2025 D1 Indoor Track End of Season Awards

Written by Finn Birnie, Mike McKean, Rachel Hickey, Finlay McIsaac & Garrett Zatlin Votes via TSR D1 staff, additional edits & commentary by Garrett Zatlin

Welcome back to a trimestrial classic, our End of Season Awards!

Below, we listed our five seasonal awards for the men and five seasonal awards for the women, all for the Division One level. These awards are a way to highlight the accomplishments of certain individuals from the entirety of the indoor track season. You'll also find our criteria for each of these awards as we list our nominees.

In the second-half of this article, you'll find the votes from our TSR contributors (click that link if you want to skip all of the summary parts).

Please note that we require a minimum of four nominees per award and a preferred maximum of nominees per award. However, on very rare occasions, we will make an exception for a 10th nominee if necessary.

Let's begin...

Best Freshman Award (Men)

*Athletes who hold freshman status stemming from any type of eligibility extension (not including missions) are not considered for this award. International freshmen are included amongst these nominees unless we have reason to believe that they do not meet our criteria. Performances past 3/15 are not considered.

Tyler Mathews (BYU)

As a true freshman, BYU’s Tyler Mathews has adjusted extremely well to the NCAA and had a very promising winter campaign, taking over two seconds off of his 800 meter personal best and breaking the 1:47 barrier. Although he was unfortunately the first man out of qualification for the NCAA Indoor Championships in his signature event, Mathews was a vital part of the Cougar’s All-American DMR squad. The level of consistency we saw from the youngster this season indicates he will be a prominent threat over the half-mile distance in the coming years.

Collins Kiprotich (New Mexico)

After earning a 35th place All-American finish on the grass, we were eager to see New Mexico’s Collins Kiprotich display his aerobic prowess over the 3000 meters and 5000 meters this winter. He did clock a solid 7:46 (3k) at Boston University, but ultimately, his best results of the season were his mile efforts, especially a mightily impressive 3:53 altitude-converted mile on his home track. While he did struggle at the NCAA Indoor Championships, Kiprotich’s season as a whole proved that he is a much more versatile runner than we had previously thought.

Ishmael Kipkurui (New Mexico)

Few, if any, runners have ever entered the NCAA with the resume of Ishmael Kipkirui who boasts incredible personal bests of 13:05 (5k) and 8:09 (two-mile) to go along with a U20 World cross country title. In his first season with the New Mexico men, Kipkirui wasn’t quite as dominant as his resume suggested he could be, but he still acclimated quite well to collegiate racing. A 7th place All-American finish for 5000 meters, alongside quick season bests of 13:15 (5k) and 7:40 (3k), is a fantastic start to his NCAA career, but it seems that he is just scratching the surface of his potential.

Koitatoi Kidali (Oregon)

Oregon rookie Koitatoi Kidali had a lot of buzz surrounding his entry to the NCAA thanks to his stunning 1:42 (800) PR and an appearance at the Paris Olympics last summer. While he didn’t quite live up to the hype at the start of his season, he seemingly got more and more comfortable in the NCAA environment with a 1:46.55 clocking over 800 meters and solid performances at the BIG 10 Indoor Championships. Unfortunately, Kidali tripped in the 800-meter prelims at the national meet and took a hard fall, but the trajectory of his season indicated that he was primed to be an All-American.

Evans Kurui (Washington State)

Washington State’s Evans Kurui gained some national recognition this past fall from his impressive displays of front-running, leading him to an All-American finish at the NCAA XC Championships. Then, during this past indoor track season, he kept this momentum going with a huge personal best of 13:17 over 5000 meters and a 10th place finish in that same event at the NCAA Indoor Championships! Kirui’s fearless racing style has consistently yielded excellent results over his freshman campaign.

Shadrack Kiptoo (Oklahoma)

While he did enter the NCAA with an impressive 5000-meter personal best of 13:41 to his name, Shadrack Kiptoo wasn’t expected to have any immediate impact on the national stage. However, after a breakout 13:22 (5k) performance at the Husky Classic, he was only one second shy of qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships. That quick time, mixed with two top-eight finishes at the SEC Indoor Championships, indicate that he is closer to being competitive at the national level than some may think.

Best Freshman Award (Women)

*Athletes who hold freshman status stemming from any type of eligibility extension (not including missions) are not considered for this award. International freshmen are included amongst these nominees unless we have reason to believe that they do not meet our criteria. Performances past 3/15 are not considered.

Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico)

Every time New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei stepped onto the track this winter, she was excellent. She backed up her sensational bronze at the NCAA XC Championships with electric times of 15:00 (5k) and 8:44 (3k), and likely would have earned top-half All-American finishes in both events had she not taken an unfortunate fall in the final stages of the 3k. It has been extremely impressive to see Kosgei’s immediate success at the NCAA level, and it seems inevitable that there are many more top national meet finishes to come.

Tessa Buswell (BYU)

While she didn’t have a particularly flashy season, BYU’s Tessa Buswell was impressively consistent as a true freshman. Buswell, who joined the Cougars with an 800-meter personal best of 2:06, tallied five separate sub-2:05 marks this winter. While her individual performances didn’t make much noise on the national level, Buswell was part of the title-winning BYU DMR squad -- an impressive feat to have on her resume this early into her NCAA career.

Janet Jepkemboi Amino (Kentucky)

As a whole, Janet Jepkemboi Amino’s first season at Kentucky may not have been as impressive as some of the other nominees on this list. However, her 800-meter performance at the Razorback Invitational was stunning, as she took down an established talent in Sanu Jallow with a time of 2:03 (800), falling just short of her outdoor track personal best. A performance like that certainly puts Jepkemboi Amino on the map, and even though she wasn’t quite able to match that effort for the rest of the season, her potential is now evident.

Rachel Forsyth (Michigan State)

Michigan State rookie Rachel Forsyth had some serious momentum going into this winter after an exceptional cross country postseason peak. While she did not have quite the same level of postseason success on the indoor oval, the Canadian star continued to show impressive fitness with an 8:53 (3k) clocking and a new mile PR of 4:34. Forsyth has not had a bad race yet in her NCAA career, showcasing amazing consistency for a true freshman.

Ali Ince (Oregon)

After a surprisingly formidable cross country season showed a new level of strength, former high school middle distance standout Ali Ince was expected to thrive on the indoor oval – and she delivered! Early-season mile marks of 4:32 and 4:30 were excellent, and in any other year, the latter time would have qualified Ince to the NCAA Indoor Championships. She admittedly struggled a bit with consistency in the latter stages of her season, but her extremely high ceiling was on full display this winter.

Marion Jepngetich (New Mexico)

New Mexico’s Marion Jepngetich had a very quiet, and slightly underwhelming, beginning to her first NCAA season given that she brought home a 3000-meter silver medal at the most recent U20 World Championships. However, at the Mountain West Indoor Championships, Jepngetich started to live up to the hype with altitude converted times of 8:58 (3k) and 15:41 (5k) en route to runner-up finishes to teammate Pamela Kosgei in both events. Those excellent postseason performances indicate that we may not need to wait much longer to see Jepngetich start to mix it up with the best runners in the NCAA.

Brenda Jepchirchir (Auburn)

When someone runs 15:33 for 5000 meters, it's hard to dismiss them as a candidate for this award. That's certainly the case for Brenda Jepchirchir who earned a silver medal at the SEC Indoor Championships. However, what was more impressive is that Jepchirchir ran 15:35 and 15:45 in her two prior efforts, showcasing excellent consistency over the 5k distance, especially for a rookie.

Most Improved Award (Men)

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this past winter. Prior seasons are used as a loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Nominees for this award do not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of indoor track) of collegiate competition. Performances past 3/15 are not considered.

Harrison Witt (Princeton)

Princeton’s Harrison Witt has been a well-known talent within the Ivy League, but it wasn’t until this past indoor track season that he became one of the NCAA’s most elite middle distance runners. The Tiger star's strong personal bests of 1:47 (800), 2:19 (1k) and 3:52 (mile) gave us reason to believe that he had entered an entirely different tier, although it wasn’t until his 3:51 DMR anchor leg split that our beliefs were validated. Although his finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the mile (10th) left a bit to be desired, his season as a whole was a massive success.

Laban Kipkemboi (Oklahoma State)

Going into the postseason, Laban Kipkemboi was already having a breakout season, running 1:48 for 800 meters and, more importantly, posting four separate mile marks ranging from 3:53 to 3:56. But once the Cowboy impressively took home gold in the mile at the BIG 12 Indoor Championships, we knew that he was ready to compete with the country’s best at the national meet. While the NCAA Indoor Championships didn’t go as planned, Kipkemboi’s consistent ability to compete with the elites was more than enough to secure his place on this list.

Emanuel Galdino (Iowa State)

Before this past indoor track season, we were admittedly unfamiliar with Emanuel Galdino. The Cyclone star had posted respectable performances previously, but nothing that had prepared us for his outstanding double at the Cyclone Open where he posted a 3:55 (mile) mark and then ran 1:47 (800) less than five hours later. His sudden emergence to an entirely new tier of fitness was backed up by two more personal bests of 1:47.02 (800) and 3:54 (mile) as well as a gold medal over 1000 meters and a bronze medal in the mile at the BIG 12 Indoor Championships.

Cooper Cawthra (Texas A&M)

Texas A&M’s Cooper Cawthra had an incredible winter campaign after venturing into the 2024-25 indoor track season with modest personal bests of 3:59 (mile) and 1:49 (800). The Aggie middle distance ace focused on the mile this season, shattering his previous PR with a massive 3:54 mark. The emerging star would ultimately qualify for the indoor national meet with his Texas A&M teammates, splitting an otherworldly 3:51 (mile) mark on the anchor leg, helping his Aggie squad to a 4th place All-American finish.

Foster Malleck (Boston U.)

Qualifying for his first NCAA Championship this winter alone was enough to get Foster Malleck on this list and his eyebrow-raising 3:53 (mile) personal best gave him a punching chance at the national meet as he barely snuck in. However, his 3rd place finish in the mile finals took us by shock. Of course, in retrospect, with his improved consistency, racing maturity and lethal kick, Malleck felt destined for a game-changing performance like this.

Colton Sands (North Carolina)

The emergence of Colton Sands as North Carolina’s third banana isn’t necessarily anything we’re new to given how he ended his 2024 cross country season. And yet, despite how high we were on him, it's hard to say that we saw him reaching this new level. His personal best marks of 7:39 (3k) and 13:27 (5k) put him into an entirely different tier within the NCAA which ultimately earned him a bid to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 3k.

Creed Thompson (BYU)

We’re no stranger to seeing All-American honors from BYU’s Creed Thompson, but we’re more accustomed to seeing them on the grass. He has earned his way on this list after, undoubtedly, the best indoor track season of his career. With personal bests achieved through every event contested this winter, Thompson wrapped up his season beautifully with a 13:19 (5k) personal best, placing 8th on the national stage to give himself his first All-American honor on the oval.

Matthew Erickson (Oregon)

Oregon’s Matthew Erickson had shown signs that he was a nationally competitive name in the past, running numerous 1:46 and 1:47 (800) marks...but what he did this past winter blew us away. The savvy veteran ended up perfecting a postseason peak that’s sure to be remembered for some time, riding a massive wave of momentum that was kicked off with a 1:46 (800) win at the BIG 10 Indoor Championships. Erickson backed that up with a dominant victory over 800 meters at the indoor national meet, establishing himself as one of the very best middle distance runners in the nation practically overnight.

Kyle Reinheimer (Washington)

Kyle Reinheimer already held a respectable half-mile time before joining the Washington Huskies (running 1:48). However, we felt confident that he was going to improve this winter, especially under the tutelage of Coach Andy Powell. Sure enough, that’s exactly what Reinheimer did, running personal bests of 1:16 (600) and 1:46 (800) to earn the first national meet bid in an individual race.

Most Improved Award (Women)

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this past winter. Prior seasons are used as a loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Nominees for this award do not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of indoor track) of collegiate competition. Performances past 3/15 are not considered.

Laura Pellicoro (Portland)

We’ve always known that Portland’s Laura Pellicorol was talented given that she has qualified for both the indoor and outdoor national meets over 800 meters and the mile/1500 meters. Being nationally competitive was never the question with the Italian middle distance star, but her ascension into the upper-echelon of NCAA stars is something to behold. With elite personal bests achieved of 2:00 (800), 2:37 (1k), 4:25 (mile) and 8:53 (3k), she produced a near-flawless season which admittedly makes her performance at the NCAA Indoor Championships a tough pill to swallow. 

Gabriella Grissom (Miami (FL))

Hurricane half-miler Gabriella Grissom has previously posted quality marks in both the 400 meters and 800 meters, but she has never been nationally competitive when you look back at her times. That, of course, wasn’t the case this season as Grissom took a huge leap in fitness. After throwing down a massive two-plus second personal best at the ACC Indoor Championships over 800 meters (2:01), she earned a brilliant 6th place finish in the same event at the NCAA Indoor Championships, far exceeding the expectations that we had for her.

Analisse Batista (Arkansas)

Prior to this season, Analisse Batista had never run faster than 2:04.92 for 800 meters, but she shattered that this winter, running an incredible 2:01 (800) personal best at the SEC Indoor Championships. The Arkansas half-miler made consistent progression throughout the season, eventually earning a bid to the national meet and posting an impressive 400-meter personal best of 52.89. If you're looking at pure improvement, Batista’s indoor track campaign was one of the country’s best.

Kaylie Politza (Oklahoma State)

Similar to Batista, Kaylie Politza came into the indoor track season with an 800-meter PR of 2:04.72, ultimately running her best at the tail-end of the 2024 outdoor track season. However, the Cowgirl half-miler displayed underrated consistency this winter, ultimately running between 2:02 to 2:04 over 800 meters on six different occasions (and one of those instances yielded a 2:01 altitude conversion). That consistency paid off as she qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, making it the first national meet berth of her career.

Lorena Rangel Batres (LSU)

We knew that Lorena Rangel Batres was a national-caliber talent before this past winter campaign. After all, she did qualify for the outdoor national meet over 1500 meters last spring and earned an individual berth to the 2024 NCAA XC Championships. That said, she took another leap this winter after running an incredible personal best of 4:26 (mile). Her 9th place finish in the mile finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships left a bit more to be desired, but LSU’s 4th place team finish in the DMR is partly credited to Batres’ brilliance on the anchor leg (4:25).

Vera Sjoberg (Boston U.)

Vera Sjoberg’s success over 1500 meters last spring (4:13) gave us reason to believe that she could make the jump to being nationally competitive, especially after her outstanding 2024 season on the grass which saw her finish 42nd at the national meet. However, she had never been to a national meet on the track before. That said, witnessing stunning personal bests of 15:45 (5k), 8:57 (3k) and 4:28 (mile) was all the proof we needed to believe that Sjoberg is a true national-caliber name.

Mena Scatchard (Princeton)

When talking about breakout seasons, look no further than Mena Scatchard for the prime definition. After running personal bests in every event from the 800 meters to the 3000 meters, the Princeton star qualified for her first national meet on the oval. Despite her inexperience on the stage, she astoundingly finished runner-up in the mile finals, making her an incredibly likely choice for this award.

Hannah Gapes (NC State)

Admittedly, Hannah Gapes was due for a huge indoor track season after an excellent season on the grass which saw her finish 8th at the NCAA XC Championships. Gapes’ indoor track marks before this winter didn’t give us a whole lot to go off of, and with the 2024-2025 winter campaign being her first full season on the indoor oval, she made the absolute most out of her opportunities. With personal best marks of 15:47 (5k), 4:35 (mile) and 8:48 (3k), the sophomore star established herself as a nationally competitive name on the oval.

Jadyn Keeler (North Dakota)

Admittedly, we did not know who Jadyn Keeler was before this past indoor track season, but surely you’ll provide me some grace when realizing that her 5k personal best before this winter was 16:48! A season-opening time of 15:57 (5k) was a decent step in the right direction, but a 15:28 (5k) personal best in February was an emphatic arrival to a new tier of fitness. The validation we needed from that mark was given to us ten-fold as Keeler placed 10th overall in the 5k at the NCAA Indoor Championships, making her the most improved woman in this group (quantitatively, speaking). 

Best Performance Award (Men)

*Must have run attached at least once this past winter and must have been attached during race in question. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, performances that are amplified by the results of other meets/individuals with appropriate context are included. DMR splits are considered for this award. TSR writers can vote for the performance that they believe is either the most impressive, the most entertaining or the most surprising. Performances past 3/15 are not considered.

Ethan Strand Runs NCAA Mile Record of 3:48 at Boston U.

To be quite frank, no amount of discussion can truly do this performance justice. A 3:48 mile. An NCAA record. The seventh-fastest indoor mile in world history and the first collegiate runner to ever break 3:50. It was a truly Earth-shattering achievement.

Gary Martin Runs NCAA #2 All-Time Mile Mark of 3:48 at Millrose Games

A performance that often felt overshadowed by Ethan Strand’s, Gary Martin’s run at the Millrose Games could be argued to have had just as big of an impact on the NCAA landscape. The Cavalier expertly navigated a truly world-class field, finishing in 5th place and clocking a remarkable 3:48 mile PR! Strand raised the bar, but Martin met it, and we don’t think anyone was prepared for a run as Earth-shattering as Strand’s to be humanized within just seven days.

Gary Martin Splits 3:48 to Defeat UNC & Strand for DMR National Title

The DMR at the NCAA Championships was a true clash of titans as two 3:48 milers went head-to-head on the anchor leg. After receiving the baton at relatively similar times, it was Ethan Strand who made the first real move, but Gary Martin patiently tracked him before surging past on the final lap to claim the title. Not only did he secure the victory for the Cavaliers, but he also clocked a jaw-dropping 3:48 split in the process.

Ethan Strand Runs NCAA 3k Record of 7:30 at Boston U.

Hot off his best cross country season to date, North Carolina’s Ethan Strand took to the track and stunned the nation. Not only did he obliterate the NCAA record, but he also completely redefined what we thought was possible in collegiate distance running. Running 7:30 for 3000 meters is almost unfathomable, but what makes this feat even more remarkable is that you could argue it wasn’t even the Tar Heel’s most impressive performance of the season.

Aidan McCarthy Runs NCAA #3 All-Time 800m Mark of 1:45.19

Aidan McCarthy was already having an exceptional season after running a 3:52 mile PR, but even he likely didn’t expect to clock the NCAA’s third-fastest indoor 800-meter time ever. In what was essentially a solo effort, the Mustang completely dominated the field in Boston, posting a staggering mark of 1:45.19. This performance was not only a preview of what was to come, but it was also further validation of his status as one of the most explosive middle distance runners in the nation.

Habtom Samuel Runs NCAA #3 (D1) All-Time 5k Mark of 13:04.92

Habtom Samuel has long been recognized as the nation’s premier aerobic talent, but his dominance has always been most evident over 10,000 meters, making his 13:04 (5k) performance in Boston all the more stunning. Coming into the race, Samuel had never broken 13:14, and while an improvement seemed inevitable, such a leap was still a pleasant surprise. It’s now clear that his 10k strength has caught up with him and rewarded him with the NCAA #3 all-time indoor 5k mark in D1 history.

Matthew Erickson Upsets Field to Win NCAA 800m Title

Oregon’s Matthew Erickson entered the national meet as the second-to-last seed and left as a national champion. Make no mistake, Erickson had already put together an outstanding season, winning the BIG 10 title over 800 meters and consistently running 1:46 marks, but those achievements paled in comparison to how masterfully he navigated the highly talented field in Virginia Beach. His tactical execution was second-to-none, and it showed as he pulled off a stunning upset.

Tinoda Matsatsa Runs NCAA 1k Record of 2:16 at Penn State

Tinoda Matsatsa was already the proud owner of the NCAA record over 1000 meters, and while there were suspicions he could improve upon his 2:18 mark, I don’t think anyone was prepared for him to demolish it in the manner he did. The Georgetown ace bypassed the 2:17 mark entirely, running a head-turning time of 2:16.84. That was a truly exceptional display of turnover and a fitting precursor to his 1:45 (800) performance just weeks later.

Best Performance Award (Women)

*Must have run attached at least once this past winter and must have been attached during race in question. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, performances that are amplified by the results of other meets/individuals with appropriate context are included. DMR splits are considered for this award. TSR writers can vote for the performance that they believe is either the most impressive, the most entertaining or the most surprising. Performances past 3/15 are not considered.

Silan Ayyildiz Runs NCAA Mile Record of 4:23 at Boston U.

The Boston U. Valentine Invitational delivered one of the most remarkable women's mile races in NCAA history as six collegiate athletes broke 4:30 in the top heat. Silan Ayyildiz stole the show, running an extraordinary 4:23 mark to shatter the collegiate record previously held by Katelyn Tuohy, arguably the greatest NCAA women's distance runner of all time. Ayyildiz’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, ensuring that the men's mile didn’t steal all the headlines this season.

Wilma Nielsen Wins NCAA Mile Title

Wilma Nielsen was undoubtedly the most prepared athlete heading into the NCAA Indoor Championships and that preparation was on full display as she secured a sublime victory in the mile. The veteran Duck deployed a lethal kick over the final 200 meters, a move so devastating that even her teammate, the current NCAA mile record holder, was left in her wake. Nielsen had a truly dominant performance and it was the perfect way to cap off an excellent season.

Juliette Whittaker Runs 1:59 (800) at Husky Classic

After a relatively quiet opener by her standards, a 1:59 (800) mark was exactly the performance that Juliette Whittaker needed to prove that she was truly back at her best. While marks like that have become the expectation for an athlete of her caliber, that shouldn’t take away from just how exceptional her wire-to-wire effort in Seattle was. Not to mention, she took down Portland’s Laura Pellicoro, one of the nation’s most underrated and in-form middle distance talents.

Makayla Paige Wins NCAA 800m Title Wire-to-Wire Despite Near Fall

This year's women's 800-meter finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships was full of surprises, and arguably the biggest of them all was that Makayla Paige managed to stay on her feet after nearly falling on the first lap! Remarkably, the Tar Heel didn’t let that near-devastating stumble rattle her, staying composed at the front and refusing to surrender her lead to any challengers. Her courageous front-running was rewarded with an astounding gold medal along with a 2:00 (800) finish, marking her fourth 2:00 performance of the season.

Ceili McCabe Out-kicks Field to Win NCAA 3k Title

At long last, Ceili McCabe has her national title! In the twilight of her collegiate career, McCabe delivered a spectacular performance, racing with tremendous composure. After taking the lead in the penultimate laps, the Canadian unleashed a devastating turn of pace to pull away from 5000-meter national champion Doris Lemngole and power her way to her first NCAA gold.

Doris Lemngole Out-Kicks Lexy Halladay-Lowry to Win NCAA 5k Title

Seeing Doris Lemngole claim victory over 5000 meters was hardly a surprise at the indoor national meet given that she had run 14:52, an NCAA record, back in December. However, the manner in which she won that title was somewhat unexpected as the Alabama ace unleashed a menacing kick to take down Lexy Halladay-Lowry in a display of tactical excellence. That impressive closing speed was a pleasant surprise from one of the nation’s most aerobically focused athletes and a clear sign that her arsenal is now more-or-less complete.

Doris Lemngole Runs NCAA Indoor 5k Record of 14:52 at Boston U.

Alabama’s Doris Lemngole had already proven her dominance on the grass with a national title, but just a few weeks later, she showed us the full extent of her talent. In an aggressively paced race, the Crimson Tide star delivered a monumental 14:52 PR, narrowly breaking Parker Valby’s NCAA indoor 5k record. The name of the previous record holder alone should tell you everything that you need to know about just how spectacular Lemngole’s run truly was.

Riley Chamberlain Splits 4:25 to Give BYU Comeback DMR Title Win

BYU’s Riley Chamberlain has established herself as one of the most clutch runners in recent memory and her unbelievable 4:25 anchor leg split in Virginia Beach is a testament to that. After receiving the baton nearly four seconds behind, the Cougar ace delivered a massive anchor leg, not only catching Oregon and Providence, but blowing past them to secure the win with room to spare. What makes that result even more impressive is that Chamberlain didn’t just run down anyone -- she chased down none other than NCAA mile record holder, Silan Ayyildiz!

Best Distance Coach Award (Men's Teams)

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2025 indoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Performances past 3/15 are not considered.

Jerry Schumacher (Oregon)

The middle distance depth of the Oregon men this winter was beyond extensive. A handful of veteran stars got even better, a number of solid distance runners reached a national-caliber level and the younger guys began to look like legitimate stars for the future. It's taken a bit, but Coach Jerry Schumacher is starting to get some extremely impressive results from his entire roster.

Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Sure, the depth of UNC wasn't nearly as extensive as what Oregon had, but the three-headed distance monster of Ethan Strand, Parker Wolfe and Colton Sands was brilliant. That trio all ran under 7:40 for 3000 meters and they were arguably the best trio of distance runners in the entire NCAA, making Coach Chris Miltenberg a legitimate candidate to win this award.

Mike Smith (Northern Arizona)

Sure, it wasn't the flashiest season ever for the Northern Arizona men, but the Lumberjacks still did enough for Coach Mike Smith to be nominated for this award. Colin Sahlman was dynamic as ever, Drew Bosley began to return to a nationally competitive level, Ford Washburn had a breakout season, David Mullarkey improved his 3k PR to 7:41 and a few key depth pieces made subtle progress of their own.

Andy Powell (Washington)

The not-so-small army of sub-4:00 milers on Washington's roster makes it easy to give Coach Andy Powell a nomination for this award. Nathan Green and Ronan McMahon-Staggs ran 3:50 and 3:51, respectively, in the mile this winter while EIGHT other men cracked the four-minute barrier. With three other guys running 1:46 for 800 meters and three men running under 7:50 (3k), you could argue that this was the most underrated season of Coach Andy Powell's career.

John Gondak (Penn State)

The Penn State men had not one, not two, but THREE different men run 1:46 for 800 meters this season. And the best part? None of those men were half-mile star, Handal Roban. With a fourth name running 1:47 (800), two men going sub-4:00 in the mile and three men going sub-8:00 (3k), Coach John Gondak did a very job this season given the middle distance focus of his roster.

Marcus O'Sullivan (Villanova)

Much like the North Carolina men, Coach Marcus O'Sullivan's nomination is largely based on the success of three men. Liam Murphy and Marco Langon were arguably the best 1-2 punch in the NCAA throughout the entirety of the indoor track season while Dan Watcke evolved into an upper-echelon middle distance star. Those three men dominated the entire spectrum of distance races, giving Villanova a presence similar to the Pat Tiernan, Jordy Williamz and Robert Denault days -- except this group has more range.

Chris Bucknam (Arkansas)

Earlier this winter, Patrick Kiprop ran 13:11 (5k), Yaseen Abdalla ran 7:36 (3k) and 13:09 (5k), Reuben Reina ran 3:52 (mile), both Tyrice Taylor and Rivaldo Marshall ran 1:46 (800) and Davis Helmerich was quietly excellent in his development. If the Arkansas men had delivered upon expectations on the national stage, then Coach Chris Buckham would have had an argument to win this award.

Dave Smith (Oklahoma State)

It may not have been the best season that Coach Dave Smith ever had, but it wasn't far off from it, either. Brian Musau became a national champion while Fouad Messaoudi and Denis Kipngetich became All-Americans. With Alex Stitt and Laban Kipkemboi reaching new tiers of their fitness, and Ryan Schoppe remaining as a national-caliber name, the Cowboys' distance roster looked fairly complete this winter.

Darren Gauson (New Mexico)

It wouldn't surprise us if Coach Darren Gauson received a few awards for the development of his roster this winter. Habtom Samuel ran 13:04 (5k), Collins Kiprotich ran an altitude converted 3:53 (mile) time, Ishmael Kipkurui was a 5k All-American who ran 7:40 (3k), Lukas Kiprop made promising improvements and Matthew Kosgei ran an altitude converted 13:24 (5k) mark. When you put all of that together, you get quite a successful winter campaign for the Lobos.

Best Distance Coach Award (Women's Teams)

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2025 indoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Performances past 3/15 are not considered.

Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

There's a good argument for Coach Diljeet Taylor to win this award -- and this may not have been the best indoor track season of her career! Lexy Hallday-Lowry and Riley Chamberlain turned into true stars and the same could be said for Meghan Hunter over 800 meters despite what happened at the national meet. With Carmen Alder running 4:29 in the mile, Tessa Buswell showing great promise as a rookie, a limited DMR squad winning the national title and so much more, it's possible that the Cougars' coach could win this award once more.

Shalane Flanagan (Oregon)

You could argue that the Oregon women had the NCAA's most complete miler (Wilma Nielsen), the NCAA's fastest miler (Silan Ayyildiz) and the NCAA's best overall group of milers (when you include Mia Barnett, Ali Ince and Julia Nielsen). Sure, the Ducks didn't have quite as much success in other events, but Coach Shalane Flanagan was such a brilliant developer of mile-based stars that she still deserves to be considered for this award.

Maurica Powell (Washington)

It should not be ignored how impressive it was that Coach Maurica Powell got Amina Maatoug back into top form and elevated Chloe Foerster to an All-American tier. A supporting cast of Mia Cochran (4:33 in the mile and 8:59 for 3k), Maggie Liebich (4:34 in the mile) and Claire Yerby (2:04 for 800 meters) turned out to be crucial depth pieces who Coach Maurica Powell was smart enough to bring in over the last two offseasons.

JJ Clark (Stanford)

Admittedly, the Stanford women had far less postseason success than we thought they would have. Even so, the rise of Sophia Kennedy as a legitimate national-caliber star and Roisin Willis securing another top-half All-American honor deserves kudos. And if it wasn't for flukey days from Juliette Whittaker and Amy Bunnage on the national stage, then Coach JJ Clark would have been in contention to win this award.

Mike Smith (Northern Arizona)

You could argue that this was the most underrated indoor track season that Coach Mike Smith has ever had -- and it may have been the best indoor track season that he has ever had with his women's team. Elise Stearns and Maggi Congdon looked borderline elite at times this season, Alex Carlson returned to a star-caliber level, the depth across all distance events was incredibly impressive and if there were ever any doubts about altitude conversions, then they were (mostly) justified with sea level performances.

Ray Treacy (Providence)

Sure, this past winter wasn't the season that we thought the Providence women were capable of. And yet, the trio of Kimberley May, Shannon Flockhart and Alex Millard proved to be too talented to leave Coach Ray Treacy out of the conversation. With a successful DMR lineup, thanks in part to 2:04 half-miler Maeve O'Neill, the Friars still had enough firepower to compete with some of the other teams represented for this award.

Mitchell Baker (Georgetown)

The Georgetown women have had better seasons in the past, but that shouldn't take away from the results that we saw from Melissa Riggins, Chloe Scrimgeour and Lucy Jenks this winter. Sure, their national meet results weren't super flashy, but each of those three women were true nationally competitive names this season and it didn't hurt that Charlotte Tomkinson was sneaky-good as well.

Houston Franks (LSU)

LSU typically doesn't put much emphasis on the distance events, but that's what makes Houston Franks such a great candidate for this award. Outside of the always-great Michaela Rose, we saw veteran Lorena Rangel Batres evolve into one of the most fit milers in the NCAA which also led to the Tigers earning 4th place All-American honors in the DMR. With Edna Chepkemoi running 15:39 for 5000 meters, we felt like there was enough production from this group for Franks to be listed.

Alex Gibby (Harvard)

Despite no longer having star mile ace Maia Ramsden, the Harvard women were still incredibly productive this winter. Both Victoria Bossong (2nd) and Sophia Gorriaran (7th) earned All-American honors over 800 meters while the Crimson's DMR was able to earn 7th place All-American honors (without those two women) thanks to a huge 4:32 anchor split from Penelope Salmon! Coach Alex Gibby made the most of this season and got the most productivity out of his women even after losing a Bowerman finalist from last year's team.

Most Valuable Runner Award (Men)

*Must have run attached this past winter. Performances past 3/15 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner from this past season.

Ethan Strand (North Carolina)

When it comes to criteria that athletes need to make for our “Most Valuable Runner Award” nominee list, North Carolina’s Ethan Strand has it all. His indoor track season is highlighted by not one, but TWO collegiate records (mile and 3k), an ACC title over 5000 meters, an NCAA runner-up result in the DMR and finally, a 3000-meter national title. His 2025 campaign will be regarded as one of the best of all-time.

Gary Martin (Virginia)

Virginia’s Gary Martin has truly had an indoor track season for the record books. As one of two athletes to ever run under 3:50 in the mile as a collegiate, Martin has already established himself as an all-time great. Add on a blazing fast anchor leg on Virginia's NCAA championship winning DMR, outkicking none other than Ethan Strand, and Martin has put up quite the argument to warrant a vote for this award.

Matthew Erickson (Oregon)

Oregon’s Matty Erickson has had one of the more quietly consistent indoor track seasons, building momentum through the postseason and ultimately running away with the 800-meter national title. Leading up to the national meet, Erickson arguably had the best buildup of almost any other athlete in the country, timing his peak perfectly for the NCAA meet. When you consider his tactical racing savvy, the Oregon veteran certainly earns a spot on this list.

Aidan McCarthy (Cal Poly)

Cal Poly’s Aidan McCarthey rightfully earned his spot on our nominees list at the 2025 Last Chance National Qualifier at Boston University with his NCAA-leading 1:45.19 (800) mark. While McCarthy mistimed his lethal finishing kick and ended up 3rd at the national meet, the Cal Poly junior still posted the third-fastest collegiate indoor 800-meter ever, and the fastest indoor mark by an American collegiate man. His 2:19.68 (1k) mark also falls within the all-time top-10 amongst collegians, adding even more bullet points to his winter resume. 

Tinoda Matsatsa (Georgetown)

Another athlete with a record-breaking indoor track season, Georgetown’s Tinoda Matsatsa shattered the 1000-meter collegiate record with his jaw-dropping 2:16.84 mark from the Nittany Lion Challenge. Matsatsa also posted an all-time mark in the half-mile this season with his 1:45.21 performance at the BU Valentine Invite. And although the Hoya superstar ultimately settled for 4th in the 800-meter final at NCAAs, Matsatsa has consistently proved that he is among one of the all-time middle-distance greats. 

Habtom Samuel (New Mexico)

Lobo superstar Habtom Samuel had one of the best seasons of the aerobic-centric talents this indoor track campaign. With stunning marks of 7:39 (3k) and 13:04 (5k), Samuel was easily considered to be a national title favorite over the longer races ahead of the NCAA meet. Although he would ultimately settle for silver behind Oklahoma State’s Brian Musau, Samuel’s season as a whole has to be one of the most impressive we have ever seen of the New Mexico ace. 

Brian Musau (Oklahoma State)

Brian Musau’s upset victory over Habtom Samuel over 5000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships was enough to earn him a nomination for this award. After posting an elite 13:11 (5k) back in December, Musau had a quietly good season leading up to the national meet, where Musau simply exceeded expectations with his 5k national title and 5th-place performance in the 3k. Musau was also essential in Oklahoma State’s national-qualifying DMR, further proving his value to the Cowboy squad. 

Abel Teffra (Georgetown)

In a season full of NCAA records and elite performances, Georgetown’s Abel Teffra made sure he did not go unnoticed. In the same race where teammate Tinoda Matsatsa shattered the NCAA 1k record, Teffra posted an equally impressive 2:17.39 mark for an all-time performance before following that up with a 3:52 mile mark at the Scarlet and White Invite. One of the most complete milers in the field, his mile national title feels well earned in a performance that was the epitome of both fitness and tactical prowess. 

Nathan Green (Washington)

With no Ethan Strand or Gary Martin, Washington’s Nathan Green appeared to be the national title favorite ahead of NCAAs due to his consistency in posting elite marks. With marks of 3:50 (mile) and 7:40 (3k) throughout the indoor track season, as well as a pair of BIG 10 titles between the 3000 meters and the DMR, Green’s veteran experience was on full display as he continued to bolster his already extensive resume. And while he ultimately settled for silver at NCAAs, Green’s otherwise holistically dominant season warrants a nomination in his favor.

Most Valuable Runner Award (Women)

*Must have run attached this past winter. Performances past 3/15 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner from this past season.

Doris Lemngole (Alabama)

Coming off her massively successful cross country season in the fall, we knew to expect great things from Alabama’s Doris Lemngole on the indoor oval. But an 8:41 (3k) and 14:52 (5k) put her into a very, very elite and exclusive tier of athletes that we have been privileged to witness numerous of in recent years. And if posting astonishing times wasn’t enough, the Crimson Tide ace also flexed wheels we did not realize she possessed in earning her first career indoor national title.

Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU)

After suffering a minor injury at the end of the cross country season, Lexy Halladay-Lowry put any concerns to rest and proved that she is among the all-time greats when it comes to performing when it matters most. Not only did the BYU veteran post elite marks of 8:40 (3k) and 14:57 (5k), but Halladay-Lowry also earned a silver and bronze medal at the NCAA meet in two tactically keen races. When looking over names who belong on this list of nominees, it’s virtually impossible to not consider this Cougar star. 

Makayla Paige (North Carolina)

In what may be the most impressive display of balance and physicality, North Carolina’s Makayla Paige warrants a spot in our nominees after nearly face-planting en route to winning her first career national title. And while it was her national title that truly cemented her place among the most valuable women in the country right now, Paige has been quietly and consistently great all winter, having run no slower than 2:02 in the half-mile this season. Plus, when you consider that Paige also played a role in qualifying the UNC women to the national meet in the DMR, her value is undeniable. 

Wilma Nielsen (Oregon)

Wilma Nielsen’s breakthrough season offers both incredible, elite-tier performances and high scoring potency in championship meets. It is obvious that Nielsen was a vital piece of Oregon’s NCAA team title, as the Swedish superstar scored 10 valuable team points in her tactically dominant mile victory, and contributed crucial points as a leg of Oregon’s silver-medal DMR squad. With this combination of jaw-dropping performances and scoring capabilities when it matters most, it could be argued that Nielsen was indeed the most valuable female athlete this winter season.

Ceili McCabe (West Virginia)

For years, West Virginia’s Ceili McCabe proved to be quietly valuable, consistently scoring points in major championships and earning All-American honors. In 2025, the Mountaineer star finally took it up a notch and earned her first career national title, storming through the final laps of the women’s 3k to run away from the field. McCabe also bolstered her indoor track resume with a sneaky-good 8:45 (3k) PR on the season.

Grace Hartman (NC State)

Although more of a strength-based talent, NC State’s Grace Hartman caught everyone’s attention with her solo-effort 4:24 mile at the BU Valentine Invite. In addition to posting the NCAA #3 all-time mile mark, Hartman also ran fantastic efforts of 8:46 (3k) and 15:11 (5k) throughout her 2025 indoor track tenure. Capping off her season with two All-American honors during the national meet weekend gives her one of the more impressive seasons as a whole of any woman in the country.

Riley Chamberlain (BYU)

When it comes to who’s the most valuable runner on the women’s side, it is simply impossible to leave BYU’s Riley Chamberlain out of the conversation. A reliably clutch performer on the DMR anchor leg, Chamberlain secured back-to-back titles for the Cougars, once again proving her impeccable value in this position. Her fantastic 2025 indoor tack season also included a dominant BIG 12 victory, and impressive 4:26 (mile) mark and a jaw-dropping 8:40 (3k) performance at the Husky Classic to cement her place among the very best of the year.

Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon)

The NCAA mile record-holder and BIG 10 champion over 5k in the same indoor track season, Silan Ayyilidiz has proven to be valuable at virtually any distance and in any race setting. Of course, her 4:23 collegiate record-breaking mile is probably the most impressive bullet point on her resume, but her ability to contribute value in different ways really sets her apart. Ayyilidiz was, after all, a crucial piece to Oregon’s national team title, contributing points in the mile with her 4th-place All-American honor, and anchoring the Duck DMR squad to a runner-up finish.

FINAL VOTES

Best Freshman Award

Men

Garrett: Ishmael Kipkuri (New Mexico)

Finn: Ishmael Kipkuri (New Mexico)

Rachel: Ishmael Kipkurui (New Mexico)

Mike: Ishmael Kipkurui (New Mexico)

Finlay: Ishmael Kipkurui (New Mexico)

Ben: Ishmael Kipkurui (New Mexico)

Overall Winner: Ishmael Kipkuri (New Mexico)

Women

Garrett: Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico)

Finn: Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico)

Rachel: Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico)

Mike: Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico)

Finlay: Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico)

Ben: Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico)

Overall Winner: Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico)

Most Improved Award

Men

Garrett: Cooper Cawthra (Texas A&M)

Finn: Foster Malleck (Boston U.)

Rachel: Harrison Witt (Princeton)

Mike: Foster Malleck (Boston U.)

Finlay: Cooper Cawthra (Texas A&M)

Ben: Foster Malleck (Boston U.)

Overall Winner: Foster Malleck (Boston U.)

Women

Garrett: Mena Scatchard (Princeton)

Finn: Mena Scatchard (Princeton)

Rachel: Mena Scatchard (Princeton)

Mike: Mena Scatchard (Princeton)

Finlay: Mena Scatchard (Princeton)

Ben: Mena Scatchard (Princeton)

Overall Winner: Mena Scatchard (Princeton)

Best Performance Award

Men

Garrett: Ethan Strand Runs NCAA 3k Record of 7:30 at Boston U.

Finn: Ethan Strand Runs NCAA 3k Record of 7:30 at Boston U.

Rachel: Ethan Strand Runs NCAA Mile Record of 3:48 at Boston U.

Mike: Ethan Strand Runs NCAA 3k Record of 7:30 at Boston U. 

Finlay: Ethan Strand Runs NCAA Mile Record of 3:48 at Boston U.

Ben: Ethan Strand Runs NCAA 3k Record of 7:30 at Boston U.

Overall Winner: Ethan Strand Runs NCAA 3k Record of 7:30

Women

Garrett: Riley Chamberlain Splits 4:25 to Give BYU Comeback DMR Title Win

Finn: Makayla Paige Wins NCAA 800m Title Wire-to-Wire Despite Near Fall

Rachel: Makayla Paige Wins NCAA 800m Title Wire-to-Wire Despite Near Fall

Mike: Makayla Paige Wins 800m Title Wire-to-Wire Despite Near Fall

Finlay: Makayla Paige Wins 800m Title Wire-to-Wire Despite Near Fall

Ben: Riley Chamberlain Splits 4:25 to Give BYU Comeback DMR Title Win

Overall Winner: Makayla Paige Wins 800m Title Wire-to-Wire Despite Near Fall

Best Distance Coach Award

Men

Garrett: Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Finn: Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Rachel: Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Mike: Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Finlay: Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Ben: Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Overall Winner: Chris Miltenberg (North Carolina)

Women

Garrett: Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

Finn: Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

Rachel: Shalane Flanagan (Oregon)

Mike: Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

Finlay: Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

Ben: Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

Overall Winner: Diljeet Taylor (BYU)

Most Valuable Runner Award

Men

Garrett: Ethan Strand (North Carolina)

Finn: Ethan Strand (North Carolina)

Rachel: Ethan Strand (North Carolina)

Mike: Ethan Strand (North Carolina)

Finlay: Ethan Strand (North Carolina)

Ben: Ethan Strand (North Carolina)

Overall Winner: Ethan Strand (North Carolina)

Women

Garrett: Doris Lemngole (Alabama)

Finn: Doris Lemngole (Alabama)

Rachel: Wilma Nielsen (Oregon)

Mike: Doris Lemngole (Alabama)

Finlay: Doris Lemngole (Alabama)

Ben: Doris Lemngole (Alabama)

Overall Winner: Doris Lemngole (Alabama)