top of page
Search

One Sentence Previews: 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships Women's 10k (D1)

  • Writer: Maura Beattie
    Maura Beattie
  • Jun 5, 2022
  • 5 min read

Additional contributions by Garrett Zatlin



NOTE: Athletes are listed in the order that they are shown on the official qualifiers list.

1. Grace Forbes (Rice)

Despite only boasting sophomore eligibility and missing the indoor season, Forbes is a highly experienced runner over the long distance races and she is coming into the NCAA Championships on a major hot streak after going three-for-three in 10k races this season.


2. Emma Heckel (New Mexico)

Heckel is consistently near the front of every race she is in and after beating some of the nation's best talents at her regional meet, she’s no longer a sleeper pick, but rather a reliable All-American favorite.


3. Lauren Gregory (Arkansas)

One of the NCAA's most versatile athletes, Gregory has the potential to win her first national title, and she is debatably the title favorite, but when you consider that she's only run three 10k races in her career, will that lack of experience throw a wrench in her plans for gold?


4. Haley Herberg (Washington)

This Washington ace will need to employ her patented aggressive front-running style if she wants to make a run for a top-three finish in this deep field, although her success will largely depend on how the rest of this field responds to her moves.


5. Everlyn Kemboi (Utah Valley)

Kemboi is a legitimate dark horse in this event after breaking onto the national scene when she ran 33:12 earlier this season, giving her the ability to finish in the top-half of the field and potentially snag All-American honors if she builds on her already-impressive success.


6. Emily Covert (Colorado)

Colorado’s Emily Covert has solidified herself as one of the NCAA’s most consistent long distance runners this season and just looking at the way she has competed, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see her on the podium as she seemingly responds well to most honest paces.


7. Gabby Hentemann (Oklahoma State)

Hentemann has a lot of momentum heading into the NCAA Championships after being named the BIG 12 10k champ in her first go-around in the event and could be a surprise All-American based on her strength and year-long momentum.


8. Jessa Hanson (Northern Arizona)

Hanson is a veteran in the 10k and when you realize that her PR if 32:47 from when she competed at the 2020 SoundRunning Track Meet (unattached), her ceiling makes her a legitimate All-American threat if she can replicate that magic later this week.


9. Amelia Mazza-Downie (New Mexico)

A strength-based runner, Mazza-Downie is someone who could sneak into the top-five of this field given that she shows up when it matters the most and comes into the national meet with somewhat fresh legs after only racing twice prior to the regional meets.


10. India Johnson (Colorado)

Johnson has shown great development since joining the Buffaloes and has the potential to not only improve off of her 20th place finish in the national meet 10k from last year, but also sneak into the top-eight later this week, especially if she follows the momentum of Covert like she has all season long.


11. Aubrey Frentheway (BYU)

2021 was a breakout year for Frentheway in the 10k, but after running 33:03 and missing out on the national meet that year, the BYU standout should theoretically benefit from having an extra year of experience in this event.


12. Hannah Branch (Utah Valley)

Branch came out on a mission this season, running PR after PR and nabbing the final national qualifying spot in the 10k, although it will be interesting to see if her inexperience counterbalances her recent momentum, if at all.


13. Mercy Chelangat (Alabama)

As the top returner from the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships, will Chelangat employ her signature surge-based racing style or go all-out from the front and see who hangs on?


14. Jenna Magness (Michigan State)

Although this is only her first season contesting the 10k, Magness is capable of finishing in the top-three given her dominating victory at the BIG 10 Championships and her always consistent presence near the front of most NCAA Championship races.


15. Michaela Reinhart (Duke)

Reinhart has proven herself numerous times by finishing amongst the leaders at numerous ACC Championships, but can she put everything together at her first outdoor national meet in a presumably aggressive front-running field?


16. Maggie Donahue (Georgetown)

Her racing toolbox is filled with strength, speed and national meet experience, but if she wants to earn a spot on the podium, Donahue will need to rely on all of these skills en route to a potential sub-33:00 performance.


17. Gionna Quarzo (NC State)

Quarzo just missed out on qualifying for the national meet last year, but she came out with a vengeance this season and her youth has given her plenty of exciting upside heading into this meet.


18. Alexandra Hays (NC State)

Hays has been rewarded with improved speed and endurance since transferring from Columbia to NC State (as a grad transfer) and is on track to earn her third All-American honor in as many seasons, especially if you believe that the 10k is her best event.


19. Charlotte Dannatt (Georgetown)

Dannatt has a respectable 33:51 PR and benefited from a slower race at her regional meet en route to a national qualifying spot, but to finish in the top-half, Dannatt will likely need another slow, tactical race.


20. Makayla Perez (Michigan State)

Perez has been in Jenna Magness’ shadow all season long in both the 5k and the 10k, but the national meet could be her coming out party as she aims to prove that she is one of the most underrated women in this field.


21. Faith Linga (Toledo)

Linga enters the NCAA Championships as the 2021 NJCAA 10k champion from last year, but does she have what it takes to translate that success over to the Division One scene which will be far more intense up front?


22. Daisy Liljegren (Boston University)

In her freshman season, Liljegren is gaining valuable experience by bumping elbows with the nation’s best, and although she’s not exactly someone who we may pick as a top-eight finisher this year, watch out for her later in her career.


23. Katie Rose Blachowicz (Notre Dame)

Some of us were not expecting Blachowicz to qualify for the national meet as she was finishing in the middle of the pack during the regular season, but she is no stranger to finding her peak in the postseason and she has some excellent championship experience as well.


24. Louise Lounes (Charlotte)

Lounes has nothing to lose heading into her first national meet and a good day for her would be highlighted by a PR and a top-16 finish if she capitalizes on her successful regional showing from the other week.


Final Predictions:

  1. Grace Forbes (Rice)

  2. Lauren Gregory (Arkansas)

  3. Emma Heckel (New Mexico)

  4. Jenna Magness (Michigan State)

  5. Mercy Chelangat (Alabama)

  6. Alexandra Hays (NC State)

  7. Jessa Hanson (Northern Arizona)

  8. Haley Herberg (Washington)

bottom of page