner, the Oregon veteran hasn't always gotten the credit and attention that he deserves.

With personal bests of 3:56 in the mile and 3:38 in the 1500 meters, Brown has proven that he is one of the best runners in the NCAA across those distances. The Texas native is a two-time All-American in the mile (recently placing 5th last winter) and has won an NCAA title in the Distance Medley Relay. Brown was a big reason why the Ducks were able to secure gold in that race as he put together a phenomenal lead-off leg, doubling back after the mile prelims.

This Oregon star has a lot of experience at the top level of the NCAA, and this season will be his chance to prove himself as one of the best. Even so, there have been times throughout his career where he hasn't always been super consistent or has struggled to capitalize on his postseason opportunities.

Last winter put to rest a number of those concerns, but a questionable DQ in the preliminary rounds of the NCAA Outdoor Championships has left us wanting more.

Reed Brown absolutely has what it takes to be a title contender, but going for the top spot on the podium will not be easy, especially in a year headlined by Kipsang and Nuguse.

11. Morgan Beadlescomb, Rs. Senior, Michigan State

Beadlescomb is one of those guys who you always respect, but don't fully appreciate until you take a look at his resume. That's what happened with us when constructing these rankings.

The Michigan State veteran has a profile that lists numerous top-tier marks and strong finishes on the national stage. His best event is the 5000 meters, owning a personal best of 13:21. However, it's his quietly strong range that really caught our attention.

Beadlescomb has run 1:48 for 800 meters and 3:41 for 1500 meters, showing us that he has plenty of speed under his legs. Running 1:48 for 800 meters is not something that even the most elite long distance superstars can do.

Not only that, but this Spartan ace has been producing numerous All-American finishes in the second-half of his career.

In his last three appearances at the NCAA XC Championships, Beadlescomb has finished with placements of 23rd, 33rd and recently 5th. Last winter, he earned bronze at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 5k before going to the NCAA Outdoor Championships and placing 8th in the same event.

The fact of the matter is that Beadlescomb has a loaded resume, is fairly consistent, has shown that he is well-rounded and knows when to peak for the postseason. He has never been running as well as he is now.

Truthfully, there isn't really a glaring weakness that we see in Beeadlescomb. However, his next challenge will be seeing if he can make the leap from an All-American lock to a legitimate national title contender. That, admittedly, has yet to be seen.

10. Kieran Lumb, Senior, Washington

Kieran Lumb comes into the season as a bit of a newcomer to the NCAA as he spent the earlier portion of his collegiate career at the University of British Columbia (NAIA).

While he may be a fresh face in the United States, Lumb is no stranger to top-level competition and fast times. His personal best of 7:45 for 3000 meters makes the Canadian star one of the top runners in the nation in that event. Additionally, owning personal bests of 3:57 (mile) and 13:24 (5k) make Lumb extremely versatile and a boarderline All-American in either of those distances.

Kieran Lumb’s times speak for themselves, but the big question is whether or not he can integrate his talent into a deeply competitive NCAA distance running landscape.

In the past, Lumb has run fast times at big invitationals alongside NCAA champions and professionals. However, his championship racing experience is limited. The NAIA is not nearly as deep as the NCAA, and while his cross country season this past fall was solid, it didn't exactly blow us away, either.

We know that, on paper, Lumb can run fast enough to win an NCAA title. However, with no way to know how these championship races will unfold, Lumb remains a bit of a wildcard.

9. Amon Kemboi, Rs. Senior, Arkansas

Kemboi is the definition of consistency. He is someone who almost always produces top finishes at the NCAA Championships, regardless of the season and it helps that his resume boasts elite times.

By our count, Kemboi has amassed nine All-American honors throughout his career, and he could have had more! That, however, shouldn't be too big of a surprise. Kemboi has been a distance running star since day one and owns personal bests 1:49 (800), 3:58 (mile), 7:44 (3k), 13:33 (5k) and 28:55 (10k).

On paper, Kemboi is a superstar, but he's not perfect, either.

The Arkansas veteran doesn't necessarily have the best kick and could bare to make few better decisions tactically. The SEC Indoor Championships (3k) and the NCAA Indoor Championships (5k) are just a couple examples of that.

Even so, versatility, consistency and postseason success are all major components that we favor when making these rankings. Kemboi certainly has areas where he could improve, but that shouldn't discount how insanely talented he is.

8. Adriaan Wildschutt, Junior, Florida State

Death, taxes and Wildschutt being a top finisher on the national stage.

Prior to coming to Florida State, the biggest knock on Widlschutt was that he was inconsistent and didn't appear to always understand the nuances of championships. That, however, has significantly changed.

The Seminoles have turned Wildschutt into one of the nation's most consistent long distance runners who now appears to have a much better understanding of pacing.

The FSU star has finished 2nd and 6th at the past two NCAA XC Championships and has earned two additional runner-up results on the indoor and outdoor ovals. When it comes to the postseason, he knows how to deliver.

With personal bests of 7:55 (3k), 13:28 (5k) and 27:48 (10k), Wildscutt also has the marks that make him one of the better names in the NCAA.

Much like Beadlescomb, there isn't a ton to dislike about this Florida State ace. However, we'll be curious to see if Wildschutt can find a new tier of fitness and become more of a title contender than he already is.

7. Athanas Kioko, Senior, Campbell

I'll admit, before last spring, I wasn't necessarily a believer in Kioko.

It was obvious that the Campbell star had some of the best raw talent in the NCAA. However, his inability to properly pace and his underdeveloped understanding of race tactics were evident when looking at (and watching) a few of his performances.

Then, everything changed during the 2021 outdoor track season.

Kioko began to develop strong personal bests in the middle distance events with times of 1:49 for 800 meters and 3:38 for 1500 meters. He refined his speed and made an effort to double or triple on multiple occasions.

That refinement paid off as Kioko went to the NCAA Outdoor Championships and put together a miraculous performance in the 5000 meters. The Campbell star battled with Grijalva and Teare, properly reacting to certain moves and putting himself in a position to win gold.

Although he didn't win, he did place 3rd en route to a personal best of 13:13.

If it wasn't already evident enough, Kioko is beyond elite and he could very easily win a national title at some point this year. However, we're still curious how he'll be able to translate his success from the grass and the outdoor oval to the indoor track.

After running 7:52 for 3000 meters earlier this month, he seems to be off to a good start.

6. Finley McLear, Sophomore, Miami (OH)

McLear was someone who often produced great results throughout last winter and last spring. He was extremely consistent, prospered in most race settings and secured a personal best of 1:45 for 800 meters.

There isn't a ton to dislike about McLear. He has all of the intangibles that one would need to find major success at the highest levels of the NCAA.

We could go into his resume, but his personal best of 1:45, a narrow runner-up finish at the indoor national meet and a 4th place finish at the outdoor national meet tells us everything that we need to know.

McLear is talented enough to win NCAA gold. He showed us that last season. However, if Brandon Miller is able to fully translate his outdoor success to the indoor oval, then McLear will need to have enough raw fitness to match the overwhelming firepower that the Texas A&M star brings to the table.

5. Eliud Kipsang, Rs. Freshman, Alabama

Another year, another Alabama runner asserting themselves as a national-caliber superstar.

Kipsang is known for his success in the mile and 1500 meters, but his range extends both lower and higher than that. In addition to his 3:35 (1500) and 3:55 (mile) personal bests, Kipsang has also run times of 1:46 (800), 7:58 (3k) and 13:39 (5k).

However, his versatility hasn't played much of a role in terms of how he approaches certain races. Kipsang, after all, likes to be very aggressive with his pacing. While that doesn't always work out for most distance talents, it seemingly has for Kipsang.

In fact, many of us at TSR were wondering why Kipsang wasn't more aggressive during the 1500 meter finals at the Outdoor National Championships last spring.

Between his runner-up result at the indoor national meet and a 4th place result at the outdoor national meet, Kipsang looks like he could be a national title favorite in his respective event areas.

The problem, of course, is that a man named Yared Nuguse stands in his way.

4. Wesley Kiptoo, Junior, Iowa State

I'll fully admit, I've been very critical of Kiptoo's approach to racing.

When it comes to toeing the line against the nation's most elite talents, Kiptoo's overly aggressive paces and surges have proven to be fairly ineffective towards the goal of earning a top finish or winning a national title.

I mean heck, he wasn't even an All-American in the 5k or the 10k last spring!

That being said, it looks like Kiptoo may have altered his race strategy since June. The Iowa State star didn't take home NCAA gold this past fall, but his race approach seemed far more measured and calculated. While it may not be perfect, Kiptoo seems to have a better understanding of when to be aggressive and when not to be aggressive.

Tactical decisions aside, we also can't ignore the fact that Kiptoo just ran 13:14 for 5000 meters earlier this month. Sure, Kioko ran 13:13 for 5000 meters back in June, but running sub-13:15 on an outdoor track verses an indoor track is very different.

With a cross country season no longer splitting athletes between national meets, Kiptoo will have his hands full with a saturated NCAA distance field this winter. Of course, if anyone can run away from this field, it's going to be him.

3. Mario Garcia Romo, Rs. Sophomore

Ole Miss has quickly become one of the best middle distance programs in the country, and Mario Garcia Romo looks set to be their front man in 2022.

Garcia Romo enters the winter season as one of the best all-around runners in the NCAA. He has run 3:56 in the mile and 3:37 in the 1500 meters which tends to be his primary event. However, he also holds personal bests of 1:47 for 800 meters and 7:48 for 3000 meters.

What is perhaps most impressive when looking over Garcia Romo’s resume is that last March, he placed 3rd in the 3000 meters and 2nd in the DMR at NCAA Indoor Championships. He later finished 30th at the NCAA XC Championships, all of which happened in a five-day span.

It is clear that Garcia Romo is one of the most versatile runners in the NCAA. He will likely have his pick of competing in the mile, 3k and/or DMR at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

However, what truly sets him apart and what makes him a contender to win a title this year is his incredible kick. He may be the only one capable of staying on Yared Nuguse’s shoulder in the mile or 3k.

It is difficult to pin Garcia Romo as a singular title favorite over any one distance this season. Even so, if he can follow-up on his 2021 performances this winter, then he should have as good of a chance as anyone to win gold.

2. Brandon Miller, Freshman, Texas A&M

Brandon Miller is someone who I challenged quite often last year, either in an article, on our podcast or in my own thoughts.

Sure, he was a superstar in high school, but would he able to match his personal best in college?

That answer was a yes.

Ok, he's proven he can hold his own, but can he overcome his inexperience and thrive in a tactical setting?

That answer was a yes.

He's done well in certain race situations, but can he handle running two rounds of the 800 meters during championship season?

That answer was a yes.

He can hold his own in the postseason, but can he run a time that will advance him to the national meet?

That answer was a yes.

Ok, he's run pretty quick, but can he become a title contender and post an elite-level mark?

That answer was a yes.

At this point, you get what I'm going for. Miller has simply brushed aside any and all concerns that we've had about him. He wasn't perfect, but as a freshman, he was pretty darn close.

The only question we have remaining is if Miller can fully translate his 1:44 personal best to the indoor oval, or at least the equivalent of it. If he can, then we might as well give this Texas A&M star the national title right now.

1. Yared Nuguse, Senior, Notre Dame

Yared Nuguse comes in at the top of our list as a title favorite in up to three events.

The NCAA record holder at 1500 meters is more than just a miler; he holds a personal best of 7:46 in the 3000 meters and has helped Notre Dame win two national titles in the DMR.

Nuguse may have the strongest kick in the entire NCAA and he can win in basically any race scenario. He excels in championship/postseason races and always seems to peak at the perfect point in the season.

With marks of 1:48 (800), 3:34 (1500), 3:55 (mile), 7:46 (3k) and 13:40 (5k), Nuguse has an entire arsenal of speed and endurance at his disposal. Whatever his competitors throw at him, he'll be ready for.

It's still too early to know what event(s) Nuguse will contest at Nationals. Even so, given Cooper Teare and Cole Hocker’s departure from the professional ranks, Yared Nuguse looks like the favorite for both the mile and the 3k.

And depending on what Notre Dame can put together, possibly the DMR as well.