PREDICTIONS: 2024 SEC Indoor Championships

Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
Feb 22, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Feb 24, 2024

NOTE: Entries for the SEC Indoor Championships were provided to The Stride Report separate from the above link which. TSR is unable to fully publish the entries at this time.

*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

Michaela Rose (LSU) - 2:00
Sanu Jallow (Arkansas) - 2:02
Sydney Steely (Kentucky) - 2:02
Bailey Goggans (Texas A&M) - 2:03
Ainsley Erzen (Arkansas) - 2:04

Analysis: Everyone knows that Michaela Rose is the heavy favorite in this event. We also know that she likes to be an aggressive front-runner. While I don't love betting on so many younger breakout talents to deliver on a major multi-round stage, Rose will likely bring out their raw fitness more than their tactics (and for them, that's a good thing).

Men’s 800 Meters

Sam Austin (Florida) - 1:46
Oussama El Bouchayby (Alabama) - 1:46
Sam Whitmarsh (Texas A&M) - 1:46
Kimar Farquharson (Texas A&M) - 1:47
Riley Wells (Arkansas) - 1:47

Analysis: Given the aggressive front-runners in these fields (Sam Austin and Oussama El Bouchayby), we would bet that the overall times will be very quick this weekend. If that latter name is as fit as his 600-meter mark of 1:14 suggests that he is, then this will be a barn burner.

Women’s Mile

Flomena Asekol (Florida)* - 4:32
Tianna LoStracco (Arkansas) - 4:33
Elise Thorner (Florida)* - 4:35
Loral Winn (Ole Miss)* - 4:35
Mary Ellen Eudaly (Arkansas)* - 4:35

Analysis: On paper, Flomena Asekol should win this title, especially with the field that she is facing. Women like Tianna LoStracco have had moments of tactical brilliance and the other women who I listed above should not be taken lightly. Even so, as long as the Gators' 4:26 miler executes her race plan, then she should win...I think.

Men’s Mile

Anass Essayi (South Carolina) - 3:56
Parvej Khan (Florida) - 3:57
Ben Shearer (Arkansas)* - 3:58
Cruz Gomez (Ole Miss) - 3:58
Canaan Anderson (Tennessee) - 4:00

Analysis: Anass Essayi is the overwhelming favorite and should have no issues taking home gold. Parvej Khan is a rookie who has been outstanding this year. And while I would usually be hesitant about where I list freshmen in my pre-race predictions, this field isn't nearly as challenging as what he faced at Boston U. last weekend.

Women’s 3k

Parker Valby (Florida) - 8:46 (H1)
Hilda Olemomoi (Alabama) - 8:51
Doris Lemngole (Alabama) - 8:52
Flomena Asekol (Florida)* - 8:55
Amelia Mazza-Downie (Florida)* - 9:03 (H1)

Analysis: Ladies and gentlemen, Parker Valby has returned. It's not necessarily a surprise to see Valby contest the 3k given that she has yet to qualify for the national meet in that event. The catch, however, is that she is actually entered in the first (and technically "slower") section of the 3000 meters. That's because she doesn't have a seed time from this season. However, with a national qualifying mark on the line and fellow teammate Amelia Mazza-Downie also in that section, Valby should be able to muster a strong 3k mark. Meanwhile, Hilda Olemomoi, Doris Lemngole and Flomena Asekol will battling in the next section. And frankly, you could make a decent argument for why each of those women will be victorious in their heat.

Men’s 3k

Hillary Cheruiyot (Alabama) - 7:44
Yaseen Abdalla (Tennessee) - 7:44
Peter Maru (Arkansas)* - 7:46
Ryan Kinnane (Auburn) - 7:47
Toby Gillen (Ole Miss)* - 7:48

Analysis: You could convince me that all five of the men listed above could win the SEC 3k title this weekend. Cheruiyot has been the most consistent this season while Abdalla is the most established in this event. Maru may have the best aerobic talent while Kinnane is fresh off of a 3:54 anchor split from last week. And Toby Gillen? Well, he may have the most momentum out of all of those men.

Women’s 5k

Brenda Tuwei (Alabama)* - 15:39
Amelia Mazza-Downie (Florida)* - 15:44
Sydney Thorvaldson (Arkansas) - 15:46
Ashley Jones (Tennessee)* - 15:57
Emily Covert (Tennessee)* - 15:59

Analysis: Your guess(es) are as good as mine when it comes to the women's 5000 meters. However, I would expect this race to be somewhat quick. And if Brenda Tuwei's long distance success from her time prior to Alabama can be translated to the indoor oval, then I could see her posting a fairly quick mark and pulling away from the field.

Men’s 5k

Peter Maru (Arkansas)* - 13:22
Kirami Yego (Arkansas) - 13:23
Toby Gillen (Ole Miss)* - 13:23
Patrick Kiprop (Arkansas) - 13:29
Victor Kiprop (Alabama)* - 13:34

Analysis: I'm fairly confident that this race is going to be very fast. Peter Maru, Kirami Yego and Patrick Kiprop are all aggressive front-runners who will be pushing each other. And of course, Victor Kiprop has been unafraid to do the same in the past. With Toby Gillen and Patrick Kiprop both looking to enter the 5k national qualifying conversation, I would be stunned if we didn't see anyone under 13:30 this weekend.

Women’s DMR

LSU Tigers - 10:56
Arkansas Razorbacks - 10:59
Florida Gators - 11:01
Kentucky Wildcats - 11:05
Ole Miss Rebels - 11:09

Analysis: Without knowing who is in these lineups, these predictions are basically shots in the dark. However, I feel like the LSU women may want to go after a national qualifying berth in this event after coming a few seconds shy at the Alex Wilson Invite.

Men’s DMR

Auburn Tigers - 9:24
Arkansas Razorbacks - 9:29
Tennessee Volunteers - 9:33
Texas A&M Aggies - 9:34
South Carolina Gamecocks - 9:34

Analysis: After running 9:24 in the DMR last weekend, the Auburn men surprisingly sit just outside of national qualifying contention. And while I have no idea if they'll actually bring that lineup back for this weekend, I wouldn't be surprised if they do.