2023 Bryan Clay Invitational Preview (10k & Steeple)

Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
Apr 12, 2023
15 min read

Ladies and gentlemen, one of the biggest regular collegiate track meets of the entire year is now here! With the arrival of the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University comes a mass number of upper-tier distance talents who are looking to establish themselves among the best in the NCAA.

Entries (more specifically, heat sheets) for the men's and women's steeplechase and 10k races are have been released! And as we await the rest of the heat sheets for the other distance races, we thought we would preview what we've got!

For today's preview, I wanted to do something a bit different, but something that you've also seen before. Just like the women's 10k for the Raleigh Relays, I'm going to list all of the collegiate entrants in the top heats of these distance fields and offer a few lines of analysis on them. That feels like the most efficient and effective approach for this article.

Let's begin...

Click here for final predictions

CLICK HERE FOR HEAT SHEETS

Women's Steeplechase: DeLay vs Thorner vs BYU

Elise Thorner (New Mexico)

Throughout the 2022 outdoor track season, Elise Thorner was on absolute fire. She evolved into a dynamic steeplechase star who ran 9:32 in the event and also posted a very solid 4:15 mark for 1500 meters.

The Lobo standout is absolutely talented enough, on paper, to win this race and take down the other top women in this field. However, at the same time, some of Thorner's recent marks on the indoor oval left me wanting more.

Now, in her defense, Thorner actually ran a handful of (small) personal bests, but it's clear that she's a different runner when it comes to the barriers and water pits. And with only one mark of 4:17 for 1500 meters on her resume, I can't help but wonder what the expectations are for her.

Kayley DeLay (Washington)

Let's not make this conversation any more complicated than it needs to be. Kayley DeLay earned a silver medal at the outdoor national meet last spring in the steeplechase, running a 9:25 PR which is good for NCAA #3 all-time in the event.

And after a very comfortable, season-opening win in the steeplechase the other week, it's hard to say that there's a more comfortable pick to take home the win in this race than DeLay. The only question is...how fast does she run?

Carmen Riano (Miami (OH))

If this race is fast enough, I could see Carmen Riano possibly scaring her steeplechase personal best of 9:46 which she ran last spring. She has quietly made solid improvements in her fitness over the last few seasons and is primed to be even better in 2023.

Will Riano be at the highest level of steeplechase fitness that we saw last spring? Maybe, but as long as she is able to be competitive and post a respectable time, then I think that will be a good step in the right direction for mid-April.

Sadie Sargent (BYU)

Few people are bigger fans of Sadie Sargent than our staff at The Stride Report. The BYU ace had a breakout indoor track season, running times of 4:34 (mile) and 8:57 (3k) this past winter, ultimately qualifying for the indoor national meet in that last event.

On paper, Sargent's resume suggests that she can be an elite steeplechaser. Of course, this is also someone who has never contested the steeple before, leaving me curious how much of the learning curve will affect her on Thursday.

Riley Chamberlain (BYU)

This past winter shattered our expectations for Riley Chamberlain, a true freshman from BYU. The California native was shockingly consistent despite her youth and only got better as the season went on, running 4:33 in the mile.

The Cougar youngster has since run 2:06 (800) and 4:18 (1500) this spring, although trying to figure out how her recent mile-centric success will translate to the steeplechase is still an uncertainty. Based on what we saw from Chamberlain this past winter, she's just as talented as many of the top women in this field, but her inexperience in such a challenging event will be interesting to monitor.

Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

I think some people are wildly undervaluing how good Greta Karinauskaite has been this year. In just this outdoor track season alone, Karinauskaite has run 33:27 (10k) and 15:36 (5k). Those marks, specifically the latter time, are flat-out fantastic.

And it's important to note that this CBU ace ran that 10k time all alone earlier this season.

Karinauskaite ran 9:51 in the steeplechase last spring, but ended her season at the WAC Outdoor Championships since the Lancers, at the time, weren't eligibile for D1 postseason competition yet.

But that temporary hold has passed, leaving us to believe that Karinauskaite will deliver a significant PR on Thursday and prime herself for a spot to the national meet in May / June.

Katelyn Mitchem (Wyoming)

A lot of the biggest breakout runners in the NCAA this season have come from the steeplechase -- and Katelyn Mitchem is one of those women.

The Wyoming standout has shown promising signs of development over the last few seasons, recent running a 4:38 mile PR on the indoor oval. But after running 9:52 in the steeplechase, Mitchem looks like she could be on a hot streak of momentum, making her a major x-factor for Thursday's race.

Gracie Hyde (Arkansas)

At her best, Gracie Hyde can be a sneaky-good distance talent who is better than some people realize. The Razorback veteran has run 4:37 in the mile and 9:57 in the steeplechase before.

If Hyde is firing on all cylinders, then she can at least be competitive in this field. But the Arkansas runner hasn't gone under 4:40 in the mile since the winter of 2021 and last ran her steeplechase PR of 9:57 in the spring of 2021.

We don't know which version of her we'll see, but her resume suggests that she'll at least be able to stay in the mix for some amount of time.

Angelina Ellis (Butler)

After a potentially career-defining win at the Raleigh Relays over Emily Cole in a steeplechase time of 9:53, few women in this field have the same level of momentum that Angelina Ellis does. The Butler ace had an excellent end to her indoor track season, but is clearly at her best over the barriers and water pits.

Ellis has always been a talented distance runner, but she looks far more refined now while also looking flat-out stronger, aerobically. I could absolutely see her running 9:45 on Thursday.

Laura Taborda (Arkansas)

After going from Eastern Kentucky to Ole Miss to Arkansas, we've seen Laura Taborda emerge as a solid distance talent who is a very solid steeplechaser. She ran 9:57 in the event last spring and qualified for the outdoor national meet.

However, after running 9:54 in this event at the Stanford Invitational, the Razorback runner may seemingly want to take advantage of her recent momentum and secure yet another new PR. Doing so would give her some flexibility in terms of the scheduling for the rest of her season.

Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU)

Don't get us wrong, Lexy Hallady-Lowry has always been good, but what we've seen from her this year has been very exciting. The BYU distance standout ran 4:34 (mile) and 8:57 (3k) this past winter (at the same meet) and is fresh off of a 15:47 (5k) personal best from the Stanford Invitational!

After an All-American campaign on the grass and a dynamite indoor track season, Halladay-Lowry looks like she is due to smash her 9:55 steeplechase PR this year. There is no doubt in my mind that this quietly-experienced runner can go sub-9:50 in this event, but will a sub-9:40 result be in the cards for her this year?

Malia Pivec (Oregon)

I really like Malia Pivec. While the times on her resume aren't quite as potent as some of the other women in this field, she still holds a 10:01 (steeple) PR and qualified for the outdoor national meet in that event last spring.

I feel like this Oregon runner is due for a breakout race. I don't know if that will happen on Thursday, but it's bound to come sooner rather than later.

Eleonora Curtabbi (West Texas A&M)

This will not be a D2 collegiate record attempt for the West Texas A&M superstar. However, this will likely be a race where Eleonora Curtabbi tries to make a statement and move up the all-time D2 list for the steeplechase.

Almost no one at the Division Two level has been as dynamic as Eleonora Curtabbi, but the steeplechase is where she's at her best. And after running 10:02 at the Texas Relays for that event the other day, it seems like a sub-10 result is inevitable.

The only question is...how far under that barrier will she go?

Maisie Grice (New Mexico)

We admittedly don't know a ton about Maisie Grice, a 22-year old from England. The newest New Mexico distance runner holds very solid times of 2:07 (800), 4:17 (1500) and 10:04 (steeple). However, trying to figure out if we'll see that latter mark translate to this field (and be improved upon) is still to be seen.

Lucinda Crouch (Wisconsin)

Admittedly, the last few seasons, relative to expectations, haven't been the best from Lucinda Crouch. The Wisconsin veteran has run 9:41 in the steeplechase before, but she recently posted a still-soldi 10:03 mark in that discipline, leaving us to wonder what she'll be able to do in a field where she should theoretically thrive.

Janette Schraft (Iowa State)

From a speed perspective, I really liked the progress that we saw from Janette Schraft this past winter. And after running a 10:07 steeplechase PR the other week, it feels like a sub-10:00 result is due for this Iowa State runner. Of course, try to figure out her seasonal ceiling this year is the real challenge.

Pauline Meyer (Arkansas State)

This Arkansas State runner has quietly put together a decent resume over the last season or two. On the indoor oval, Pauline Meyer ran 4:44 in the mile and recently posted a time of 10:08 in the steeplechase. Of course, she'll need a significant amount of greater firepower before we view her as a threat to the top-half of this field.

Men's Steeplechase: Rooks vs D2 Superstars

Kenneth Rooks (BYU)

As far as collegiates are concerned, it's pretty clear Kenneth Rooks is going to be the clear favorite in this field. He's run 8:22 in the steeplechase before, was an All-American in this event last year and just secured a convincing victory the other week.

His D2 counterparts do have a shot of at least making this race competitive, but in terms of all-around talent over the water pits and barriers, Rooks is very clearly the best guy in this field.

Clement Duigou (Adams State)

One of the biggest challengers to Rooks on Thursday will be Clement Duigou, a wildly talented distance runner from Adams State who has posted times of 7:59 (3k) and 8:29 (steeple). He finished a narrow-up last year at the D2 outdoor national meet after coming in as the favorite.

In terms of raw talent, Duigou is dramatically that far off Rooks. Sure, his BYU opponent is definitely more refined, but the Adams State standout typically does fairly well in these high-level fields, potentially making him more of a threat than we realize.

Reece Smith (Northwest Missouri)

The guy who upset Clement Duigou for the D2 national title in the steeplechase last spring was Reece Smith, a guy who ran an 8:33 PR in the event to secure gold. Since then, Smith has very clearly elevated his fitness to a new level, ending his indoor track season on a high, specifically with a huge anchor leg in the DMR.

Will Smith be at the same 8:33 fitness that he was at last spring come Thursday? Truthfully, I'm not entirely sure, but he's just as dynamic as any other guy in this field and at his best, can at least be competitive with the contenders.

Gable Sieperda (Iowa State)

I'll admit, I was expecting the slightest bit more Gable Sieperda this past fall on the grass. Sure, he still ran well and ended his season with a top-80 national meet finish, but I thought he would be closer to an All-American honor.

But very quietly, this Iowa State veteran has developed a hot streak of sorts. He ran a 7:57 (3k) PR this past winter and is fresh off of a 13:40 (5k) personal best as well. His 8:43 steeple PR is bound to drop relatively soon and this could be the field where it happens given his competition is deep, but not overwhelming.

Joel Mendez (Utah Valley)

The former Montana runner has thrived with Utah Valley, recently running 8:39 in the steeplechase at the Stanford Invitational. That was a performance that came out nowhere, but on Thursday, we'll get a chance to see how legitimate and validate that latest result was.

Kelvin Bungei (Iowa State)

The former JUCO star has been solid during his time with Iowa State, but has recently been posting decent personal bests. On this same weekend last spring, Bungei ran an 8:51 steeplechase PR. And while it's realistic to think that he can match that time, it's hard to know exactly where among the contenders he'll be.

Charles Harders (Miami (OH))

Charles Harders has been a solid distance talent, posting a respectable spectrum of times across a variety of events. But after running an 8:43 steeplechase PR, we have many of the same questions for him as we do for Joel Mendez.

The RedHawks have very quietly produced nationally competitive runners over the years and now it looks like Harders is next in line. He has been running a handful of personal bests as of late, so there's good reason to believe that his recent steeplechase PR wasn't a fluke.

Peter Herold (UCLA)

I really like Peter Herold. I think he's very underrated, especially within the PAC-12. He ran 8:42 in the steeplechase last spring, but has been on fire since then, posting a 13:37 (5k) PR in his last couple of races.

That 5k effort was one of the most pleasantly surprising results of Herold's career, leading me to believe that he could be even better in what I've thought was his primary event. And if that's the case, then is it ridiculous to think that he could finish among the top-three?

Adrian Jones (Utah Valley)

Jones is in the same boat as Charles Harders and Joel Mendez. His recent 8:42 steeplechase performance came a bit out of nowhere, although he did run 8:49 in that event all the way back in 2019.

Admittedly, Jones is a different runner when he's racing the steeplechase versus not racing the steeplechase. None of his times have come anywhere close to the caliber of what he's done over the barriers and water pits.

Thursday's race will be a good gauge of exactly where he's at in terms of the national conversation.

Jamison Wilkes (Weber State)

Weber State has a quietly great history of developing steeplechase standouts -- and Jamison Wilkes is seemingly now part of that history. In his last four steeple races, the Weber State runner has done from 9:09 to 8:57 to 8:51 to 8:46. Talk about progression...

Granted, Wilkes had run notably faster than 9:09 when he originally posted that mark, but my point remains -- this Wildcat runner is on a hot streak in this event and could be more dangerous than his times suggest.

Bronson Winter (Weber State)

Most of Bronson Winter's track times won't catch your attention, but he's run 1:49 for 800 meters before which complements his 8:45 steeplechase PR. After running 8:50 in this event at the Stanford Invitational, you have to believe that Winter will run faster than that on Thursday, but...by how much?

Colin Kirkpatrick (Pomona-Pitzer)

Could this be a national record attempt? Armed with an 8:43 steeplechase PR, Colin Kirkpatrick will look to drop at least three seconds over the water pits and barriers in an effort to break the D3 record in the event.

In this field, the Pomona-Pitzer star could pull it off. In fact, he ran 8:51 for this race back in late March after running 14:19 for 5000 meters (a new personal best) two weeks before that on the outdoor oval.

I don't know if he'll get the record, but at the very least, he'll come very close to doing so.

Zachary Erikson (BYU)

Zachary Erikson has always been a solid distance talent who has oftentimes been underappreciated on BYU's roster. And with an 8:51 (steeple) PR, this Cougar veteran could play a decent role in this field. However, after running 9:05 in this same event at the Stanford Invitational, it's hard to know which version of Erikson will get on Thursday.

Dawson Besst (Colorado State)

Thomas Chaston (Colorado State)

This Colorado State duo could be interesting to watch tomorrow night. Dawson Besst has an 8:47 steeplechase PR and matched that time at the Stanford Invitational. Meanwhile, teammate Thomas Chaston has an 8:48 PR in the event and just ran 8:49.

One of these guys is going to run under 8:45 tomorrow, but I'm not sure who. I'd guess Chaston, but that may be based on how much I liked him during his 2022 cross country campaign. In terms of sudden and unexpected upside, Dawson Besst is definitely the top name in that respect.

Women's 10k: Olemomoi vs Chelangat vs Mazza-Downie

To me, it seems somewhat clear that this women's 10k race will come down to the Alabama duo of Hilda Olemomoi and Mercy Chelangat as well as New Mexico's Amelia Mazza-Downie.

If I had to guess, I would say that the Crimson Tide duo would be favored for this race. Both of these women have been beyond phenomenal in the longer distances this year. They have rarely had "off" days and when they do, they aren't even that bad.

In terms of raw fitness and firepower, Olemomoi may have the slight edge right now. She seemed to be a bit more dominant throughout the entirety of the winter, specifically near the end, and I feel like her upside will only grow by moving up in distance.

And with personal bests of 8:45 (3k) and 15:17 (5k), I feel like I have a pretty good argument behind that, even with her relative inexperience in the NCAA and for this race.

But Chelangat is the one who is more proven and established in the 10k. She is, after all, the defending national champion in this event who holds a 32:13 personal best in the event.

Both Olemomoi and Chelangat have also proven that they can thrive in time trial settings, which is exactly what this race will be like. And when you factor in that they'll also be facing a 15:18 (5k) runner in Amelia Mazza-Downie, I find myself itching to ask a question...

How close to the 10k collegiate record could this group get?

I'm not saying that they ARE going to break the collegiate of 31:18 set by Lisa Koll in 2010, but it also doesn't feel like that mark is completely unobtainable. And by that logic, the NCAA #2 all-time mark of 31:25 for this distance, set by Sally Kipyego in 2008, seems almost destined to fall.

As for Amelia Mazza-Downie, she has proven before that she's a long distance juggernaught just like her Alabama counterparts. She ran 15:18 for 5000 meters this past winter and holds a 32:55 (10k) PR in this event.

That latter time will absolutely drop on Thursday night. Let's not forget, Mazza-Downie ran her 15:18 (5k) PR in a battle against Emily Venters (who just ran 31:48 for 10k) which gave her a two-second victory over the Utah star.

A somewhat underwhelming performance in the 5k at the indoor national meet (where she placed 10th overall) is what ultimately has me giving the edge to the Crimson Tide duo. However, on paper, Mazza-Downie has just as much firepower.

The next tier of women, in my eyes, are Cailie Logue (Iowa State), Brianna Robles (Adams State) and Aubrey Frentheway (BYU). Each of those women are just flat-out solid long distance talents who have their fair share of success over 5000 meters and 10,000 meters.

I can imagine that trio of women mirroring the performances that we saw behind Emily Venters at the Stanford Invitational the other. If Logue, Robles and Frentheway can match the caliber of results that Everlyn Kemboi, Amanda Vestri and Anna Kostarellis showed at this distance the other week, then that would be considered a massive success.

And frankly, anything under 32:30 (10k) would be a massive performance for all of these women. Oh, also, let's not forget: The D2 10k record is 32:08 from 2019 (set by Caroline Kurgat). In my opinion, that's a somewhat reasonable record that is within reach for Brianna Robles.

Men's 10k: Jacobs to Battle BYU's Distance Army

I have severely underestimated how long the above section was going to take to write, so to my dismay, I'll keep this portion of our preview a bit shorter. For now, we'll just focus on the top men in the 10k.

Dylan Jacobs is ready to make his season debut, toeing the line for his marquee event. The Tennessee star is the defending national champion at this distance from last spring and is easily in the best shape of his life right now. This past winter, the former Notre Dame runner posted times of 7:36 (3k) and 13:11 (5k), eventually NCAA gold at the latter distance.

On paper, Jacobs has it all. Aerobic superiority, highly underrated turnover, a great understanding of positioning, excellent season-long momentum and tons of experience. I could try to dive into it more than that, but the truth of the matter is that Jacobs is the clear-cut favorite.

The one guy who I could see realistically taking him down is BYU's Casey Clinger, the unsung hero of the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships. The Cougar superstar was 2nd and 4th in the 5k and the 3k, respectively, emerging as a legitimate threat who has a great understanding of his tactics and aerobic abilities.

Clinger is in the best shape of his life and his understanding in-race nuances has improved dramatically. In theory, the 10k is his best race, making him even more of a threat to Jacobs who is heavily favored, but not guaranteed to win.

This race will likely be fast fairly early-on, something that will play into the strengths of both Jacobs and Clinger, but won't necessarily separate them from one another.

After those two men, your guess is as good as mine in terms of who the next-best collegiates will be. The BYU contingent of Joey Nokes, Creed Thompson, Brandon Garnica and Christian Allen all have a good chance of becoming the 3rd place collegiate in this race.

None of those men are perfect runners, but when evaluating consistency, momentum and the proof of fitness, it seems clear to me that Nokes is the best choice. He's been on a tear this year and I feel like the move up to 10k is going to benefit him way more than if he were to toe the line for a 5k race.

As for the rest of the field, I like Butler's Barry Keane a lot, I sincerely believe that he can be an All-American at this distance. But after some time away from collegiate competition and an unexciting season opener in the 5k, I don't feel super confident about what to expect from him on Thursday night.

I''ll say that my sleeper pick is Montana State's Ben Perrin. This guy has been on fire for the past year, holding new personal bests of 7:59 (3k) and 13:36 (5k). And after seeing how good he was on the grass throughout most of the fall months, I can't help but think that the 10k could be his ideal distance.