PREDICTIONS: 2024 BIG East Indoor Championships

Finn Birnie
Feb 22, 2024
5 min read

*Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event.

NOTE: TSR is aware that an athlete could scratch out of certain events to pursue a more manageable weekend double (or even triple). As such, TSR's predictions assume that an athlete is contesting a certain event as part of a weekend double/triple that would be deemed "reasonable." Unless shown otherwise in the entries, DMR predictions do not necessarily assume that a certain relay will feature the best possible lineup.

Women's 800 Meters

Madison Martinez (Villanova) - 2:04
Alex O’Neil (Providence) - 2:05
Micah Trusty (Villanova) - 2:06
Maeve O’Neil (Providence) - 2:06
Alex Stasichin (Villanova) - 2:09

ANALYSIS: Villanova’s Madison Martinez has proven herself to be one of the most consistent half-milers on the east coast, consistently posting times around the 2:04 mark. For that reason, she comes in as the favorite, at least in our eyes. That being said, Providence runner Alex O’Neil will certainly give her Wildcat rival a run for her money. O’Neil is, after all, coming off of a fantastic 2:04 (800) split in the Friars' monumental 10:44 DMR at the Boston University DMR Challenge.

Men's 800 Meters

Sean Dolan (Villanova) - 1:46
Tinoda Matsatsa (Georgetown) - 1:46
Matthew Payamps (Georgetown) - 1:47
Tim McInerney (Georgetown) - 1:47
Mahamed Sharif (Connecticut) - 1:48

ANALYSIS: This race looks like it could have tons of fireworks given all of the firepower in this field! Georgetown rookie standout, Tinoda Matsatsa, certainly isn’t afraid to grab the race by the horns, so one thing we can be sure of is that this race is going to be FAST. Villanova veteran, Sean Dolan, has been looking exceptionally sharp this season, so he won’t be afraid of Matsatsa's aggressive pace. Dolan enters with a wealth of championship experience which could well give him the advantage.

Women's Mile

Shannon Flockhart (Providence) - 4:37
Chloe Scrimgeour (Georgetown) - 4:38
Chloe Gonzalez (Georgetown) - 4:42
Cara Laverty (Providence)* - 4:43
Emily Robinson (Villanova) - 4:45

ANALYSIS: With the absence of fellow Friar teammate Kimberley May from this field, Providence’s Shannon Flockhart enters this championship as the red-hot favorite. The British distance athlete has clocked a superb 4:30 mile mark this season and has a 4:08 (1500) PR to her name. On paper, she is a pure miler. However, the athlete who may provide the biggest challenge is Chloe Scrimgeour of Georgetown. The long distance ace is stepping down in distance to contest her first-ever collegiate mile (according to TFRRS). Will her exceptional strength allow her to prevail?

Men’s Mile

Sean Donoghue (Villanova) - 3:57
Jesse Hamlin (Butler)* - 3:57
Camden Gilmore (Georgetown) - 3:58
Parker Stokes (Georgetown) - 3:58
Travis Martin (Connecticut)* - 3:59

ANALYSIS: This race was one of the most difficult to call. All of the men listed above enter with very similar personal bests and they have all been running very well this winter. Villanova’s Sean Donoghue has proven himself to be an astute tactician; after all, he is the reigning BIG East outdoor 1500-meter champion. If he is able to find his way to the front coming into the closing laps, then he is going to be very difficult to beat.

Women's 3000 Meters

Kimberley May (Providence) - 9:06
Sadie Sigfstead (Villanova)* - 9:11
Lily Tuck (Providence)* - 9:14
Laura Mooney (Providence)* - 9:17
Jenna Zdyanowicz (Connecticut) - 9:18

ANALYSIS: It’s been no secret that Providence’s Kimberley May has been on a tear this season, and for that reason, she is the overwhelming favorite entering this race. May is the only entrant in the field to have dipped under nine minutes for the 3000 meters. However, with this being a championship race, we can anticipate her not needing to go that fast to pick up the victory. Another athlete to keep a close eye on is Villanova’s Sadie Sigfstead. The Main Line-based distance runner comes from more of a strength-based background and her 15:44 (5k) PR will certainly give her the tools to at least hang with May for a good portion of this race.

Men's 3000 Meters

Liam Murphy (Villanova) - 7:43
Marco Langon (Villanova) - 7:46
Jesse Hamlin (Butler)* - 7:48
Peter Herold (Georgetown)* - 7:57
William Zegarski (Bulter)* - 7:58

ANALYSIS: Villanova’s Liam Murphy has shown great versatility this season, lowering his PRs to 3:53 in the mile and 13:21 over 5000 meters. Knowing that information, and that he might have a pacer in this field, one could argue that this is Murphy’s perfect distance. With a 7:45 (3k) mark to his name but no time this season, the Villanova standout will have to run something in the region of his PR if he wants any chance of making the national meet. Fortunately for him, he will have fellow teammate Marco Langon and Butler’s Jesse Hamlin hot on his tail.

Women's 5000 Meters

Sadie Sigfstead (Villanova)* - 16:08
Lily Tuck (Providence)* - 16:10
Laura Mooney (Providence)* - 16:14
Carolina Towle (Connecticut)* - 16:34
Elsa Rusthoven (Butler)* - 16:36

ANALYSIS: This past cross country season, Villanova’s Sadie Sigfstead really came into her own. And sure enough, that fine form was quickly translated to the indoor oval as she posted a huge 15:44 (5k) mark. She comes in to this race as the only woman under 16 minutes this season. That being said, Lily Tuck of Providence has cracked that elusive barrier on the outdoor oval before, so expect her to be in the mix as well.

Men's 5000 Meters

Michael Morgan (Providence) - 13:52
Matthew Forrester (Butler) - 13:53
Liam Back (Providence) - 13:55
William Zegarski (Butler)* - 13:56
Peter Herold (Georgetown)* - 13:58

ANALYSIS: In terms of times, Matthew Forrester (Butler) stands head and shoulders above the rest with his 13:42 (5k) mark from two weeks ago. However, with this being a championship race, it is likely going to come down to the wire via tactics. Michael Morgan enters this championship with a huge wave of momentum after running a massive 7:56 PR for 3000 meters, a mark which suggests that he can comfortably rewrite his 14:03 (5k) PR from back in December. Liam Back (Providence), William Zegarski (Butler) and Peter Herold (Georgetown) have all run remarkably close to the 14-minute barrier, so expect it to be a real scrap for the medals.

Women's Distance Medley Relay

Providence Friars - 10:53
Georgetown Hoyas - 10:54
Connecticut Huskies - 11:25
Villanova Wildcats - 11:26
DePaul Blue Demons - 11:30

Men's Distance Medley Relay

Villanova Wildcats - 9:24
Georgetown Hoyas - 9:25
Providence Friars - 9:36
Butler Bulldogs - 9:38
Connecticut Huskies - 9:41

Women's 4x800m Relay

Providence Friars- 8:37
Villanova Wildcats- 8:45
Georgetown Hoyas - 8:48
Butler Bulldogs - 8:59
Xavier (Ohio) Musketeers - 8:59

Men’s 4x800m Relay

Georgetown Hoyas- 7:24
Villanova Wildcats - 7:28
Providence Friars - 7:30
Butler Bulldogs - 7:35
DePaul Blue Demons - 7:36