top of page
Search

One Sentence Previews: 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships Women's 800 Meters (D2)

  • eric.baranoski
  • Mar 7, 2022
  • 3 min read

Additional contributions by Garrett Zatlin


1. Alison Andrews-Paul (Simon Fraser)

The former Baylor standout is an established veteran with D1 experience who is not only undefeated this season, but also has tons of momentum after winning the 800 meters, the 4x400 meter relay and the distance medley relay at the GNAC Indoor Championships.


2. Yasmine Hernandez (CSU-Pueblo)

With no Bernice Cleyet-Merle in the field, can this highly experienced Thunderwolf star, who is very familiar with her competition, take home gold this year after finishing runner-up in 2021?


3. Kelly-Ann Beckford (Lincoln (MO))

This MIAA champion is an established, speed-based middle distance star, but it will be interesting to see how Beckford performs in her first national meet that doesn't feature teammate Chrissani May also in the field.


4. Cami Streff (Augustana (SD))

Yes, she is Hailey Streff’s sister, but Cami Streff will likely be motivated to make a name for herself and beat her sibling, even though she is considered "inexperienced" in her first NCAA Championship appearance as an individual.


5. Jana Shawver (Central Missouri)

Shawver has a ton of momentum after transferring from Kansas and is plenty familiar with racing high-level D1 competition, making her a potential dark horse pick in my opinion.


6. Hailey Streff (CSU-Pueblo)

Having already contested an 800 meter race in Pittsburg, Kansas this year, will the familiarity with this specific race in the exact same facility help Streff take down her sister and deliver another All-American performance?


7. Katie McCune (Drury)

McCune can be a major factor at the national meet in both the prelims and the finals, but we will need her to replicate her 2:09 performance at the Arkansas Qualifier in order to reach that point.


8. Elizabeth Acheson (U-Mary)

This U-Mary veteran had a quiet season in which she captured her second consecutive Northern Sun Conference championship in the 800 meters, and she will most likely be overlooked heading into this weekend, but Acheson is highly experienced and one of the most consistent middle distance runners in the country.


9. Carolin Bothe (Wisconsin-Parkside)

Bothe came a little bit out of nowhere this winter, but she validated her fitness after being one of the few women to beat Grand Valley State's Taryn Chapko this season.


10. Taryn Chapko (Grand Valley State)

Chapko's 2022 indoor track season has been very similar to her 2021 campaign, leaving us to wonder if the GVSU ace can replicate (or improve upon) her 3rd place finish from last year's national meet despite her lower seed in 2022.


11. Kinga Szarzynska (Harding)

Szarzynska is clearly talented and was fairly consistent this winter, but prelim races at the national meet have been a challenge for this Harding veteran.


12. Ukeyvia Beckwith (Embry-Riddle)

Beckwith has been a promising and steady improver who has come into her own this winter after a much improved cross country campaign.


13. Bailey Blake (Northwest Missouri)

Blake is now making her second consecutive trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships and with another year of experience under her belt, we now have to question if she will able to make the final now that she has familiarity with her competition.


14. Michelle Kuipers (Colorado Christian)

Kuipers ran very well at the Grand Valley State “Big Meet”, but has struggled to string together consistency this season, something that she'll aim to correct at the national meet.


15. Aryelle Wright (Colorado Mines)

Wright likely learned a lot from last year's experiences at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, although her recent 5th place finish at the RMAC Championships has left us wanting a bit more.


16. Ines Macadam (Tiffin)

The Great American Conference champion in the 800 meters, Macadam is having a magical breakout season thus far, but does she have enough experience and tactical acumen to deliver an All-American finish?


17. Lina Hanich (Academy of Art)

After securing her national qualifying spot at Boston University's Last Chance meet, Hanich is playing with house money, entering this year's indoor national meet with nothing to lose.


18. Josii Johnson (Westminster (UT))

After finishing 2nd at the RMAC Championships, Johnson is a bit of an unknown, although she likely has something to prove in this loaded 800 meter field.


19. Carlin McFadden (Queens (NC))

McFadden ran well in the 800 meters at Grand Valley State's “Big Meet” (which was a race that had the intention of being fast), but how will this freshman perform in a more tactical setting?


20. Marian Ledesma (Azusa Pacific)

With not a lot of experience competing at the highest level, we'll be excited to see Ledesma mix it up with the nation's best in the 800 meters and 4x400 meter relay.


Final Predictions:

  1. Alison Andrews-Paul (Simon Fraser)

  2. Yasmine Hernandez (CSU-Pueblo)

  3. Taryn Chapko (Grand Valley State)

  4. Elizabeth Acheson (U-Mary)

  5. Hailey Streff (CSU-Pueblo)

  6. Cami Streff (Augustana (SD)

  7. Jana Shawver (Central Missouri)

  8. Katie McCune (Drury)

bottom of page