PREDICTIONS: 2024 UW Husky Classic

Maura Beattie
Feb 7, 2024
4 min read

Predictions were updated at 2:35pm EST following the release of heat sheets

Predictions & Analysis by Maura Beattie, editing via Garrett Zatlin

You could argue that, annually, the single-most exciting weekend of regular season collegiate competition takes places on the second weekend of February. And given the entries that we're currently sifting through, that will likely be the case once again in 2024.

With our Boston College predictions and our full Boston U. preview on the way, we wanted to give our readers a head start on this weekend's coverage. As such, I was able to put together a full set of predictions for the Husky Classic, hosted by Washington.

Here is who I have headlining the NCAA distance action in Seattle this weekend...

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UW Husky Classic (collegiates only)

*Denotes that a collegiate 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). At time of publishing, the entries for this meet were not split into heats yet.

Women’s 800 Meters

Wilma Nielsen (Washington) - 2:01
Marlena Preigh (Washington) - 2:03
Meghan Hunter (BYU) - 2:03
Taylor James (Stanford) - 2:04
Samantha Friborg (Washington) - 2:05

ANALYSIS: Washington’s Wilma Nielsen matched her 800-meter PR of 2:02 this past weekend and is the clear favorite in this event at the Husky Classic. The real race will be for runner-up where middle distance specialists Marlena Preigh (Washington) and Meghan Hunter (BYU) have to find an extra gear to out-kick the milers dropping down in distance.

Men’s 800 Meters

Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)* - 1:46
Lucas Bons (BYU)* - 1:47
Ryan Birkmeier (Colorado State) - 1:47
Sebastian Fernandez (BYU) - 1:48
Ben Greene (Colorado) - 1:48

ANALYSIS: To be completely honest, this race isn’t as top-heavy as we were hoping for. Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona) is the clear favorite following his 3:53 mile win from a few weeks ago. BYU’s Lucas Bons could give Sahlman a run for his money, but so could dark horse runner Ryan Birkmeier of Colorado State.

Women’s Mile

Sophie O’Sullivan (Washington)* - 4:31
Carmen Alder (BYU)* - 4:31
Laura Pellicoro (Portland) - 4:32
Alyson Churchill (Northern Arizona)* - 4:33
Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU)* - 4:33

ANALYSIS: Washington’s Sophie O’Sullivan needs a good race this weekend, one on par with what we at TSR know she is capable of. The Husky ace is going to be facing a slew of women from BYU, an experienced miler in Laura Pellicoro and a veteran talent in Alyson Churchill. Churchill’s recent growth under Coach Mike Smith could land her a spot on the line at the NCAA Indoor Championships if she plays her cards right this weekend.

Men’s Mile

Wil Smith (Gonzaga)* - 3:57
Leo Daschbach (Washington) - 3:57
Brennan Benson (Utah State) - 3:57
Evan Jenkins (Washington) - 3:59
Rob McManus (Montana State)* - 4:00

ANALYSIS: Surprisingly, the Washington Huskies are not stacking this race with their sub-4:00 milers, but that doesn’t mean that this field is void of talent. Wil Smith of Gonzaga has proven himself to be a versatile athlete and is generally a really solid miler. The real story, however, will be whether or not Utah State’s Brennan Benson can back-up his recent altitude and track size-converted mile time of 3:56 from the other week.

Women’s 3000 Meters

Kaylee Mitchell (Oregon State) - 8:54
Amy Bunnage (Stanford) - 8:55
Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU)* - 8:57
Alyson Churchill (Northern Arizona)* - 8:57
Riley Chamberlain (BYU)* - 8:59

ANALYSIS: Kaylee Mitchell (Oregon State) has only raced once since December, but that lack of racing shouldn’t necessarily keep the Beaver All-American from winning this weekend. As for everyone else, we are very interested in what Stanford’s Amy Bunnage does at the Husky Classic as her 9:03 (3k) from this earlier this winter was solid, but it was still 12 seconds off of her current PR in the event.

Men’s 3000 Meters

Ky Robinson (Stanford) - 7:39
Drew Bosley (Northern Arizona) - 7:41
Aaron Las Heras (Northern Arizona)* - 7:42
Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)* - 7:49
Matt Strangio (Portland) - 7:49

ANALYSIS: Two things immediately drew our attention when looking at the entries of this race: 1) Ky Robinson (Stanford) most likely will be eyeing to better that recent 7:37 mark that Parker Wolfe just threw down, and 2) Drew Bosley (Northern Arizona) is expected to make a return to racing after a two-month hiatus. Those two men might be the headliners and favorites, but there’s always a chance that another top-tier talent rains on their parade, *cough* Ben Perrin *cough*. Colin Sahlman is obviously going to be in the mix given his recent success, but his December-time 5k mark of 13:52 has me a bit more cautious as he steps up in distance from the mile.

Women’s 5000 Meters

Rosina Machu (Gonzaga) - 15:29
Phoebe Anderson (Columbia) - 15:32
Gracelyn Larkin (Northern Arizona) - 15:33
Lucy Jenks (Stanford) - 15:36
Ali Upshaw (Northern Arizona) - 15:36

ANALYSIS: This race could turn out to be quicker than some people imagine. I say that because the women mentioned above are all in the conversation to earn a bid to the indoor national meet later this March. Gonzaga’s Rosina Machu is the fan favorite given her recent cross country success, but the veterans in this field should, in theory, be just as prepared, if not more so.

Men’s 5000 Meters

Ben Perrin (Montana State)* - 13:23
Joey Nokes (BYU) - 13:26
James Corrigan (BYU) - 13:27
Aidan Troutner (BYU) - 13:29
Austin Vancil (Colorado) - 13:37

ANALYSIS: This will be Ben Perrin’s (Montana State) first "major" invitational of the season as the Bobcat stud has been excelling in races that are effectively time trials on his home track. Perrin’s current altitude-converted PR of 13:29 (5k) will be put to the test against a trio of BYU Cougars and a still-rising Division Two stalwart in Simon Kelati (Western Colorado).