2023 Husky Classic Preview: Part One (800m & Mile)

Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
Feb 8, 2023
12 min read

Few invitationals have become more iconic than the Husky Classic, an annual track and field meet held on The Dempsey's 300 meter indoor oval (well, technically 307 meters, but work with me here). The Washington-hosted meet has consistently produced a large plethora of the fastest distance marks in the NCAA -- and 2023 will almost certainly be no different.

While our TSR contributors prepare separate previews for what will likely be an unbelievably fast weekend, I wanted to offer as much detail as possible for this west coast showcase of aerobic talent...while still getting this article out at a decent time.

Today's preview will be a little different. With so many upper-tier entries in each distance event, I have opted to list (most of) the main collegiate contenders in each race and briefly offer a few sentences about what we'll be looking to see from them.

For this article, we'll be covering the mile and 800 meter entries while tomorrow, we will focus on the 3000 meters and the 5000 meters (as well as another meet preview).

So with that, let's begin...

CLICK HERE FOR ACCEPTED ENTRIES

*Note: This preview was written prior to official heat sheets being released. The Stride Report only had the accepted entries list available for this preview, meaning that certain names mentioned below could be absent from competition in Seattle this weekend.

Women's 800 Meters

Vanessa Aniteye (Seattle Pacific)

There is a lot to gain this weekend for Vanessa Aniteye, the only D2 runner who we'll be highlighting in this article. She has been rapidly improving in the 800 meters and ran a 2:08 PR the other weekend. If she continues to progress at this rate, then she'll be an even more legitimate threat to Taryn Chapko for the D2 national title a month from now.

Chloe Foerster (Washington)

The true rookie has been excellent this season, holding her own between the 800 meters (2:05) and mile (4:42). That latter mark wasn't a PR, but it did result in a heat win. This youngster has a ton of upside and in this kind of field, she could easily progress towards a 2:04 PR. That would set her up for a huge outdoor track season.

Gabija Galvydyte (Oklahoma State)

This is a massively important race. Not just for Galvydyte, but for the rest of the country. The Oklahoma State superstar was expected to be a title contender in the women's 800 meters this winter, but her last half-mile effort of 2:04, while far from bad, left us wanting more. If she doesn't run far enough under 2:04 this weekend, then the Cowgirl star may be closer to contesting the mile at the indoor national meet in March.

Anna Gibson (Washington)

Since Gibson is also entered in the mile, it's unclear which event she'll seriously contest this weekend. She's been racing the mile a lot as of late, so some speed work may make more sense. At the moment, there's not really a whole lot more for her to do in terms of the mile, at not right now, which leads me to believe that she'll go for a mark somewhere around 2:04.

DeAnna Martin (Kentucky)

The 2:44 mark over 1000 meters that we saw from Martin earlier this year was super impressive. But her following half-mile efforts have produced times of 2:07 and 2:08. With an 800 meter personal best of 2:05, we know that this Kentucky talent is capable of more...but how much more?

Phoebe McCowan (Kentucky)

You won't find many people who are bigger fans of Phoebe McCowan than me. I think she's fairly underrated, especially after running 2:44 for 1000 meters earlier this season. The still-budding Kentucky talent is knocking on the door of a breakout race, but will that come this weekend? Or will we have to continue to wait for that time to come?

Marlena Preigh (Washington)

Coming into this season, I viewed Marlena Preigh as a nice utility piece who could add middle distance depth and relay assistance to a loaded Washington roster. But the rising Husky talent just ran 2:03 for 800 meters the other weekend and has some of the strongest momentum of any collegiate in the nation right now. Is there a world where she runs 2:02 this weekend?

Jenna Schwinghamer (Kentucky)

Seeing Jenna Schwinghamer post a monster 2:42 personal best over 1000 meters earlier this season was super impressive. And with a 2:03 PR at the half-mile distance, she should theoretically be in contention to win this race. We don't always know what we'll get from her when she toes the line and it's still unclear how her 1k effort will translate to a race that is 200 meters shorter. Still, if everything clicks, then the end result could be insanely fast for this Wildcat ace.

Sydney Steely (Kentucky)

Everything that we said about Jenna Schwinghamer can also be said about Sydney Steely. The Kentucky middle distance talent owns a 2:03 personal best of 800 meters and ran a super fast 1k mark the other weekend, posting a 2:43 result. Steely was an outdoor national meet qualifier last spring, but doesn't quite have the half-mile PR to put her in the All-American conversation...yet. That, of course, could change this weekend.

Carley Thomas (Washington)

Thomas is one of the most dangerous middle distance runners in the nation when she builds momentum, something that she has been doing all season long. If she comes away with either a win or a 2:01 mark over 800 meters this weekend, then we may need to start talking about her as a legitimate threat for the national title in March.

Men's 800 Meters

Ethan Brouw (New Mexico)

We don't often talk about New Mexico runners on the men's side, but Ethan Brouw needs to be highlighted. He ran a converted 1:48 mark for 800 meters on his home track the other weekend. However, Brouw still needs to make another jump if he wants to be in consideration for a national qualifying spot this winter. That's why we imagine that he'll be fairly aggressive in his race approach this weekend.

Nathan Green (Washington)

The newest 3:52 miler is dropping down to the 800 meters to work on his speed. With a 1:49 personal best, Green is due for a new PR. However, it feels like he could run anywhere between 1:46 and 1:48 on Saturday. That uncertainty stems from how out-of-nowhere his latest mile effort was.

Lorenz Herrmann (Idaho)

This Idaho middle distance talent had a breakout 2022 outdoor track season last spring. He ran 1:46 and 1:47 for 800 meters at the West Regional Championships, eventually qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Yes, it's true, Herrmann isn't as accomplished on the indoor oval as he is on the outdoor oval, but after running 1:48 the other weekend, he could be in store for something big in Seattle.

Angus Folmli (Oregon)

The still-rising Duck talent hasn't run any faster than 1:51 for 800 meters at the collegiate level yet. But with a 1:49 personal best prior to his days at Oregon, one has to believe that Folmli can be a factor in the men's half-mile distance this weekend.

Women's Mile

Mia Cochran (Arkansas)

With a high school mile PR of 4:39, Cochran should be viewed as a major x-factor in this field, especially after she had such a fantastic rookie cross country season. However, her last two mile times of 4:45 and 4:48 have left us wanting more, leaving us curious as to how close to her personal best she'll get this weekend.

Natalie Cook (Oklahoma State)

Although she is entered in the 3000 meters on day one, there's a good chance that Cook will return for day two to contest the mile. With a 4:36 personal best over 1600 meters, this Oklahoma State freshman could easily drop a 4:32 or 4:33 mark this weekend, especially after seeing her make massive improvements over the last few months. However, it will be interesting to see how her legs respond during the two-day double.

Samree Dishon (New Mexico)

I really like this move by Coach Joe Franklin and Dishon. This New Mexico ace is contesting the 3000 meters on day one and then the mile (her secondary event) on day two. By doubling back, she'll be able to somewhat replicate the demands of the indoor national meet if she were to do the DMR/3k double. And with a recent 4:37 mile conversion, that's a realistic scenario.

Mary Ellen Eudaly (Arkansas)

An early-season 4:43 mile victory on her home track against her teammates was encouraging, although a 4:48 mark two weeks later left us wanting a bit more. Eudaly is crazy talented, but her youth still leaves her upcoming performances with some volatility. That may sound like a bad thing, but it also (theoretically) means that she has a super high ceiling...I think.

Grace Fetherstonhaugh (Oregon State)

I'm done doubting anyone wearing an Oregon State singlet. After becoming a cross country All-American this past fall, running 8:55 (3k) in December and then 4:35 in the mile the other week, I think Fetherstonhaugh could legitimately win this race if everything breaks her way perfectly.

Chloe Foerster (Washington)

Everything that we've seen from this true freshman this winter suggests that she's going to have a huge breakout race this weekend. I think she has some of the best upside of basically any rookie in the NCAA this season and I could see her running 4:35 this weekend.

Anna Gibson (Washington)

I don't entirely know which event Gibson is going to seriously contest this weekend (mile vs 800 meters). I'm also not sure what she has to gain by attacking the mile again this weekend. A 3k effort would make sense at this point in the year, but another aggressive mile race probably couldn't hurt, either.

Billah Jepkirui (Oklahoma State)

There were rumors that Billah Jepkirui had run 4:11 for 1500 meters prior to coming to Oklahoma State. And after posting a 4:35 mile PR earlier this season, that rumor seems to have more validation to it. Now, the question is, how much better can Jepkirui get from here? If she has the same youth-based upside as a few other rookies, then she could run 4:34 or even 4:33 this weekend.

Gracelyn Larkin (New Mexico)

Amelia Mazza-Downie (New Mexico)

I'm grouping these two together because the analysis and narrative surrounding them in this mile race is arguably the same. Both of these women are better suited for the longer distances (which they'll contest this weekend), but they'll work on refining their speed with tired legs come Saturday.

Kaylee Mitchell (Oregon State)

There's an argument to made that Kaylee Mitchell could win this race. She ran a huge 4:32 mile time in the second-fastest heat of the women's mile at Arkansas the other week. The Beaver star is on absolute fire right now and may be looking for a validating win over this field to confirm that she should attack the mile/3k double at the indoor national meet.

Gracie Morris (TCU)

After having a breakout season last spring, running 4:14 for 1500 meters and qualifying for the outdoor national meet, Morris was viewed as a major x-factor coming into these winter months. However, the TCU ace has had a fairly quiet season so far. In our eyes, this weekend will be big in terms of establishing herself as a contender at the BIG 12 Indoor Championships later this month.

Sophie O'Sullivan (Washington)

After running 4:36 in the mile earlier this season and unofficially splitting 3:16 for 1200 meters last weekend, I was convinced that O'Sullivan would run 4:33 or 4:34 in the mile last Saturday. That, however, didn't happen as she faded to a 4:39 mark in Boston. Even so, it's clear that this Irish distance ace is capable of so much more. This weekend will be a massive opportunity to prove exactly that.

Stefanie Parsons (New Mexico)

A personal favorite of mine, Stefanie Parsons has evolved from "strong D2 transfer" to "legitimate national-caliber threat" in the mile this year. The New Mexico ace has run a converted 4:36 mark this winter and is tactically really solid. She still needs an upper-echelon mark, but Parsons is certainly capable of posting one on Saturday.

Laura Pellicoro (Portland)

I'm not sure why, but it feels like Laura Pellicoro doesn't get talked about enough. She has had a very strong string of results over the last year and has fantastic range. The Portland star is more than capable of winning this race and running something along the lines of 4:31 or 4:32. And if she does, then she may have to be viewed as an outside contender to upset someone for the mile national title.

Simone Plourde (Utah)

We have only seen Simone Plourde race once this winter. Her season debut actually came two weeks ago when she ran 9:07 for 3000 meters in what was a promising personal best. This Utah distance talent is coming off of an excellent cross country season. And after running 4:36 in the mile last winter, Plourde's newfound aerobic strength should almost certainly yield a new PR this weekend...I think.

Annika Reiss (Northern Arizona)

Few women have more to prove that Annika Reiss does this weekend. After a big breakout season this past fall, Reiss has translated her boosted fitness to the indoor oval, running converted times of 4:36 and 4:33. However, that latter 4:33 mile mark doesn't feel safe in terms of national qualifying this winter. And now that she's at sea level, Reiss will need to validate her conversions with a big-time performance and an overall PR.

Taylor Roe (Oklahoma State)

The Oklahoma State superstar is entered in the 3000 meters this weekend, meaning that this mile race on Saturday is likely just to work on her turnover and to further improve her speed. It's unlikely that Roe would contest the mile at the indoor national meet as that decision would leave her with tired legs for the 3000 meters, her main event. Still, if she's feeling good, she could certainly win this race.

Elise Thorner (New Mexico)

After having a huge breakout track season last spring, running 9:32 in the steeplechase and 4:15 over 1500 meters, expectations were high for Thorner this winter. So far, she's run a converted 4:37 mile time, but how that will effort translate to sea level? And does her resume from last spring suggest that she could go even faster?

Men's Mile

Aaron Ahl (Washington)

You could make an argument that Aaron Ahl is the most consistent upper-tier miler in this field. He's run 3:57 in the mile multiple times throughout his career, including a few weeks back. In this kind of field, which is strong but not overwhelming, Ahl could thrive and take home the win in a time of 3:55 or 3:56.

Juan Diego Castro (Oklahoma State)

A lot of people may know Juan Diego Castro as an 800 meter runner, but he also holds a 3:57 mile PR, ran 2:22 for 1000 meters earlier this year and has already run 3:58 in the mile this winter. With a ton of momentum on his side and a balanced field that shouldn't overwhelm him, Castro could be due for a 3:56 PR this weekend.

Abdirizak Ibrahim (New Mexico)

At his best, Abdirizak Ibrahim is one of the more naturally talented distance runners in the NCAA. He owns personal bests of 3:57 (mile) and 7:48 (3k) and has been a two-time cross country All-American. But this past fall was not a great season for the New Mexico star and his last few performances have also been underwhelming. If he's at his best, Ibrahim can win this race, but we aren't entirely sure if we'll see that this weekend.

Garrett MacQuiddy (California)

One of the most impressive men from the 2022 outdoor track season was Garrett MacQuiddy. The Cal distance talent was tactically brilliant in a handful of moments last spring and flashed shades of former Golden Bear star, Thomas Joyce. Sure, MacQuiddy isn't perfect and he still has some development to make, but I could absolutely see him running 3:57 this weekend and becoming an increasingly more impactful name later this spring.

Devin Pancake (Utah State)

In one of our past meet previews, fellow TSR writer Scotty Loughlin highlighted Devin Pancake as a name to watch. The Utah State runner has proven to be a very solid and competitive mile talent, but seems to still be waiting for his true breakout race. That could come this weekend, although he would need to post a massive PR in order to be in contention for the win.

Theo Quax (Northern Arizona)

This Northern Arizona star has unfortunately battled injuries and inconsistencies throughout his career. However, he is a lethal distance talent when he's firing on all cylinders. With personal bests of 3:58 (mile) and 3:39 (1500), Quax should play a fairly significant role in this race, especially with his past year of performances suggesting that he has rebuilt his fitness...for the most part.

Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)

Converted altitude marks of 1:53 (800) and 4:03 (mile) this season are solid, but the bar is obviously higher for one of the greatest high school distance talents in American history. After a somewhat quiet cross country season, Sahlman would benefit quite a bit (momentum and confidence-wise) from a sub-four performance this weekend as he prepares for his rookie outdoor track campaign.

Elias Schreml (Arkansas)

This Arkansas middle distance talent was one of the better rookies in the NCAA last year, but he hasn't necessarily been amazing this winter. This weekend will be a crucial "get right" opportunity for the German youngster who could use Saturday's mile effort as a launch pad for a far greater outdoor track campaign.

Peter Smith (Iowa State)

One of the more pleasant surprises of this season has been the rise of Army transfer, Peter Smith. The relatively new Cyclone middle distance talent has brought his personal bests down to 1:47 (800), 2:22 (1k) and 4:00 (mile) this season. Few men in the NCAA have more momentum than he does and that could lead to another significant personal best on Saturday.

Alex Stitt (Oklahoma State)

This Aussie middle distance talent is due for a major performance. He had a much-improved cross country season, ran a 2:22 (1k) personal best earlier this season and has already run 4:01 in the mile. But on paper, Stitt is capable of so much more and it would be huge for our future confidence in him if he ran around 3:57 or 3:58 this weekend.

Matt Strangio (Portland)

This California native did run 13:39 for 5000 meters back in December, but I still believe that he's at his best when he's racing the mile or the 1500 meters. With personal bests of 3:59 (mile) and 3:39 (1500), Strangio should be plenty competitive in this field. But will his 5k improvement from earlier this season translate just as effectively to the middle distances? If so, then this Portland Pilot could be a major x-factor on Saturday.