2023 Bryan Clay Invitational Preview (800 & 5k)

Gosh, these Bryan Clay distance fields are absolutely LOADED.

While we are awaiting the release of the 1500 meter entries / heat sheets (a race that isn't happening until Saturday), we still wanted to highlight the invitational fields for the men's and women's 800 meters and 5000 meters.

Below, we break down each entrant in those invite races. Also, if you want to read our steeplechase and 10k preview/predictions, be sure to click this link here.

Click here for final predictions

Women's 800 Meters

Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State)

I am very excited to see how Sarah Hendrick fares in this field. She is far more refined as a tactical runner based on her performances during the winter months, but her fitness is still incredibly lethal.

The Kennesaw State star is more than capable of thriving in aggressively-paced races and that's exactly what I would anticipate happening here. I do believe that Hendrick has an outside chance of pulling off an upset depending on how the race plays out.

Michaela Rose (LSU)

It's no secret that Michaela Rose is the clear favorite to win this race, at least collegiately. She has run under the 2:02 barrier for 800 meters five times this year, holding a 2:00.18 personal best from the indoor track season.

After splitting 1:58 on LSU's 4x800 meter relay a few weeks back, it seems fair to say that Rose could scare the 2:00 barrier in this field, especially after coming less than a second of doing so in her latest effort. And with Nikki Hiltz, a pro runner for Lululemon, also in this field, I don't think a 1:59 mark is out of the realm of possibility for this Tiger ace.

Lindsey Butler (Virginia Tech)

No one should be doubting Lindsey Butler's fitness this year. Sure, she didn't have the best indoor track season ever, but she still ran 2:42 for 1000 meters and 4:31 in the mile.

Admittedly, Butler wasn't as sharp over 800 meters during the winter months as she has been in the past. But it's abundantly clear that this Virginia Tech veteran is at her best over the half-mile distance, especially when she's firing on all cylinders.

I don't entirely know what to expect from this Hokie superstar, but she'll undoubtedly be a factor and be competitive.

Gabija Galvydyte (Oklahoma State)

In terms of versatility, Gabija Galvydte is the most dynamic collegiate in this field. The 2:01 (800) and 4:32 (mile) runner, who earned a bronze medal over the half-mile distance at the 2022 outdoor national meet, is arguably as naturally talented almost any of her NCAA counterparts who she'll face on Friday.

But this Oklahoma State ace just didn't seem to have her edge this past winter. After the month of December, Galvydyet was good, but she wasn't elite like we expected her to be. We don't entirely know which version of her we'll see on the outdoor oval, but at her best, she's wildly dangerous.

Claire Seymour (BYU)

Outside of Michaela Rose, I would say that there is no collegiate in this field more dangerous than Claire Seymour. The BYU veteran had an absolutely fantastic postseason this past winter and just ran a 2:01 mark for 800 meters at the Stanford Invitational.

If her momentum carries over to this race, then Rose could be in jeopardy of a legitimate upset. Seymour is an experienced and tactically-refined runner. In the right setting and depending on how a few things shake out, this Cougar star has a chance (albeit, a small one) to upset Rose.

Valery Tobias (Texas)

Compared to her collegiate counterparts, Texas standout Valery Tobias may not be the flashiest or most exciting name in this field -- but other than Rose, she may be the most reliable.

You can probably count on Tobias running 2:02 for 800 meters on Friday and not having a bad day. She brings far more certainty to the table than Seymour, Butler and Galvydyte do. That would explain why she's been such a consistent All-American threat over the last few years.

Men's 800 Meters

Sam Ellis (Washington)

I think it's easy to label Sam Ellis as a "miller," but this is someone who has also run 1:46 for 800 meters and 2:18 for 1000 meters. Both of those times came this past winter when he was racing unattached.

Ellis, in my eyes, has an outside shot of taking home the win. But he'll have to have the best race of his life and potentially a very minor misstep from one of the other favorites if he wants to win gold tomorrow.

Oussama El Bouchayby (Angelo State)

After winning the D2 indoor national title over 800 meters and recently upsetting Bryce Hoppel over the same distance at the Texas Relays to run 1:45.31, it seems safe to say that Oussama El Bouchayby is the favorite for tomorrow's race.

If this race is as fast as I think it will be, then...is a 1:44 mark realistically in the cards for this Division Two megastar? Admittedly, I thought 1:45 was a stretch at the beginning of this season, but I don't see where this Angelo State ace has any flaws.

Reece Sharman-Newell (CSU-Pueblo)

This meet was where Reece Sharman-Newell had his breakout race last year. Armed with a 1:46 personal best over 800 meters and very strong success at the D2 level, the CSU-Pueblo ace will be aiming to return to his peak 2022 form on Friday.

In terms of natural talent, you could argue that Sharman-Newell is as good as (almost) everyone else in this field over 800 meters. I'm not 100% sure how much of his peak fitness we'll see tomorrow, but don't be surprised if he places among the top-three and at the very least, the top-five.

Ryan Wilson (MIT)

What is Ryan Wilson's ceiling? Does he have a ceiling? After running 3:55 (mile) and 1:46 (800) this past winter on the indoor oval, I think we have to seriously wonder if this MIT ace can run 1:45 for this distance on Friday.

This is a huge race for Wilson who is entered in the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. If he is able to make a statement like I think he will, then we're probably talking about the most sought-after men's middle or long distance transfer prospect in the nation this summer...if he doesn't already hold that status.

Abdullahi Hassan (Wisconsin)

With 1:46 (800) PR from past season, Abdullahi Hassan is very much capable of being competitive with the top men in this field. And on the indoor oval, the Wisconsin standout did show subtle signs of promise!

But we're still waiting for Hassan to return to that upper-tier level of competition. This could be the perfect opportunity for him to reproduce that 1:46 mark over the half-mile distance, but time-wise, I don't always know what we're going to get from this Badger ace.

Jason Gomez (Iowa State)

Despite missing the 800 meter finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships this past winter, Jason Gomez actually had a really solid last few months of competition. He was somewhat consistent, ran 1:46 over 800 meters and proved to be very competitive with top names.

There's no doubt in my mind that Gomez can run 1:46 (800) and be competitive with this field, potentially cracking the top-five. However, the next step for him will be seeing how close to the 1:45 range he can get and who he can take down en route to that kind of mark.

Alex Selles (LSU)

I won't lie, I was a bit surprised to see Alex Selles in this field. The LSU runner had a very strong indoor track season, but his 800 meter personal best stopped at 1:47 this past winter and he just lost to two Penn State men two weekends ago, running 1:48.

Selles is due for a better performance and a potential return to the 1:47 range, but I thought his recent resume would have made way for a few others to crack this heat.

Matisse Virey (CSU-Pueblo)

I would imagine that Matisse Virey is entered in this race as a pacer. While he is a very strong and respectable half-miler for the D2 level (owning a 1:51 personal best for the distance), Virey simply isn't at the same caliber as some of these guys (yet).

Women's 5000 Meters

Emily Venters (Utah)

After stunning the country with a monster 10k time of 31:48 the other weekend, Emily Venters will be dropping down in distance to the 5k, a race where she's still had plenty of success.

Believe it or not, Venters actually has the fastest 5k PR, collegiately, in this field. She ran 15:20 for the distance this past winter and finished 5th overall in that event at the indoor national meet back in March.

In terms of raw talent and momentum, Venters may actually be viewed as the favorite in this race over Taylor Roe...but that just depends on who you ask.

Taylor Roe (Oklahoma State)

Sure, Taylor Roe may not have the fastest 5k PR in this field, but her 15:21 mark from last spring is just one second off from what Venters ran on the indoor oval. And in terms of all-around skillset, Roe is probably the better runner.

The Cowgirl star is more experienced, more versatile, more consistent, more dynamic and, in most cases, flat-out more fit than most of the other women in this field. If Vegas was making betting lines for this race, Roe would probably be the collegiate favorite.

Kaylee Mitchell (Oregon State)

This Oregon State star had a fine 5k race at the Stanford Invitational the other week, but it's very obvious from her recent winter personal bests of 4:32 (mile) and 8:55 (3k) that she can run much faster than 15:48 for this distance.

Everything that we've seen from Mitchell over the last year suggests that she's just as fit, or maybe even more fit, than her fellow teammate Grace Fetherstonhaugh who just recorded a huge 15:30 (5k) PR. I would be surprised if Mitchell didn't run under 15:40 this Friday.

Ella Baran (Colorado)

Ella Baran opened up her 2023 indoor track season all the way back in December with a pleasantly surprising 15:33 (5k) mark on the indoor oval. And after two sub-9:00 efforts over 3000 meters, the Colorado star decided to contest the longer distance on the national stage.

Unfortunately for her, she struggled in that race and recently had to settle for an unexciting mark of 4:18 for 1500 meters at the Stanford Invitational.

In my eyes, Baran feels like Taylor Roe-lite. They both have very similar skillsets, except Roe is just a bit stronger from an aerobic standpoint. Regardless, this former D3 star (Baran) could scare the 15:30 barrier for 5000 meters on the right day.

Simone Plourde (Utah)

The biggest question surrounding Utah's Simone Plourde this season is whether she'll move up to the 5k or move down to the 1500 meters (as her primary event) after thriving at the 3k distance this past winter.

Given her history as a miler and recent 8:53 (3k) mark (as well as an All-American honor in that event), we would think that the 1500 meters would be her best choice. Of course, Plourde has surprised us before and we'll ultimately get an answer to our question about her event selection tomorrow evening...I think.

Ruby Smee (San Francisco)

A true long distance juggernaut, Ruby Smee is as solid as they come. She may not have the flashy firepower of the women who we've already mentioned, but this San Francisco veteran has found a way to remain consistently nationally competitive with a lot of these runners.

After running 32:30 for 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational, I would be surprised if Smee didn't run under 15:40 for 5000 meters on Friday.

Zofia Dudek (Stanford)

When Zofia Dudek is "on", she can be one of the most dangerous distance runners in any field that she toes the line for. The Stanford ace is an aggressive front-runner who could theoretically thrive in this field which should be fast from the gun.

But while Dudek is due for a sub-15:40 (5k) result, I don't always know which version of her we will see whenever she toes the line for a race.

Sarah Carter (Colorado State)

I really like Sarah Carter, the rising Colorado State talent who had a terrific end to her indoor track season and advanced to the indoor national meet where she placed 9th over 5000 meters. I feel like a big race, potentially a 15:35 mark, is coming for this Ram standout, although I don't know if that will be this weekend or in the future. Few women in this field have greater momentum than her.

India Johnson (Colorado)

At her best, I think India Johnson is wildly underrated. She's extremely experienced and holds some of the better times in this field. Her indoor track season was admittedly quiet and that's what makes me a little hesitant about picking her in my predictions. But after recently running 32:38 for 10,000 meters, it's hard to deny that Johnson isn't better on the outdoor oval than she is on the indoor oval.

Anna Kostarellis (Baylor)

After a stunning breakout 10k performance at the Stanford Invitational where Anna Kostarellis ran 32:13 for that distance, we now have to wonder what she'll be capable of doing over 5000 meters.

On paper, this Baylor graduate student is primed to run faster than her 15:44 (5k) PR which she ran two months ago, but...how much faster? You'd have to think that she could run under 15:40 on Friday, but that also assumes that she's just as good over 5k as she is over 10k.

Maddy Elmore (Oregon)

After running a 4:35 mile PR this past winter (twice) and showing plenty of promise on the grass, I'm convinced that Maddy Elmore is going to run in the low 15:40s range this Friday. Because if she's a better long distance runner than she is a miler, then the Ducks may have a third nationally competitive talent on their roster this year in addition to Izzy Thornton-Bott and Klaudia Kazimierska.

Billie Hatch (Weber State)

One of the more underrated runners in this field is Billie Hatch who is fresh off of a 32:36 (10k) PR which she ran at the Stanford Invitational. The Weber State veteran also ran 15:44 for 5000 meters on the indoor oval. And while I don't know if I see her running dramatically faster than that, I do think that she has one of the highest floors in this field.

Everlyn Kemboi (Utah Valley)

It seems pretty obvious given the past year of racing that Everlyn Kemboi is better over 6k and 10k than she is over 5k. She did, after all, just run 32:03 for 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational. Will she run faster than her 15:48 PR this weekend? Yeah, probably, but I'm just not sure by how much.

Sydney Thorvaldson (Arkansas)

We're still waiting for Sydney Thorvaldson to deliver on her unreal level of potential that she has flashed at times over the last year or so. She's definitely faster than her 15:54 (5k) PR suggests, but we don't know when that breakthrough race will happen.

Brianna Weidler (UC-Davis)

On the track, Brianna Weidler is a really solid distance runner with a recent 5k PR of 15:55. However, it's her 51st place finish at the NCAA XC Championships that really allows her to standout and likely what allowed her to enter this field. Could we see that cross country potential translate to the oval on Friday night?

Bella Williams (Utah)

A recent 16:00 (5k) PR was encouraging to see for Bella Williams, but she's very clearly at her best on the grass and probably capable of running faster. How much faster? Well, that's a question that we'll find out the answer to on Friday night.

Claire Hengesbaugh (Colorado State)

Truthfully, we don't have much information on Claire Hengesbaugh. She recently ran 16:00 for 5000 meters, which is a very solid PR, but the rest of her resume is fairly limited and it's clear that she's a different runner now than she was in the past.

Rachel McCardell (Northwestern)

There's no doubt in my mind that Rachel McCardell will run faster than her 16:22 (5k) tomorrow night, although to what extent I am still unsure. The Northwestern veteran ran 9:12 for 3000 meters on the indoor oval, but she only barely cracked the 34-minute barrier over 10k at the Raleigh Relays.

Based on her cross country performances, McCardell is probably better than half of this field. That narrative, however, isn't as sound on the track.

Audrey Dadamio (Stanford)

Grace Connolly (Stanford)

These are two very similar runners. Audrey Dadamio has run 16:09 (5k) and 33:21 (10k) while Grace Connolly has run 16:06 (5k) and 33:19 (10k). This duo could benefit from knowing how teammate Zofia Dudek will attack the front of this field, but trying to rally with each other en route to new personal bests will be the main goal.

Men's 5000 Meters

Ky Robinson (Stanford)

It depends on who you ask, but Ky Robinson is probably being viewed as the collegiate favorite in this field. He ran 13:11 for this distance back in December and was having a fantastic indoor track season until he struggled on the national stage back in March.

But after running under 28 minutes for 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational, it feels like a forgone conclusion that this Aussie star will run under 13:20 for 5000 meters on Friday. And truthfully, he probably has the right intangibles to take down whatever his competition throws at him.

Brian Fay (Washington)

Despite how talented Ky Robinson is, it's fair to say that Brian Fay is the most dynamic and versatile distance talent in this field. On paper, and in terms of raw firepower, this Irish superstar is probably the biggest threat to his Australian opponent.

However, Fay's range and event flexibility hasn't always translated to wins or perfect in-race execution. Will he still run under 13:20 (5k)? Probably, but how much of a problem he gives Robinson is what will be interesting to see.

Jackson Sharp (Wisconsin)

After running 13:33 for 5000 meters last summer and 7:44 for 3000 meters this past winter, it's been no secret that Jackson Sharp is one of the more underrated runners in the highest tiers of NCAA distance talents.

The Wisconsin star just produced a pleasantly surprising 3rd place finish over 3000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships, but it will be interesting to see if he can translate that mark to a new personal best and a top finish over other star talents in a race that is 2k longer.

Bob Liking (Wisconsin)

While arguably at his best over 10,000 meters, Wisconsin's Bob Liking is almost definitely going to run under 13:30 (5k) this Friday. He just ran a monster 10k PR of 28:00 and already has a 5k PR of 13:35.

I imagine that Liking will be a top-five finisher, but how fast he's able to go at this distance and how competitive he can be at the end of this race will an interesting development to watch.

Victor Kiprop (Alabama)

After a near-victory over 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational where he ran 27:57, I can't help but think that Victor Kiprop could at least contend with Robinson, Fay and Sharp for the win this Friday. If this 5k race is won in a time slower than 13:15, then I think Kiprop has a legitimate shot at the win, even if I think he's better over 10k in comparison.

Chad Johnson (Iowa State)

Running 3:59 (mile), 7:50 (3k) and 13:33 (5k) this past winter is a wildly impressive string of performances for someone who has been so good and so underrated for so long. He has all of the intangibles to be competitive in this field, but the question is if he can reach that next level of fitness that these other men are on.

Yaseen Abdalla (Tennessee)

The 3k is almost definitely Yaseen Abdalla's best event, especially after he ran 7:42 for that distance this past winter. But the Tennessee standout is probably one of the most dynamic runners in this field, nearly as much as Brian Fay.

Abdalla can probably scare the 13:25 (5k) barrier, but will this race play out in a way where the best aspects of his skillset will shine? I'm not entirely sure, but he's extremely dangerous if he's within striking distance of the top guys at the tail-end of this race.

Simon Bedard (Butler)

I really like Simon Bedard a lot as a runner. I think he's super underrated and naturally talented. But the Butler distance ace is also entered in the 10k this weekend and just put together a modest 13:44 (5k) mark at the Raleigh Relays after an extended hiatus from collegiate competition. Your expectations for him in this race are as good as mine.

Isaac Green (Washington)

When he's at his best, Isaac Green can be a top-five 5k runner in this field. Let's not forget, he owns a 13:27 (5k) PR and qualified for the 2021 outdoor national meet in this event. However, after four-straight DNF results this past winter and a recent 14:11 (5k) mark at the Stanford Invitational, it's hard to have a ton of confidence in this Stanford veteran right now.

Michael Power (Tulsa)

The returning 6th place All-American in this event from last spring has returned to the outdoor oval after a winter campaign which, in retrospect, was clearly used to refine his speed. With new personal bests of 3:58 (mile) and 7:50 (3k), Power now has greater turnover that can make him that much more dangerous in a handful of different race scenarios.

Duncan Hamilton (Montana State)

In terms of raw fitness, Duncan Hamilton is undoubtedly one of the top names in this field. He owns a 13:30 (5k) PR and is coming off of an altitude-boosted winter campaign, but no one can deny his raw, unconverted talent on the outdoor oval.

Do I see this steeplechase superstar running under 13:30 for 5000 meters on Friday? Yes, I do. However, I'll be curious to see if can scare/dip under the 13:25 mark in a field such as this.

Kirami Yego (South Alabama)

A big win over Graham Blanks in the 10k at the Raleigh Relays has to give Kirami Yego a ton of confidence going into this race. The South Alabama star shines in scenarios that are fast and aggressive from the gun, making this an ideal field for him.

Yego will probably run faster than his current 13:38 (5k) PR which he ran this past winter. And given his limitless ceiling right now, I would be very careful if I were his competitors if he's still there with just a couple of laps to go.

Baldvin Magnusson (Eastern Michigan)

Arguably the most underrated and underappreciated distance talent in this field, Baldvin Magnusson has recently refined his mile and 3k prowess over the last few months, posting times of 3:57 and 7:47, respectively, for those distances.

In my eyes, Magnusson is a 5k runner. He owns a 13:32 personal best in the event and just ran 28:57 for 10,000 meters even though he was due to run 20 seconds faster. Some could argue that the 3k is his best event, but I feel like he will prove my theory true on Friday night.

Nate Osterstock (Drake)

A lot of people forget how excellent Nate Osterstock was with the Southern Utah men. He was a top miler in the country for a while and ran 13:33 for 5000 meters. But truthfully, it's been a year since we last saw this guy race and his latest effort, a 3:52 effort over 1500 meters, doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

Santiago Prosser (Northern Arizona)

Recent times of 7:59 (3k) and 29:01 (10k) were solid for Santiago Prosser, but we're still waiting for him to translate his insane performance from the NCAA XC Championships to a similar-caliber result on the oval. In theory, we could see that on Friday, but what kind of time does that mean that we should expect from him?

Charlie Sweeney (Colorado)

This former D2 star was a solid during the winter months, but he was clearly better in 2022 than he was this year...well, at least for the indoor oval. Over his last two races, this Colorado veteran has been on fire, running 13:36 (5k) and 28:28 (10k).

For Sweeney, this race shouldn't be as much about being competitive with the top guys in this field, but rather stacking fitness and momentum. If he can maintain this hot streak all the way into the postseason, then he could end up being one of the best runners in the NCAA -- and I firmly believe that.

Tom Brady (Michigan)

Seeing Tom Brady run 13:36 for 5000 meters back in February was incredibly encouraging. However, a somewhat unexciting appearance at the BIG 10 Indoor Championships and only barely cracking the 29-minute barrier over 10,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays has left us wanting more.

On paper, this Michigan veteran is just as talented as a handful of the top guys in this field, but trying to guess what he'll do next is a bit of a challenge.

Brian Masai (Akron)

The Akron youngster was one of the top freshmen in the country this past winter, running 13:46 for 5000 meters on the indoor oval. Now, as he toes the line for the same race in a loaded field, the upside of this still-rising Ohio-based standout could produce a result much better than some people are expecting. Sure, his youth does make him a bit of a wildcard, but that's what makes Brian Masai such an interesting name.

Yacine Guermali (Gonzaga)

I never really know what I'm going to get from Yacine Guermali. He ran a huge 5k time of 13:33.99 back in December, but none of his results have come close to the caliber of that performance since then. On paper, this Gonzaga ace is just as talented as most of these men, but I don't really know what he'll produce for us this Friday.

Antonio Lopez Segura (Virginia Tech)

While I have always viewed Antonio Lopez Segura as more of a 3k specialist, he has been surprisingly great in the 5k over the last year. He holds a PR of 13:38 in the event, has some of the best turnover speed in this field and is plenty dynamic. I don't know how far under his PR he'll go, if at all, but he's a solid talent to watch as an "x-factor".

Jonathan Shields (Boise State)

Yet another guy who I feel like is pretty underrated, Jonathan Shields has run 13:38 for 5000 meters and 3:59 in the mile. However, his indoor track season this past winter was basically non-existent and his only result so far this spring is a time of 3:41 for 1500 meters (matching his PR). Given his performances over the past year, trying to properly gauge Shields in our predictions feels like a challenging task.

Titus Winders (Iowa State)

At his best, Titus Winders is a massively lethal distance talent who has run 13:38 for 5000 meters before. But while this Iowa State runner has been (mostly) consistent in recent seasons, he hasn't been able to replicate his unbelievable 3k and 5k performances at the 2022 D2 NCAA Indoor Championships where he won two individual titles as a Southern Indiana Screaming Eagle star.

FINAL PREDICTIONS

*Assumes all runners will contest the race(s) that they are entered in completely fresh.

*Predictions only include attached collegiates only.

Women's 800 Meters

1. Michaela Rose (LSU) - 1:59

2. Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) - 2:01

3. Claire Seymour (BYU) - 2:01

4. Lindsey Butler (Virginia Tech) - 2:02

5. Valery Tobias (Texas) - 2:02

Men's 800 Meters

1. Oussama El Bouchayby (Angelo State) - 1:45

2. Ryan Wilson (MIT) - 1:45

3. Jason Gomez (Iowa State) - 1:46

4. Sam Ellis (Washington) - 1:47

5. Reece Sharman-Newell (CSU-Pueblo) -1:47

Women's 5000 Meters

1. Taylor Roe (Oklahoma State) - 15:19

2. Emily Venters (Utah) - 15:23

3. Simone Plourde (Utah) - 15:26

4. Kaylee Mitchell (Oregon State) - 15:33

5. Ella Baran (Colorado) - 15:35

Men's 5000 Meters

1. Ky Robinson (Stanford) - 13:14

2. Brian Fay (Washington) - 13:18

3. Victor Kiprop (Alabama) - 13:19

4. Bob Liking (Wisconsin) - 13:23

5. Jackson Sharp (Wisconsin) - 13:23