First Thoughts: Parker Valby & Doris Lemngole Break NCAA Records, Maia Ramsden & Juliette Whittaker Defend Their Middle Distance Titles

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If Friday's men's finals at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships were marked by surprise, Saturday's through line was constancy. Florida's Parker Valby and Harvard's Maia Ramsden defended their titles, as expected, in the 1500 meters and the 5k, respectively. Juliette Whittaker did the same, albeit as an underdog, over 800 meters.

Of course, there was one exception to that status quo as freshman Doris Lemngole set a collegiate record. However, even she was a favorite entering Saturday. Let's examine each of the four distance finals from the last day of this year's outdoor national meet.

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Parker Valby Breaks Her Own NCAA 5k Record to Win Her Third Consecutive 5k National Title and Sixth National Title in a Row

In a race that she all but acknowledged was her last, Parker Valby went out with a bang, breaking her own NCAA record over 5000 meters and becoming the first Division One woman to win five national titles in the distance events throughout one academic year.

In contrast to how her 10k victory played out two days prior, Valby quickly shot to the front of the 5k field just shy of one lap into the race. It was evident early on that she was gunning for something even greater than another national title.

Something that we did see carry over from the 10k was Valby's SEC counterpart, Hilda Olemomoi of Alabama, positioning herself just behind Valby once she made her move. The field split in half beyond them, with a gap behind the top 12 emerging before anyone finished the first mile.

Before they reached the halfway point, Valby and Olemomoi had created some space between them and the rest of the field, and Texas Tech freshman Juliet Cherubet had even more space between herself and the women outside of the top three at that point.

Valby crossed 3000 meters in just under nine minutes and she began to pull away from even her fellow southern superstar, gapping Olemomoi with just under a mile remaining. She ultimately went on to win going away as she improved marginally upon her 14:52 (5k) PR and NCAA record while nearly obtaining the 14:52.00 Olympic standard.

While the second half of the 5k consisted of the camera tracking Valby far ahead of the rest of the field, the race behind her heated up significantly with battles throughout. Olemomoi managed to hold off Colorado veteran Bailey Hertenstein for a second silver medal on the week. Although, that result said more about Hertenstein than it did about Olemomoi.

There were fair questions about the Buffalo's decision to focus solely on the 5000 meters this week, but she mostly rendered them moot with a bronze medal and a sizeable 15:10 PR. It's highly unlikely that she would have finished any higher over 10,000 meters while facing the same tandem of Valby and Olemomoi.

Hertenstein was one of 10 women in the top half of the race who ran 5k PRs on Saturday. Outside of Olemomoi, the only woman in that range who didn't run a lifetime best was 4th-place finisher Margot Appleton. Instead, the Cavalier star relied on her 1500-meter speed to catapult herself to a top-half All-American result ahead of the rest of the chase pack.

Cherubet finished just behind her, followed by Oklahoma State's Taylor Roe, Ella Baran of Colorado and BYU senior Sadie Sargeant.

It's only right to start our analysis with Valby, who nabbed her third consecutive 5000-meter title dating back to last June and her sixth national title (in six tries) in that span. The Gator megastar has won NCAA gold over 3k, 5k, 6k and 10k in the past 12 months.

Photo via Andrew LeMay

After back-to-back silver medals behind fellow NCAA distance legend Katelyn Tuohy in the spring and fall of 2023, Valby finally earned a national title of her own a year ago and never looked back, topping Tuohy twice in the fall before the Wolfpack megastar joined the pro ranks.

With one fewer All-American honor than Tuohy's 10, but two more national titles than her four, Valby has achieved a career's worth of success mostly in a 12-month span. While those two individuals will be forever intertwined, Valby further cemented a legacy all her own with her efforts this spring.

While you could say the same about her 10k record or her first 5k record this spring, this 5k national title could go down as Valby's defining effort of the season given the way she took charge and bent the race and the field to her will.

Meanwhile, even as Olemomoi is still searching for an elusive first NCAA title, she's becoming one of the most reliable postseason performers over the distance events in recent memory. The Kenya native was a nine-time All-American over the past two academic years after transferring from the JUCO level, finishing no lower than 6th place in any NCAA Championship race. If Valby is indeed departing the collegiate scene, Olemomoi's moment in the sun seems near.

Hertenstein's and Appleton's decisions to put all of their focus toward what appeared to be a secondary event for both of them appear to have paid off in the form of top-half All-American results. It was also encouraging to see Cherubet be rewarded for putting herself toward the front of the field as it began to break apart.

While she was passed by Appleton, the Red Raider rookie was doubling back from the 1500-meter prelims (where she ran 4:09) and finished ahead of several others in a tight 5k finish. That included BIG 12 foe Taylor Roe, someone with far more experience. Roe herself was among a contingent of seniors with superb finishes at this outdoor national meet.

The Cowgirl star has more All-American finishes (10) than any current women's distance star at the NCAA D1 level and delivered one of her better career efforts this week with a bronze medal and PR over 10,000 meters and a seasonal best and 6th-place finish in this race.

Hertenstein wasn't the only Colorado harrier to land in the top eight because she was joined by classmate Ella Baran in the latter's first individual All-American effort on the track since transferring to the Division One level. That's a nice individual result to see for someone who was a star at the Division Three level and has been more of a high-level lineup piece for one of the more renowned D1 programs.

The same can be said for sixth-year BYU senior Sadie Sargeant who nearly nabbed her first All-American finish over 3000 meters at the 2024 indoor national meet and finally did so on Saturday by placing 8th over 5000 meters. A PR and a close finish ahead of NAU's senior contingent (Annika Reiss and Gracelyn Larkin) had to feel great in the final race of Sargeant's collegiate career.

Keep an eye on first-year Stanford talent Sophia Kennedy, who posted a 15:33 PR and a top-half finish in this field. Chloe Thomas of UConn is another breakout talent who ran a PR to narrowly finish in the top half of the field (counting entries who scratched).

While we mentioned a couple of women's decisions to go all-in on this event looking prudent, Oregon sophomore Silan Ayyildiz, who has found more success in the 1500/mile, didn't enjoy the same fortune on her home track despite racing toward the front early on in Saturday's 5k.

Doris Lemngole Breaks the NCAA Steeplechase Record on the Way to Her First NCAA Title, Seven Others Run PRs

Among the women's distance events, Doris Lemngole was the only first-time champion crowned at the 2024 outdoor national meet. What's more, the Alabama ace just won her first NCAA gold as a true freshman. Hers wasn't an upset victory, however, given that all five of our TSR writers who made predictions chose Lemngole to win the 3000-meter steeplechase title.

Photo via Andrew LeMay

Last year's steeplechase silver medalist, Greta Karinauskaite, took the lead after a lap and all of the top contenders moved to the front early on and gradually separated themselves. For the first half of the race, Lemngole was content to let others lead.

However, she moved into the top position after clearing a water jump with a few laps remaining. Within 30 seconds of that development, she and reigning champion Olivia Markezich had created a small gap between themselves and Karinauskaite, who likewise had a couple of steps on Florida veteran Elise Thorner and the chase pack.

Markezich made a move to squeeze ahead just before the straightaway going into the final lap, but Lemngole countered it and moved back in front by the bell. She created a small gap on the penultimate curve and sat almost 10 meters ahead of the defending champion for much of the final lap.

We had seen this duo go to battle earlier in the season at Wake Forest where Lemngole ran away from Markezich and first gave shades of Alabama's 2013 triumph over Notre Dame in the final college football national championship game of the BCS era.

While Markezich was likely waiting for any slip-up from her rookie rival while trying to prevent one of her own with an increase in pace, it never came. Instead, Lemngole broke the NCAA 3000-meter steeplechase record and the NCAA Championships record (that Courtney Wayment set in 2022) with a PR of 9:15.

Markezich set a small PR of her own (9:17), as did bronze medalist Janette Schraft 17 seconds later. The Cyclone senior charged past Karinauskaite in the final stretch, and Arkansas senior Laura Taborda nearly nipped the CBU star as well in a tight finish.

In total, eight of the 12 individuals in Saturday's steeplechase final ran PRs. They have a few women to thank for that, including Lemngole, Markezich, Karinauskaite and themselves.

Many expected a 3k steeplechase title for Lemngole after she ran away from Markezich en route to a 9:22 then-PR mark at Wake Forest earlier this season. With that in mind, it's commendable that the Fighting Irish ace was able to defend her 2023 national title so closely through the final lap.

Markezich closed out the final two years of an esteemed college career with two top-eight finishes on the grass, two silver medals over 3000 meters, and a silver and a gold in the steeplechase. Few women have offered that level of reliability and three-season value.

We then come to another fifth-year athlete in Janette Schraft. Her trajectory feels eerily similar to her Cyclone peer on the men's side, Gable Sieperda, who also outkicked his coverage a bit en route to a bronze medal over the barriers and water pits this weekend.

Schraft moved to the front of the chase pack by the bell and was able to edge past Karinauskaite by virtue of having the fastest final lap outside of Lemngole and Markezich. She's now a first-time All-American and achieved that honor in convincing fashion.

It felt like Karinauskaite (4th) and Thorner (6th) were hampered a bit by their early ambition. The former (2nd in the steeplechase in 2023) led early and bridged the gap between the top two and the rest of the field for much of the race, while the latter (5th in 2023) often led the chase pack.

With sub-9:30 PRs, both women clearly had the fitness to match their placements from a year ago. But it appears that a combination of their early exertion and the heat took a toll. Regardless, it's hard to be upset with a third consecutive All-American finish in this event for Thorner or back-to-back top-half All-American placements from Karinauskaite.

Taborda, on her third school and competing at her first outdoor national meet since 2022, put a bow on a banner year. The Razorback from Portugal ran a PR in the prelims on Thursday and then shattered that mark with a 9:35 effort in Saturday's final. The 25-year-old's experience and poise paid off as she peaked for the postseason as well as anyone in the field.

Sophie Novak was among the initial leaders of the race alongside her teammate, Olivia Markezich, before Karinauskaite took over. It looked like the Notre Dame junior may be falling back after that, but she was simply holding onto a torrid pace. A 9:40 PR helped her come through with a comfortable All-American finish in her first individual appearance at a national meet.

While her efforts may be overshadowed by Lemngole's, Northern Arizona freshman Karrie Baloga deserves major praise for the confidence that she raced with during her first NCAA Championships appearance on the track.

Baloga came into the spring with a clear focus, contesting the steeplechase often this season, and proceeded to comfortably qualify for the outdoor national meet with a 10:00 PR in this event. She then shattered that with a 9:49 effort in the prelims on Thursday and earned a top-eight finish with ease after another PR (9:42 this time) in the final.

It's a similar story for BYU sophomore Taylor Lovell, who didn't land among the top eight during her first NCAA Championships appearance but placed 9th with a strong 9:48 PR. Longtime Liberty talent Calli Doan landed one second and one spot behind her with a PR of her own.

Stanford Sophomores Juliette Whittaker and Roisin Willis go 1-2 in Half-Mile Final as Michaela Rose Drops to 4th Place

In a clip aired on the ESPN broadcast minutes before this race, the defending 800-meter champion from the 2023 outdoor national meet, Michaela Rose, noted the "exciting and historic" nature of the race to come, saying "Whenever you make it to nationals, you have a shot at winning it, but more so this year because we have three NCAA champions coming into the 800 event."

She was, of course, talking about herself and two Stanford sophomores, Juliette Whittaker and Roisin Willis, who had won the past two indoor national titles over this distance.

Rose, known as a notorious pace-pusher for good reason given her anaerobic prowess, was unable to get to the front of the race right away. She had to maneuver out to the edge of lanes 3 and 4 ahead of the second curve and worked to the outside of lane 2 to position herself at the front alongside SEC counterpart Sanu Jallow entering the bell lap.

Rose put herself firmly in the lead upon reaching the final backstretch, while Whittaker also edged past Jallow with 300 meters remaining. Even though Rose would have been expected to hold her position at that point, the race remained up in the air with 200 meters to go.

Oklahoma State's Gabija Galvydyte, the 2023 outdoor half-mile silver medalist, began lurking entering the final curve and edged closer to the front, but so too did Whittaker, who placed herself on Rose's outside shoulder upon reaching the last straightaway.

Rose didn't relent easily or immediately, but Whittaker powered past her with over 50 meters to go and Galvydyte overtook Rose as well. At the same time, Willis (who was in 6th place with just over 100 meters remaining) glided past the rest of the field from lane 3 and out-leaned her Cowgirl counterpart for national runner-up status behind her teammate/classmate.

What followed behind them was a photo finish between three women -- Rose, Penn State's Hayley Kitching and Jallow -- with Ohio State sophomore Aniya Mosley placing 7th. Another sophomore, Duke's Lauren Tolbert, nabbed the final All-American spot.

Let's first discuss Rose, who won this event at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Whether you considered Rose, Whittaker (the 2024 indoor half-mile champ), or both to be the defending half-mile champion is semantics.

Rose was the predicted champion for all five of our D1 writers. She is, after all, the only woman in this field who has run under 1:59 for the half-mile and had not lost an 800-meter race this season (finals or prelims). But it appeared that all of that shuffling for position in the first lap zapped Rose of the strength requisite to hold off a field that she acknowledged was star-studded.

As for Whittaker, she topped Rose for the second consecutive national meet this year, dipping under 2:00 on both occasions, and has now earned silver or better in all three of her half-mile races at NCAA Championship meets.

Photo via Andrew LeMay

The level of turnover that Whittaker displayed at multiple points over the final lap was unrivaled, and it feels as if she should be considered the favorite in this event if she and Rose both return to the collegiate ranks in 2024-25.

Shifting our focus to Whittaker's Cardinal running mate, this is the sharpest Willis has performed and the fastest she has run since winning the indoor half-mile title in 2023.

One could argue that she had the best race in this field relative to expectations considering that all five of our writers projected Whittaker to finish 2nd and the highest Willis was predicted to finish was in 5th place by myself and Garrett (although all five of us thought Willis would be an All-American).

What a reemergence onto the national scene Willis has made after failing to reach the half-mile finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships just a few months ago.

A bronze medal feels right in line with what was expected of Galvydyte, who was projected to finish 3rd or 4th by each of our writers. Yet as we've belabored countless times, just because a result isn't surprising doesn't mean that it's not impressive.

If Whittaker and Willis look set to be contending for national titles for the next couple of years (assuming they don't turn pro before then), fellow sophomore Hayley Kitching should be primed to join them atop the NCAA half-mile scene. She has nabbed top-five 800-meter results at both NCAA Championship meets in 2024, foreshadowing each with a pair of BIG 10 half-mile titles.

While it looked like she was in line for a higher finish during multiple points in Saturday's final, Jallow should go home pleased with a 6th-place finish. That serves as the capper for a breakout season in which she broke 2:00 at the SEC Outdoor Championships and was aggressive in seeking out prime positioning in both the prelims and the finals in Eugene.

Much of the same can be said for Ohio State's Mosley and Duke's Tolbert, two more sophomores who seemingly peaked perfectly for the postseason, advanced through the prelims and earned top-eight finishes in their first NCAA Championship finals appearances.

Sophia Gorriaran, who led for a good chunk of the first lap, was the lone freshman in this race and showed her youth as she faded to last place. Nonetheless, the Harvard star in waiting gained valuable experience in what was already her second national meet appearance.

One other note: the top three finishers in Saturday's final all raced in the same preliminary heat on Thursday.

Maia Ramsden Defends Her 1500-Meter Title in Dominant and Fast Fashion as Kimberley May Earns Silver and Klaudia Kazimierska Takes Bronze on Her Home Track

I think you could have told any loyal TSR reader that Maia Ramsden would comfortably win the metric mile title on Saturday, and they wouldn't have been fazed. However, the manner in which she won the race still made a predictable outcome feel entertaining.

As Lindsey Butler led the field through the first 300 meters, Ramsden positioned herself off the Hokie's hip in the proverbial passenger seat and stayed there with little movement throughout the rest of the field entering the final half-mile.

The field started to reorganize itself from there, as Ramsden expectedly moved into the lead and Florida's Flomena Asekol moved up with her. NC State veteran Samantha Bush made a move to follow that long-striding top-three of Ramsden, Asekol and Butler ahead of the final 600 meters. Still, Ramsden's lead only grew as the group reached the bell.

Photo via Andrew LeMay

The pack (most notably Hayward's own Klaudia Kazimierska) began to swallow up Asekol, who paid a small price for following Ramsden's assertive move with half of the race still ahead of her.

While Kazimierska made the first aggressive move on the final lap, it was Providence ace Kimberley May who emerged as the best of the rest after passing her Duck counterpart with 100 meters to go.

Asekol, who may have been expecting more when she positioned herself behind Ramsden with two laps remaining, fought and held onto 5th place after being overtaken in the final lap. That marked the Gator's best 1500-meter performance at the outdoor national meet in three career tries. However, she was bumped from the top-half All-American ranks by Georgetown's Melissa Riggins, who entered the final 200 meters hovering between 8th and 9th place.

Riggins used every bit of the final half-lap to secure her finish and went from the bottom third of the field to the top third in a matter of 30 seconds as she strode past Asekol with roughly 15 meters remaining.

May's Friar teammate, Shannon Flockhart, showed her experience and savvy as she replicated the 6th-place 1500-meter effort that she produced at the 2023 outdoor national meet.

Butler, the early race aggressor, ended up placing 7th for her best NCAA Championships finish in any event over 800 meters. Texas veteran Olivia Howell nabbed the final All-American spot. The 2023 indoor mile champion produced the same metric mile placement as she did at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships.

This felt like Howell's best result of the year given that it was her first time racing at a national meet since transferring to UT-Austin, and she peaked quite well with a 4:09 PR at the BIG 12 Championships that she nearly bested on the national stage.

As for the other four women in this field, Northern Arizona's Maggi Congdon wrapped a very successful spring with a near top-eight placement. Bush (10th) and Rider's Teagan Schein-Becker (11th) were in the mix throughout the race, sitting in 3rd and 4th, respectively, entering the final lap, and it's possible that they expended too much energy trying to put and keep themselves in an optimal position.

Washington's Sophie O'Sullivan placed 12th and was never quite at her best (as someone capable of a 4:02 metric mile PR) this year despite advancing through the West Regional Championships and the NCAA Outdoor Championships prelims.

Ramsden exhibited excellent control over her fitness and had the patience to let the race develop slowly in a way that played to her strengths. She has now won the past three metric mile or mile finals at the NCAA Championships.

Even though her 4:06 (1500) winning time this spring was slower than her prelim mark, Ramsden came within a second of the NCAA Championship record. That was in spite of a modest start before she closed in 2:05 over the final half-mile.

On the heels of nabbing her first All-American honor with a bronze medal in the 2024 mile final, May has seemingly announced herself as the closest resemblance of a rival for Ramsden, her Northeast contemporary. May entered the bell lap around 8th place but seemingly came out of nowhere, shadowing Kazimierska as she moved up ahead of the final curve and ultimately ousting her.

It's a similar story for her BIG EAST peer, Melissa Riggins, whose ascension through Saturday's field we already touched on. She has placed 4th (mile) at both the indoor national meet and the outdoor national meet this year despite never having cracked All-American status before 2024.

As for Kazimierska, a sophomore, she has now nabbed top-eight finishes in all of her NCAA Championships appearances between either the mile or the metric mile. The Polish Duck is four for four and just saved her best postseason finish to date for a meet held on her team's home track.

It also feels worth noting that Saturday's final played out quite similarly to Thursday's preliminaries in which Butler and Asekol were caught by Flockhart and Kazimierska in the first heat and Ramsden and May went 1-2 in the second heat.