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

Additional contributions by Garrett Zatlin

Click here to see performance list

NOTE: Athletes are listed in order of their seed position. Final predictions are at the bottom.

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1. Alison Andrews-Paul (Simon Fraser)

Andrews-Paul is a clever tactician who knows how to race on the biggest of stages as evidenced by her indoor national title in the 800, but she's also the flat-out best talent in this field with her D2 record of 2:01.

2. Ukeyvia Beckwith (Embry-Riddle)

If you give Beckwith an inch, she will take a mile, as her lethal kick and monster personal bests can easily overwhelm some of the top half-milers in the country.

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

Beckford’s speed is her speciality thanks to her 400 meter prowess, but she will make sure to start her kick a bit earlier this time as she came up a little short (2nd place) of the national title at the NCAA Indoor Championships this past winter.

4. Taryn Chapko (Grand Valley State)

Chapko is a real veteran despite what her eligibility says as she has made the NCAA meet a common occurrence, ultimately evolving into one of the more reliable 800 meter runners in the country.

5. Katie McCune (Drury)

A real sleeper pick despite her seed, most people probably forgot that McCune was an All-American this past winter, capitalizing on her strong racing tactics which she will surely replicate this weekend.

6. Marian Ledesma (Azusa Pacific)

The first of three Azusa Pacific runners in the field, Ledesma represents the best chance of sending a Cougar to the final as she is the veteran of the group and has the most high-level racing experience.

7. Chrissani May (Lincoln (MO))

May will look to rekindle the same magic that she had at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships when she finished 3rd overall, a level of fitness that she has been trending upwards in the latter portion of this spring season.

8. Jana Sawyer (Central Missouri)

A veteran transfer from Kansas, Sawyer is a true 800 meter specialist with great experience who is looking for a second chance after missing out on the final in her first appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships this past winter.

9. Natalia Novak (Academy of Art)

A true middle distance runner, Novak will be coming down from the 1500 meters (and doubling back from day one) in an effort to see how her mile strength compares to that of the speed-based runners such as the 400 meter specialists who are moving up.

10. Jessica Simon (Adams State)

A middle distance runner coming down from the mountains with a quick 400 meter time, Simon has been building season-long momentum and her best races have come in the second-half of this spring.

11. Lainy Williams (Southwest Baptist)

Coming out of nowhere and closing hard are two things that Lainy Williams does best and because of that, she’s a realistic threat at the national meet, especially with her thrilling upside.

12. Helen Braybrook (CSU-Pueblo)

Sea level has been very kind to Braybrook, but how will she approach this race given her newfound strength in the 1500 meters (i.e. sit-and-kick or take it hard from the gun)?

13. Kaylee Harp (NW Missouri)

A really big unknown here, and ranked around the middle of the field, Harp needs to use her instincts to follow the field to a new PR which, in theory, can advance her to the finals.

14. Cami Streff, Sophomore (Augustana (SD))

Racing at mostly the big time meets this year like Bryan Clay and the Northern Sun Championships, Streff is battle-tested and ready to deliver on the All-American potential that we saw from her during the winter months.

15. Elizabeth Acheson (U-Mary)

This hasn't been Acheson's most exciting season, but experience kills, especially at the national meet and luckily for Acheson, she has plenty of it.

16. Mikayla Akers (Azusa Pacific)

Similar to teammate Garcia Meza, Akers is peaking at the right time, but can she score for the Cougars as they look to go back-to-back?

17. Aryelle Wright (Colorado Mines)

The results at the national meet have never seemingly fallen Wright’s way, but some newfound 400 meter prowess may change that, especially in a field with plenty of speed-based half-milers.

18. Briseida Garcia Meza (Azusa Pacific)

Sneaking into the national meet at the last minute thanks to a huge jump upwards in fitness, how will this sophomore capitalize on her out-of-nowhere upside?

19. Ana Mercado (San Marcos)

Mercado has had plenty of opportunities to race top-tier competition, but will that exposure to strong talent be enough to counter her national meet inexperience?

20. Carlin McFadden (Queens (NC))

Having made the indoor national meet, McFadden now knows what to expect from many of the women in this field, so can the freshman use some tactics of her own to advance to the finals?

21. Bailey Blake (NW Missouri)

Tactical races haven’t proven to be a specialty for Blake as evidenced by her inability to make it out of the prelims in the past, so look for her to be out front, pushing the pace and hoping that her fitness allows her to outrun most of her prelim field.

22. Kinga Szarzynska (Harding)

Look for Szarzynska to change something up tactically in the prelims as she is a senior who hasn’t fared particularly well at the national meet despite showcasing her talent on multiple occasions.

23. Isabelle Brezinka (Minnesota-Duluth)

Peaking at the right time with nothing to lose, Brezinka will look to recalibrate her tactics after finishing 3rd to both Streff and Acheson at the NSIC Championships two weeks ago.

24. Ines Macadam (Tiffin)

Consistency is Macadam’s specialty, so a somewhat slower pace gives her a chance to deliver on the 2:10 and 2:11 marks that she has made automatic right now.

Final Predictions:

1. Alison Andrews-Paul (Simon Fraser)

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

3. Taryn Chapko (Grand Valley State)

4. Ukyevia Beckwith (Embry-Riddle)

5. Jessica Simon (Adams State)

6. Chrissani May (Lincoln (MO))

7. Katie McCune (Drury)

8. Elizabeth Acheson (U-Mary)