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One Sentence Previews: 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships Women's 3000 Meters (D1)

  • Writer: Maura Beattie
    Maura Beattie
  • Mar 5, 2022
  • 4 min read

Additional contributions by Garrett Zatlin


This year, we're trying something a little bit different.


In an effort to cover each and every distance runner in each every distance event in each and every national meet, we're doing something that we call, "one sentence previews".


The name is fairly self-explanatory. For each article that TSR puts out, we will write one sentence worth of subjective analysis about each distance entrant, highlighting what we should look out for (and think about) when that athlete toes the line at the national meet.


So without further ado, here is our D1 women's 3000 meter preview...


1. Lauren Ryan (Florida State)

Ryan's stunning 8:47 mark indicates that she is in a class of her own, but will she be able to take down Courtney Wayment, the reigning 3k champion, when championship tactics come into play during her first indoor national meet?


2. Courtney Wayment (BYU)

Wayment won't be fresh entering this event given that she will have a 5k race in her legs, but is that even going to be an issue for the veteran, defending champion and debatable title favorite who ran 8:50 against professionals at the Millrose Games?


3. Ceili McCabe (West Virginia)

Since her 8:52 effort from back in December, McCabe has only raced three times (two DMR splits and one open mile effort), leaving us a little unsure how she will fare upon returning to her ideal distance.


4. Mercy Chelangat (Alabama)

Chelangat often puts herself amongst (and sometimes ahead of) the leaders at national meets and is usually rewarded with a top finish, but can the Alabama veteran prove that her 5k/10k strength effectively translates to a championship-style 3k?


5. Lauren Gregory (Arkansas)

Gregory has competed at the indoor national meet twice in the 3000 meters -- finishing 7th in 2019 and 2nd in 2021 -- so while it's clear that her veteran experience and knowledge of positioning will produce an All-American result, it's a little less clear whether or not she'll emerge with NCAA gold.


6. Katelyn Tuohy (NC State)

No one in this field is more gifted than Tuohy, but with only two races being contested two months apart, it's not entirely clear if the NC State star will match (or better) her 8:54 mark from earlier this year...or if a time like that will even be necessary.


7. Samantha Bush (NC State)

The 3000 meters seems to be Bush's ideal distance and her continued efforts to improve her speed this season, specifically in the mile and the 1000 meters, are incredibly encouraging, especially if this 3k race turns tactical.


8. Emily Mackay (Binghamton)

Mackay has shown upper-echelon fitness and elite versatility this winter, making her a realistic title contender in a variety of 3k race scenarios despite her doubling back from the mile.


9. Kelsey Chmiel (NC State)

Even though she is a 5k and 10k runner on the outdoor oval, Chmiel has proven that she can translate her 15:27 (5k) fitness to other events (like the mile and 3k) and theoretically take the lead early-on in a 3000 meter battle and hold onto a quick pace.


10. Katie Camarena (Portland State)

Week after week, no matter the distance nor competition, Camarena has thrown down attention-grabbing performances, but will her inexperience racing in national fields as large and as elite as this potentially be a liability for her on the national stage?


11. Kaylee Mitchell (Oregon State)

After crossing the line at the PAC-12 Invitational, Mitchell not only got the win over Julia Heymach, but she also showed us that she is able to stick with fast paces and take down highly competitive distance talents -- a very promising development for an upcoming championship race that has strong potential to be very quick early-on.


12. Taylor Roe (Oklahoma State)

Roe is a championship-style racer, always showing off perfect positioning and tactics, something that could come in handy if the 3k turns into a kicker's race or something a bit more tactical in general.


13. Alexandra Hays (NC State)

Hays is one of four Wolfpack athletes in this race, meaning that she could thrive in a setting where the NC State women control certain portions of this race, especially if the pace is honest from the gun.


14. Tori Herman (Kentucky)

Few women in the NCAA have been on a better hot streak than Herman this year, making her a key name to watch given the momentum that she has heading into the final race of the postseason.


15. Grace Fetherstonhaugh (Oregon State)

Fetherstonhaugh's ceiling is only getting higher, something that we should have seen coming after she ran 9:50 in the steeplechase last spring and something that made us realize that her national qualifying bid wasn't a fluke -- she is the real deal.


16. Nicole Fegans (Georgia Tech)

This Georgia Tech veteran picked up her national qualifying time after winning the ACC Championships and should have plenty of confidence heading into this race, especially given her extensive experience and underrated mile speed.


Final Predictions:

  1. Courtney Wayment (BYU)

  2. Lauren Gregory (Arkansas)

  3. Lauren Ryan (Florida State)

  4. Taylor Roe (Oklahoma State)

  5. Kelsey Chmiel (NC State)

  6. Katie Camarena (Portland State)

  7. Mercy Chelangat (Alabama)

  8. Katelyn Tuohy (NC State)

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