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PREDICTIONS: 2024 PAC-12 Outdoor Championships

  • Writer: Maura Beattie
    Maura Beattie
  • May 9, 2024
  • 5 min read

*Cue Will Ferrell singing, "Time to Say Goodbye"


Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is it. The final PAC-12 Championship.


With nearly every program in the PAC-12 joining different conferences later this fall after failing to negotiate a TV deal earlier this year, the 2024 PAC-12 Outdoor Championships will be the last time that we see all of these west coast powers matchup for one conference meet.


Here is how TSR's Maura Beattie sees the meet playing out in its final days and hours...

*Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back). Times that are listed below are shown as altitude conversions. The meet is being held in Boulder, CO.


Men’s 800 Meters

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Nathan Green (Washington)* - 1:47

  2. James Harding (Oregon) - 1:47

  3. Angus Harrington (UCLA) - 1:48

  4. Matthew Erickson (Oregon) - 1:48

  5. Dayton Carlson (Arizona State) - 1:49


Analysis: The men’s 800-meter race will be a close one, but if you’re looking for the safest choice, I would suggest taking Washington’s Nathan Green for the win. The Husky ace ran 1:46 (800) on the indoor oval and after a recent 3:34 (1500) effort, Green seemingly has his momentum back after a rocky month of racing between indoor track and outdoor track. He will, however, be pushed by the Oregon duo of James Harding and Matthew Erickson, two highly qualified men who can steal the win on a good day. 


Women’s 800 Meters

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Roisin Willis (Stanford) - 2:00

  2. Kate Jendrezak (UCLA) - 2:02

  3. Wilma Nielsen (Washington) - 2:02

  4. Rose Pittman (UCLA) - 2:03

  5. Klaudia Kazimierska (Oregon)* - 2:03


Analysis: Sophomore Roisin Willis made her season debut with a modest mark of 2:02 (well, modest by her standards). Her resume speaks for itself and even if she has a very minor "off" day, she can still contend for gold in this field.


UCLA’s Kate Jendrezak has been riding high since the indoor track season. And after running a 400-meter PR last month, speed and momentum are seemingly on her side. Klaudia Kazimerska, a 1500-meter specialist, could finish well amongst the middle distance stars if this turns into a strength-based race. However, the biggest threat to Willis may end up being Wilma Nielsen, a middle distance veteran who has metronomically run 2:02 (800) this season.


Men’s 1500 Meters

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Luke Houser (Washington)* - 3:41

  2. Nathan Green (Washington)* - 3:42

  3. Isaiah Givens (Colorado)* - 3:42

  4. Elliott Cook (Oregon)* - 3:43

  5. Joe Waskom (Washington)* - 3:43


Analysis: The Washington trio of Luke Houser, Nathan Green and Joe Waskom will probably employ some team tactics in the men’s 1500 meters. Houser gets the nod over his teammates, but you can’t count out guys like Isaiah Givens (Colorado) and Elliot Cook (Oregon), the latter of whom has displayed some great 800-meter speed this spring and in prior seasons.


Women’s 1500 Meters

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Klaudia Kazimierska (Oregon)* - 4:12

  2. Chloe Foerster (Washington) - 4:12

  3. Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) - 4:13

  4. Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon)* - 4:13

  5. Erin Vringer (Utah)* - 4:15


Analysis: With altitude coming into play and women doubling up on other events, the women's 1500-meter race at the PAC-12 Championships will likely be somewhat tactical one. However, there is also too much talent in this field for the pace to lag in a significant way.


As much as I want to pick Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) to take home gold thanks to her speed, Klaudia Kazimierska (Oregon) and Chloe Foerster (Washington) are simply more reputable at the metric mile distance. Don't sleep on Silan Ayyildiz, either. She has been on fire as of late. 


Men’s 5000 Meters

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Ky Robinson (Stanford)* - 13:55

  2. Austin Vancil (Colorado)* - 13:57

  3. Leo Daschbach (Washington)* - 13:57

  4. Evan Jenkins (Washington)* - 13:59

  5. Devin Hart (Oregon)* - 14:03


Analysis: The men’s 5k will most likely shape out to be a sit-and-kick affair as the five men mentioned above are all contesting the 10k earlier in the weekend. Ky Robinson of Stanford will have a target on his back and if he lets the competition do the work, then he could make a strong move from 1000 meters out and earn the win. However, Colorado veteran Austin Vancil won’t let Robinson get too far as Vancil hopes to take advantage of the altitude and win on his home track.


Women’s 5000 Meters

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Maddy Elmore (Oregon)* - 15:40

  2. Amy Bunnage (Stanford) - 15:42

  3. Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon)* - 15:42

  4. Bailey Hertenstein (Colorado)* - 15:45

  5. Zenah Cheptoo (Washington State) - 15:49


Analysis: Pre-race favorites Maddy Elmore (Oregon), Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon) and Bailey Hertenstein (Colorado) are all doubling back from an earlier race, so a fresh Amy Bunnage (Stanford) is going to need to play her cards right if she wants to come out on top. Elmore and Ayyildiz are the leaders time-wise, but Bunnage has the potential to be competitive with those women after running 15:11 (5k) during the indoor track season.


Men’s 10,000 Meters

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Ky Robinson (Stanford)* - 28:36

  2. Evan Jenkins (Washington)* - 28:40

  3. Devin Hart (Oregon)* - 28:43

  4. Tyrone Gorze (Washington)* - 28:45

  5. Austin Vancil (Colorado)* - 28:47


Analysis: No PRs are going to be set this weekend in the 10k at the PAC-12 Championships as the men are going to have to fight the lack of oxygen up in Boulder, Colorado. Evan Jenkins (Washington) may have the fastest seasonal best among this group, but he’s going to have to face reigning NCAA champion, Ky Robinson (Stanford). The race will probably go out at a relatively predestination pace before ramping up and turning into a fairly honest battle.


Women’s 10,000 Meters

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Maddy Elmore (Oregon)* - 33:32

  2. Haley Herberg (Washington)* - 33:38

  3. Anika Thompson (Oregon)* - 33:39

  4. Bailey Hertenstein (Colorado)* - 33:45

  5. Samree Dishon (Colorado)* - 33:47


Analysis: Oregon’s Maddy Elmore has a busy weekend ahead of her as she prepares to take on the 10k/5k double. But even though Elmore’s going to be racing up at altitude, her remarkable growth over the past year leads us to believe that the Oregon Duck will not only win, but also run a fairly respectable conversion. Colorado’s Bailey Hertenstein and Samree Dishon have an advantage over the competition, but will that be enough to take down others who are on massive hot streaks? 


Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Benjamin Balazs (Oregon)* - 8:49

  2. Sam Affolder (Washington)* - 8:51

  3. Joe Waskom (Washington)* - 8:52

  4. Kole Mathison (Colorado)* - 8:55

  5. Charles Welch (Colorado) - 8:57


Analysis: In the pouring rain, Oregon’s Benjamin Balazs ran a strong 8:45 PR in the steeplechase. So, on a clear day, what can this talented Duck do? Balazs will have company up front with Washington’s Sam Affolder and Joe Waskom, two established runners in the NCAA. Waskom, who is a stellar 1500-meter runner, will need to tap into his prior 8:35 steeplechase strength if he wants the title. Be sure to keep an eye on other sub-8:50 guys such as Giuliano Scasso (Oregon), Kole Mathison (Colorado) and Kelvin Limo (Washington State).


Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase

NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude.

  1. Katie Clute (Oregon)* - 10:03

  2. Caroline Jerotich (Washington State)* - 10:05

  3. Mia Kane (UCLA) - 10:09

  4. Georgia McCorkle (California) - 10:19

  5. Riley Stewart (Stanford) - 10:22


Analysis: There’s really no clear-cut title favorite in the women’s steeplechase at the PAC-12 Championships. Oregon freshman Katie Clute enters with the only sub-10:00 steeplechase performance in the field, but inexperience could hinder her from standing atop the podium. Washington State’s Caroline Jerotich has consistently improved each week and Mia Kane of UCLA could surprise us this weekend in only her third collegiate steeplechase effort. Clute’s path to the title will not come easy, but she has had a quietly great rookie year and hasn't shown many signs of slowing down.

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