2023-24 D2 Indoor Top 25 Rankings (Women): Preseason (Part Two)

Written by Grace McLaughlin, additional edits & commentary via Garrett Zatlin & Gavin Struve

Click here to see our Just Missed and Honorable Mention names. Click here to see Part One (names #25 through #13)

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

TFRRS is used as a general, but not strict, guide when determining eligibility.

12. Zoe Baker, Rs. Senior, Colorado Mines

Zoe Baker is back. The Colorado Mines endurance star did not have cross country eligibility this past fall. So what did she do instead? She qualified for the Olympic Trials in the marathon, a development that leaves us just as encouraged as a few cross country performances from others.

But nowadays, Baker is back on track and in a Mines uniform, as well as in our rankings. 

Baker excels over 5000 meters and placed 4th at last year's NCAA Indoor Championships in that event. However, she placed 13th in the 3000 meters as well. And during the spring, she was 9th over 5000 meters and 5th over 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

When it comes to consistently producing competitive times each and every season, Baker is one of the more reliable options. Her personal bests of 4:56 (mile), 9:33 (3k) and 16:07 (5k), the former of which was run at altitude, clearly show a favoritism towards the aerobic-centric events. That strength would also explain why she seemingly tends to thrive in fast-paced time trial environments.

In 2024, we'll need to see Baker fully deliver on the national stage. She had a strong top-half All-American finish last year in the indoor 5k, but she has also left a handful of All-American honors on the table over the years. Even so, when it comes to talent and producing top marks, Baker certainly deserves to be in the top-half of our rankings.

11. Kaylee Beyer, Senior, Winona State

Kaylee Beyer had a 2023 to remember. Not only for her winter and spring track seasons, but for her fall campaign as well.

Beyer improved immensely on the grass over the last few months, coming away with a 7th place finish at the cross country national meet. But even before this past fall, Beyer had already made great improvements on the track in 2023, running PRs of 4:46 in the mile and 2:12 over 800 meters. She also placed 4th in the mile at the indoor national meet.

The rising Winona State star carried that momentum into the spring season, running within two seconds of her personal best in the metric mile with a time of 4:24 and a PR of 2:09 in the half-mile. On top of all of that, she came away with an All-American finish of 5th in the 1500 meters at the outdoor national meet. 

Beyer has been flat-out awesome over the last year. Her consistency, regardless of the race setting, has become one of her greatest strengths. She has continued to build on her fitness, constantly making improvements, and it's very clear that she understands positioning in more tactical races like the mile.

Capping all of that with her best fall campaign ever suggests that a huge winter season on the oval could be coming for Beyer. And that's a scary thought for someone who was already a multi-time All-American standout.

10. Allison Beasley, Junior, Western Colorado*

*Allison Beasley is currently listed as a redshirt on TFRRS for this season, although that is not necessarily a definitive indicator of whether or not she will race this winter.

Allison Beasley’s 3rd place finish in the DMR and 7th place finish in the mile at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships was impressive. She was clearly taking a step up as a true standout talent.

But even then, we didn’t predict her to finish runner-up in the steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships a few months later (she also placed 10th in the 5k). And we certainly didn’t predict her (in the preseason) to place 10th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships last month, a result that largely matched her overall success on the grass.

Beasley's progression over the past year has been wildly impressive. Entering 2024, she already holds more-than-solid PRs of 4:48 in the mile and 16:23 over 5000 meters. But with her aerobic strength clearly at a better spot than it was last year, we can't help but wonder what kind of damage she could in the 3k and the 5k this winter.

Based on her speed in the mile, her strength from the steeplechase and her endurance from cross country, Beasley might be the ultimate D2 dark horse over 3000 meters this winter. A dynamic talent with current momentum and consistent improvement, Beasley has improved in every area of fitness and competition. The future looks bright for the Mountaineer ace.

9. Ana Tucker, Senior, Grand Valley State

This past fall, Ana Tucker seamlessly transitioned from Division Three to Division Two, ending her fall season with a tremendous 14th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships. And if that wasn't enough, she then ran 16:28 at the Boston U. Season Opener which indicates that she should be just as successful on the track as she was on the grass.

And while that time was 18 seconds off of her 5k PR of 16:10, it was still a solid starting point for the season and it puts her in our top-10. 

Last year, as a standout star at Hope College, Tucker placed 2nd in the mile and 4th in the 3k at the NCAA D3 Indoor Championships. She also recorded highly impressive PRs of 4:47 and 9:32 those events, respectively. And based on her fast assimilation to D2 competition on the grass, the Laker ace could (maybe should?) better those times even further over the next few months.

The longer distances seem to play more to Tucker's strengths. With her level of range, talent and adaptability, this collegiate veteran seems to have high upside. That's a rare find for someone who already has so much experience.

8. Taryn Chapko, Junior, Grand Valley State

Taryn Chapko is the top returner over 800 meters from last year's indoor national meet and has been a staple veteran in that event over the past couple of years.

Sure, Chapko's half-mile PR of 2:07 may not be the super flashy, but she is incredibly consistent, holds underrated range, often peaks for the postseason and has the capability to be successful in a variety of race scenarios.

Chapko placed 8th in the half-mile at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships and 3rd at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the same year. She also contributed to the national title-winning DMR team.

Being a strength-based middle distance runner has its advantages, allowing Chapko to at least remain competitive with women who opted to be aggressive front-runners. With the 800 meters being pretty wide-open this year, Chapko will look to go from being an All-American lock (six times over the past six seasons) to a national champion.

7. Ava O’Connor, Junior, Adams State

If there’s one athlete who we think could go from "great" to "elite" this season, it's Ava O’Connor. Of course, given her recent 3k success from earlier this month, that's easier said now than a few weeks ago.

O'Connor's 3rd place finish in the mile back at the 2022 indoor national meet put her on our radar as someone who was the real deal. Plus, her 6th place finish over 3000 meters and 2nd place finish in the DMR at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships were incredibly impressive as well.

But then this dynamic Adams State distance runner made her debut in the steeplechase last spring and flashed plenty of raw talent in that event. She went on to place 6th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She’s been on fire since then. 

After a promising year on the grass, we expected O'Connor to improve further on the oval where she seems to be at her best. Of course, her 9:10 mark over 3000 meters at the Boston U. Season Opener revealed that we may still be underestimating her capabilities.

O'Connor's lethal combination of endurance and speed makes her ideal for the 3k distance -- and she has seemingly endless momentum working in her favor. Her PRs of 2:09 (800) and 4:46 (mile) put her in the All-American contention in those events as well, and she could also be just as successful over 5000 meters based on her cross country performances.

Put simply, O’Connor has a skillset that's virtually unmatched by any woman at this level.

6. Klaudia O’Malley, Senior, Grand Valley State 

On paper, Klaudia O’Malley is the full package. She has speed, endurance, tons of experience and a very lengthy resume.

The Grand Valley State star has been plenty successful on the indoor oval, the outdoor oval and the grass, and she rarely ever falls outside of our top-10 on the national stage. O’Malley holds personal bests of 4:44 in the mile and 16:07 over 5000 meters. Those kind of times, even in today's ultra-fast era, certainly catch your attention. That's especially true when you tack on her recent 9:17 PR for 3000 meters from the Boston U. Season Opener.

Following up her 8th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships with that 3k performance shows us that O’Malley is still as sharp and as dangerous as she has been in past years.

However, on the national stage, we haven't always seen the best version of O'Malley that we know we could see.

Last winter, for instance, she attempted the ambitious indoor national meet triple of the DMR, mile and 3k. That heavy workload ultimately led to a sub-par performance in the latter event. And while she has earned plenty of All-American honors, there have been plenty of moments where we thought she could be a national title threat (and that's why she sits at TSR #6).

Regardless, this Grand Valley State star has the talent and the potential to be a top-half All-American in whichever event she runs.

5. Florance Uwajeneza, Senior, West Texas A&M

Florance Uwajeneza did not have cross country eligibility this past fall, but she’s back to the top of our rankings for the 2024 indoor track season. Let this be your reminder that, despite her recent absence, she's still one of the best D2 distance runners regardless of the season or race.

Last winter, this West Texas A&M star placed 3rd over 5000 meters and 5th over 3000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships, running personal bests of 16:06 and 9:14, respectively. The Buffalo veteran was equally as successful on the outdoor oval where she placed 3rd in the 10k and 4th in the 5k. 

Add those honors to four other All-American performances throughout her NCAA career, and you get one of the more underrated postseason runners of this era.

The Buffalo ace has already started her 2023 indoor track season with a statement win and 16:17 (5k) effort at the Crimson & Gold Invitational. That was a fantastic rust-buster which indicates that she will be just as good, if not better, this year as she's been in the past.

Uwajeneza is a pure endurance talent and will be one of the top names in the longer events this season. She has run absurdly fast times and has also earned top-half All-American honors in the postseason. And more importantly, she has done all of that on an incredibly consistent basis, something that only a select few women can say.

4. Natalie Graber, Junior, Grand Valley State

Despite already being a top-tier nationally competitive name, Natalie Graber's breakout season last winter appeared to translate to an increased level of confidence and fitness throughout the rest of 2023.

The GVSU superstar anchored the Lakers to an incredible national title win in the DMR, splitting 4:39 on the anchor leg, before placing 3rd in a historically fast 3000 meter battle. Then, she pulled off an impressive double at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a 4th place finish in the steeplechase and an 8th place finish over 5000 meters. 

Graber is a juggernaut. Her momentum and progression has followed her into this academic year as she earned the individual bronze medal at the NCAA XC Championships last month. Not only that, but Graber has already gotten her indoor track season underway with a 5k PR of 16:08 at the GVSU Holiday Open.

This Laker veteran is a scary runner to toe the line next to. Even against some of the top women in the nation, she can get separation during already-fast races with another gear that you don't anticipate other competitors to have. With her consistent excellence and additional personal bests of 4:44 (mile) and 9:09 (3k), Graber rightfully deserves a top-five ranking. 

3. Eleonora Curtabbi, Senior, West Texas A&M

Out of all of the athletes in our rankings, Eleonora Curtabbi may be the only one who can rival Ava O'Connor in terms of their versatility. But when it comes to how lethal those two women are on the track, Curtabbi has proven to be the more overwhelming option.

The Buffalo superstar has run PRs of 2:08 over 800 meters, 4:40 in the mile and 9:08 for 3000 meters. She also recently earned silver at the NCAA XC Championships with a thrilling closing kilometer. She has two national titles in the steeplechase and was 4th over 1500 meters last spring.

With this long list of accolades, it's easy to see why we put her at TSR #3 to start the season. 

Curtabbi doesn’t appear to have any weaknesses. She boasts elite talent, turnover, stamina, experience and competitive prowess. In fact, when she's firing on all cylinders, you could argue that she's a national title contender in multiple events!

Might we also see her contest a 5k after her recent cross country success? Given her dynamism, that certainly wouldn't surprise us.

2. Brianna Robles, Senior, Adams State

There are so many reasons as to why Brianna Robles starts off the season at TSR #2. And truthfully, going through every single one of those reasons would be an exhausting exercise. But seeing this Adams State veteran at this spot in our rankings, after everything that she has accomplished, is hardly a surprise.

This Grizzly superstar is incredibly consistent. Her endurance-based talent and athleticism make her a tough runner to beat, mainly because she can at least remain competitive in most high-level race scenarios that you throw at her. And despite her years of development and experience, Robles still manages to improve every season.

With personal bests of 4:49 (mile), 9:06 (3k) and 15:47 (5k), the latter two performances being all-time marks, Robles will likely go down as one of the key names who helped elevate this era of D2 distance distance running to a new tier.

So far this season, Robles has displayed encouraging momentum following her 4th place finish at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships. She showed that with a 15:55 (5k) performance at the Boston U. Season Opener. She later ran a converted 9:12 (3k) mark at the Mountaineer Open.

Robles has already posted some of the fastest times that we will likely see in a season that's not even in full swing yet. And that just further highlights how talented she truly is. 

1. Lindsay Cunningham, Junior, Winona State

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that Lindsay Cunningham is ranked at TSR #1 at the beginning of the indoor track season. Even if Stephanie Cotter were racing this winter, there would be a legitimate argument that Cunningham is still the top D2 women's distance runner at the moment.

The recent Wisconsin signee (who is joining the Badgers next fall as a graduate transfer) holds the D2 indoor 5k record of 15:41. She won that event, and the 10k, at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships before cruising to the individual title at this year's NCAA XC Championships. She also won the 5k and placed 4th over 3000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships last winter.

With an extensive resume, incredible momentum, pure aerobic talent and a history of routinely leaving other top-ranked runners in the dust, there's little argument for anyone but Cunningham to reside at TSR #1.

JUST MISSED (in no particular order)

Molly Maksin (Colorado Mines)

Peyton Weiss (Western Colorado)

Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)

Najwa Chouati (Stanislaus State)

Maggie McCleskey (Adams State)

McKenna Cavanaugh (Lee (Tenn.))

Anna Fauske (UC-Colorado Springs)

Liz Wamsley (Hillsdale)

Isabel Marsh (Adelphi)

Jessica Simon (Adams State)

Katherine Marsh (Adelphi)

Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge (Colorado Mines)

Khot Juac (Sioux Falls)

Philippine de la Bigne (Azusa Pacific)

Aria Hawkins (Lee (Tenn.)) Holly Moser (Colorado Mines)

Megan Roxby (Simon Fraser)

Kira MacGill (Colorado Mesa)

HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order)

Alexa Keiser (Saginaw Valley State)

Kayce Rypma (Grand Valley State)

Gwynne Riley (Hillsdale)

Allie Arnsman (Grand Valley State)

Susanne Bruennig (Biola)

Maria Mitchell (Grand Valley State)

Savannah Ackley (Cedarville)

Linda Weigang (Fort Lewis)

Lainy Williams (Southwest Baptist)

Sira Bo (Wingate)

Grace Southern (Academy of Art)

Shannon King (Colorado Christian)

Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH))

Katja Bauerle (UW-Parkside)

Reina Paredes (Adams State)

Sarah May (Grand Valley State)

Lieke Hoogsteen (Adams State)

Lisa Hanich (Academy of Art)

Ines Macadam (Tiffin)

NOTES

• The Stride Report has learned that CSU-Pueblo's Helen Braybrook and Adams State's Stephanie Cotter will not be racing this winter. As such, they were not included in these rankings.