One Sentence Previews: 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships Women's 3000 Meters (D2)

Additional contributions by Garrett Zatlin

Click here to see performance list

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1. Celine Ritter (Lee (Tenn.))

Ritter is an experienced veteran who has been working on her speed in the 800 meters and the mile, so if women like Robles, Alanis and O’Malley aren't able to shake Ritter with 800 meters to go, then I think she will kick for the win.

2. Brianna Robles (Adams State)

While this is Robles' secondary event, she will have less racing on her plate than Ritter and if she takes the race out hard, then I believe that she will have a chance to out-run her competitors.

3. Fatima Alanis (Queens (NC))

I predict Alanis to finish in the top-five based on the momentum that she has built this season, although she doesn't have the same level of speed as her competitors, meaning that she would likely benefit from a hard-from-the-gun race scenario.

4. Morgan Hykes (Adams State)

Hykes is an up-and-coming, but inexperienced, talent who has been pretty conservative with her racing this year, something that Adams State typically does prior to an athlete throwing down a shocking performance.

5. Klaudia O’Malley (Grand Valley State)

O’Malley has been on fire this year and the 3k is her best shot at an individual title based on her combination of endurance and speed, as well as her past national meet experience and exposure to different race scenarios.

6. Jessica Gockley (Grand Valley State)

Gockley is another experienced and reliable veteran who should be well prepared for the 5k/3k double based on the fact that she won both events at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and set her PR of 9:25 in the 3000 meters at that same meet.

7. Berenice Cleyet-Merle (Indianapolis)

Cleyet-Merle would benefit from a tactical race based on her finishing kick and middle distance speed, but I don't think that this field will give her the chance to do that, meaning Cleyet-Merle should prepare to grind out this 3k after running the mile and DMR.

8. Zoe Baker (Colorado Mines)

Baker placed 8th in this event last year, but this entire 3k field is on a whole new level and although Baker excels at the longer races, her limited success in the 1500 meters and the mile suggests that she lacks the necessary closing speed needed when the top women make a sudden surge or big move.

9. Allie Ludge (Grand Valley State)

Ludge is easily one of the most experienced runners in the country and has given us very little reason to doubt her All-American capabilities.

10. Emily Schoellkopf (Adams State)

Schoellkopf is young and this will be her first time at a national meet, but based on the fact that she placed 3rd in the event at the RMAC Championships ahead of several respected runners, she might surprise a lot of people this weekend.

11. Katie Doucette (Western Colorado)

Katie Doucette has really hit her stride this season and while she may lack championship experience on the track, she is definitely capable of finishing in the top-eight this weekend, especially if the race turns into an aggressively-paced affair which would favor her aerobic strength.

12. Layla Almasri (UC-Colorado Springs)

Almasri is a familiar name with multiple All-American honors, great versatility and strong consistency, but she has always been right on the bubble of greatness at national meets, so this may be her best chance to show off how talented she truly is.

13. Natalie Novak (Academy of Art)

Novak was an All-American in cross country (31st) and in the 1500 meters (8th) last spring, but she would need to have a phenomenal race to be top-eight this weekend based on the fact that she had to run a 10-second PR to even qualify for this race.

14. Fiona Hawkins (Adams State)

Hawkins is a major wild card after excelling at the Husky Classic, but then struggling at the RMAC Championships and eventually choosing to scratch the her best event (the mile) in favor of the 3k, leaving us unsure what to expect from her this weekend.

15. Precious Robinson (Adams State)

I predict Robinson to be towards the latter-end of the results in this race because while she is certainly a talented runner, she is still very young and she qualified for the national meet off of generous altitude conversions.

16. Alexa Leppelmeier (Walsh)

Leppelmeier has been working on her speed and has personal bests in the 800 meters and the mile this season, a resume development could be extremely beneficial if this 3k race becomes tactical.

17. Franziska Althaus (Adams State)

Nothing on Franziska Althaus’ resume sticks out besides her 10th place finish at the cross country national meet, but I think that will change after this weekend based on the fact that she is only getting faster and has past championship success.

18. Stevie Lawrence (Queens (NC))

Lawrence has steadily improved throughout the years and while she isn’t quite in the conversation for the national title, she does have a realistic shot of being an All-American this weekend, an honor she earned in the steeplechase last spring.

19. Hannah Becker (Grand Valley State)

The cross country national champion was the runner-up in this event last winter and despite a quieter indoor season than expected, Becker has to be in the conversation for the national title due to her excellence at previous championships (and her PR of 9:23).

20. Madison Brown (Dallas Baptist)

Brown improved tremendously over the past year and was right outside of All-American honors in the 5k last spring and in cross country this past fall, leaving us to believe that Brown may be due for a big performance despite being the last seed in this field.

Final Predictions:

1. Brianna Robles (Adams State)

2. Celine Ritter (Lee (Tenn.))

3. Klaudia O’Malley (Grand Valley State)

4. Fatima Alanis (Queens (NC))

5. Jessica Gockley (Grand Valley State)

6. Hannah Becker (Grand Valley State)

7. Allie Ludge (Grand Valley State)

8. Berenice Cleyet-Merle (Indianapolis)