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PREDICTIONS: 2025 Arkansas Qualifier
DMR weekend is finally here! For those who may not be familiar, there has often been a weekend in the latter-half of February that NCAA distance programs have reserved for the Distance Medley Relay (DMR).
In the coming days, you can expect the nation's best programs to field DMR lineups that will fight for one of the top-12 qualifying spots to this year's NCAA Indoor Championships (relays only advance 12 to the national meet, not 16).
But given the ultra-fast times that we just saw at the Husky Classic, the urgency to crack the top-12 of the national leaderboard is greater than ever before, especially on the women's side.
In addition to the DMR, the Arkansas Qualifier has also been home to a small handful of impressive performances between the 800 meters, mile and 3000 meters. And while most of the nation's attention will be on South Bend and/or Boston, the Razorbacks' home meet should make plenty of noise as well.
NOTE: The Stride Report has been able to obtain updated entries (not heat sheets) which may differ slightly from the above link.
2025 Arkansas Qualifier (collegians only)
*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). At time of publication, TSR did not have the names who will specifically make up each DMR lineup. It should also be noted that there are only two relays entered for the women's DMR at the time of publishing.
Women’s 800 Meters
Kayla Bell (Murray State) - 2:01
Anna Podojil (Arkansas) - 2:02
Ainsley Erzen (Arkansas) - 2:02
Kaylie Politza (Oklahoma State) - 2:03
Tabitha Ngao (TCU) - 2:03
Analysis: In my opinion, there are a number of highly underrated women who are entered in this field. Kayla Bell is a sneaky-great name who has already run 2:02 (800) this season. She has plenty of experience to validate her fitness and to be viewed as a mostly reliable pick.
At the same time, the Arkansas women have a much better half-mile contingent than some may realize with six women having run 2:04 or faster this season (although only a few are entered for this race).
With Arkansas alum and aggressive front-runner Shafiqua Maloney in this race, we can expect this race to be fairly honest. And given how deep the field is, there's good reason to think that it will be fast across the board.
In the end, I'll take the more proven runner in Bell to get the win, but the Razorbacks have tons of momentum under their legs right now.
Men’s 800 Meters
Rivaldo Marshall (Arkansas) - 1:46
Darius Kipyego (Iowa State) - 1:46
Elliott Cook (Oregon) - 1:46
Matthew Erickson (Oregon) - 1:46
Koitatoi Kidali (Oregon) - 1:47
Analysis: This is quietly one of the best 800-meter fields that we have seen all season long. Not only are there plenty of highly talented men who are capable of running 1:46 in this race, but there are also tons of national qualifying implications at stake.
That, in theory, should force a handful of men to be more aggressive than usual.
I'm taking Rivaldo Marshall for the win on Friday...even though he ran 1:55 (800) last weekend. That, however, was likely just a fluke. He did, after all, run 1:46 for the half-mile distance on this same track earlier in the season!
Darius Kipyego could absolutely take the win and you could make argue the same about Oregon's Elliott Cook. However, the latter name has not yet raced a single time this season, leaving us to wonder if he'll actually compete this weekend. And with so much on the line for so many names, a handful of top contenders are bound to blow up, leaving room for others to produce a top finish.
Women’s Mile
Mandeep Sangha (Oklahoma State) - 4:40
Kailey Littlefield (Oklahoma State)* - 4:44
Kate Strader (Pittsburg State) - 4:46
Payton Hinkle (Oklahoma State) - 4:49
Alyna Thibault (Northwest Missouri) - 4:50
Analysis: Admittedly, this field is somewhat thin on top-end talent. That said, I think Mandeep Sangha is a bit underrated and should thrive in this type of field. Be sure to also look out for Kate Strader, a D2 standout who is looking more and more like an All-American lock every few weeks. If she can record yet another competitive mark, then she could be favored for a top-half D2 All-American honor in March.
Men’s Mile
Laban Kipkemboi (Oklahoma State) - 3:53
Alex Stitt (Oklahoma State) - 3:55
Mason Strader (Pittsburgh State) - 3:57
Evan Bishop (Oregon) - 3:59
Dylan Sprecker (Pittsburgh State) - 4:00
Analysis: There's a lot on the line for a number of the top men in this field.
Laban Kipkemboi has been bumped out of a national qualifying position in the mile and needs to better his 3:54 mark from December. Teammate Alex Stitt isn't far behind him and may have an outside shot of bettering his spot on the national leaderboard as well.
Mason Strader is an excellent miler who holds tons of experience. He's done all of the small things right this winter. And in our eyes, those subtle improvements suggest that he match or even surpass his 3:58 mile PR. His teammate Dylan Sprecker, meanwhile, is going to be chasing a sub-four mile result for the first time ever. The same can be said for Oregon's Evan Bishop.
This may not be the fastest mile race of the entire weekend, but it still has plenty of implications and pre-race headlines to monitor.
Women’s 3k
Ruth Jerubet (UTEP) - 9:32
Bradley Weimer (Arkansas)* - 9:40
Olivia Pielemeier (Arkansas)* - 9:41
Grace Ping (Oklahoma State) - 9:44
Paige Mullen (Pittsburg State) - 9:44
Analysis: The women's 3k doesn't necessarily hold the strongest field, but it does feature a couple of decent runners who are developmental talents. Regardless, Ruth Jerubet is somewhat clearly the pre-race favorite even though I don't envision her running much faster than 9:25 on a good day.
Men’s 3k
Kian Davis (Oklahoma State) - 7:57
Jack Williams (Arkansas) - 8:03
Jacob Deacon (Oklahoma State)* - 8:06
Matthew Thomas (Oklahoma State) - 8:11
Gabe Simonsen (Oklahoma State) - 8:15
Analysis: I think Kian Davis is fairly underrated. He is a consistent and somewhat dynamic distance talent who is due for a breakthrough race over 3000 meters. I don't know if that will come this weekend, but he's clearly the best name in this field.
Arkansas' Jack Williams is also a solid distance runner in his own right. However, this race will likely be a measuring stick for Coach Dave Smith as he attempts to further build out the distance depth of his roster.
Men’s DMR
Oklahoma State Cowboys - 9:15
Arkansas Razorbacks "A" - 9:18
Virginia Cavaliers - 9:19
Oregon Ducks - 9:21
Iowa State Cyclones - 9:22
Arkansas Razorbacks "B" - DNF
Analysis: On paper, the Oklahoma State men should be favored. Between Fouad Messaoudi, Brian Musau and Ryan Schoppe, the Cowboys will likely have the best (or at least, the most proven) combined opening and closing legs of this DMR race.
It's not clear if Mehdi Yanouri will run on this relay given that he's also entered for the men's 800 meters. However, fellow 1:47 man, Hafez Mahadi, should be a more-than-serviceable replacement.
Arkansas, meanwhile, has a legitimate star in Reuben Reina who is a 3:53 miler. But would it actually make more sense to put him on the lead-off leg and let Yaseen Abdalla anchor? Regardless, when you tack on 1:46 (800) man Tyrice Taylor -- assuming that Rivaldo Marshall stays fresh for the open 800 meters -- then you get a complete relay that has TONS of talent.
Admittedly, I'm not super high on a few of the men who Virginia may field for this race, at least not in comparison to the rest of the field. Of course, when you have a 3:48 miler in Gary Martin as your presumed anchor leg, that solves many, many, many problems.
Oregon is a challenging team to figure out for this race. The entries show Elliott Cook, Matthew Erickson and Koitatoi Kidali all being entered for the open 800 meters. But when you have guys like Tomas Palfrey, Rheinhardt Harrison and Simeon Birnbaum, the drop-off in talent is non-existent. Inexperience and youth, however, could play a role which is why I'm putting the Ducks at 4th place in our predictions.
As for Iowa State, it's not clear if they'll have Darius Kipyego or Emanuel Galdino given that both of those men are entered for the 800 meters. The Cyclones should still have more-than-adequate replacements with guys like Devan Kipyego, Silas Winders and Dugion Blackman (to name a few). But compared to the other teams who they'll face on Friday, the men from Ames, Iowa could be at a disadvantage.
Women’s DMR
Arkansas Razorbacks - 10:45
Oklahoma State Cowgirls - 11:54
Analysis: There are only two relays listed for the women's DMR: Arkansas and Oklahoma State. And for as good as the Cowgirls historically are, they don't seem to have the personnel that can qualify for the indoor national meet this year.
When it comes to the Razorbacks, having a lethal half-mile duo of Sanu Jallow (1:59 PR) and Isabella Whittaker (2:02 PR) in this lineup will be huge. And even though Paityn Noe isn't viewed as a miler, she is more than good enough to lead this team to a national qualifying time...right?
The only uncertainty, however, is if the DMR fields that we see at Boston U. and/or the Alex Wilson Invite this weekend will push the national qualifying time beyond what Arkansas is even capable of achieving.
