One Sentence Previews: 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships Men's Mile (D1)

Additional contributions by Garrett Zatlin

To make this intro short and sweet, we are offering one sentence worth of subjective analysis for each distance entrant in each distance race leading up to the national meet! Yesterday, we published our 3k previews for D1.

Today, it's the mile...

Click here to see performance list

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1. Morgan Beadlescomb (Michigan State)

This versatile long distance talent excelled in the mile earlier this year, although a tactical mile race at the BIG 10 Indoor Championships showed us that he's not necessarily invincible.

2. Mario Garcia Romo (Ole Miss)

He is probably the least likely in this field to have a poor performance given his ability to change gears, so we think he should be right up there with Beadlescomb and Kipsang battling for the win.

3. Eliud Kipsang (Alabama)

He’s had a relatively quiet season despite a 3:54 mark, but his aggressive front-running approach led to success last winter and it could push some (but not all) athletes in this field outside of their comfort zone.

4. Jack Yearian (Oregon)

This previously unheard of Oregon Duck validated his OTQ from last spring with a 3:54 mile mark, and although he is talented enough to be a top finisher in this field, his lack of NCAA Championship experience is something that needs to be monitored.

5. Jonathan Davis (Illinois)

This sixth-year veteran is a dark horse title contender and seems like a near-lock to finish as an All-American, especially after how beautifully he navigated a tactical BIG 10 mile final.

6. Reed Brown (Oregon)

A two-time All-American in the mile, Brown is probably the most experienced miler in this field, but which version of Brown we see at the national meet is still unclear.

7. Evan Dorenkamp (Penn State)

He was a solid BIG 10 runner who broke out in a major way this season and if he didn't try to make a somewhat risky move on the inside lane during the BIG 10 mile finals, which ultimately halted his momentum, then we would likely be talking about Dorenkamp as a much bigger national meet threat right now.

8. James Young (Ole Miss)

The British miler has clearly improved since joining the distance contingent at Ole Miss, but some up and down performances this winter have made it challenging to properly gauge what we should expect from him.

9. Matthew Payamps (Georgetown)

This rising talent has perhaps the widest range of possible outcomes in this mile field when looking at his middle distance successes and his national meet inexperience.

10. Colton Johnsen (Washington State)

One of the most versatile distance talents from the 1500 meters up to the 5000 meters, Johnsen's dynamic range should (in theory) allow him to be competitive in a variety of different race scenarios.

11. Nick Dahl (Duke)

After a monster breakout season, Dahl is very much in the All-American picture, although we'll be curious to see how this often-reliable veteran fares in the most competitive race(s) of his life.

12. Crayton Carrozza (Texas)

Carrozza eschewed the 800 meters in favor of the mile, but given his middle distance speed and his past mile success, this Texas ace may be one of the better backend seeds of the national meet.

13. Isaac Basten (Drake)

A fiery racer, Basten's best performances have come when he's producing significant negative splits, meaning that, in theory, Basten could thrive in the often tactical mile prelims.

14. Nate Osterstock (Southern Utah)

The lone altitude conversion qualifier in this field, Osterstock has built his reputation in the longer distances, leaving us to wonder what his leg speed will be like if a prelim or final comes down to a fast finish.

15. Davis Bove (LSU)

Bove barely got into the national meet despite a new 3:56 mile PR, but his best performances have come when he faces elite competition, making him a key name to watch next weekend.

16. Adam Fogg (Drake)

Despite his tendency to run near the front, Fogg has actually had some of his best performances when he's racing tactically, something that we found out at this meet last winter when he finished 4th in the mile.

Final Predictions:

1. Mario Garcia Romo (Ole Miss)

2. Morgan Beadlescomb (Michigan State)

3. Eliud Kipsang (Alabama)

4. Jonathan Davis (Illinois)

5. James Young (Ole Miss)

6. Reed Brown (Oregon)

7. Jack Yearian (Oregon)

8. Adam Fogg (Drake)