.png)
PREDICTIONS: 2025 Meyo Invitational
Written by Sam Peterson, edits & additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin
NOTE: Predictions are only for attached collegians listed in the entries. TSR is aware that an athlete could/will scratch out of certain events to pursue a more manageable weekend of racing. Even so, The Stride Report will offer predictions for each event as if every athlete in the distance fields will be completely fresh.
Women’s 800 Meters
Emma Kelley (Wisconsin) - 2:02
Alli Bookin-Nosbisch (Iowa) - 2:03
Daylee Braden (Marquette) - 2:04
Erin Reidy (Minnesota) - 2:04
Grace Bookin-Nosbisch (Iowa) - 2:05
Analysis: I can't help but be incredibly high on Wisconsin's Emma Kelley. She is, after all, the reigning NCAA Division Three champion in both the 400 meters (53.76) and the 800 meters (2:06.02). And more importantly, she boasts an impressive 2:02 PR! Given her lengthy list of accolades and extensive experience, she should have the edge as the most complete half-miler in this field.
However, Iowa’s Alli Bookin-Nosbisch isn’t far behind. The Hawkeye veteran holds a 2:03 (800) PR is coming off of back-to-back 1:28 performances over 600 meters. If those efforts reflect her current fitness for the half-mile distance, then we could be in store for a heckuva battle on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Marquette’s Daylee Braden and Minnesota’s Erin Reidy, both sporting 2:04-high PRs for 800 meters, will likely battle for bronze. Also in the mix is Iowa’s Grace Bookin-Nosbisch, whose 2:05 PR puts her in contention for the 3rd place spot as well.
Men’s 800 Meters
Andrew Casey (Wisconsin) - 1:47
Ryan Schreiner (Iowa) - 1:48
Dustin Hudak (DePaul) - 1:49
Keefer Soehngen (Indiana) - 1:49
Drake Prince (Notre Dame) - 1:49
Analysis: Wisconsin’s Andrew Casey is the clear favorite to win this race. His 1:47 PR is nearly a full second faster than the next-best seed, and he’s coming off of a promising 4:08 mile effort -- proof that his strength is continuing to build. If Casey is as sharp as we think he could be, then it’s hard to see anyone beating him this weekend.
For those looking to root for someone outside the Power Four conferences, DePaul’s Dustin Hudak is a name to watch. He comfortably won the Notre Dame Invite last weekend in a strong 800-meter PR of 1:49.03, taking down multiple sub-1:50 performers in the process.
That was also his first time breaking the 1:50 (800) barrier, something that should give him plenty of momentum as he returns to the same track this week. Expect him to be hungry to prove that he belongs with some of the bigger names in the Midwest.
Iowa’s Ryan Schreiner enters with the second-fastest seed time (1:48.42). After missing West Regional Championship qualification last spring, he will likely be racing with a chip on his shoulder. Watch for the Hawkeye talent to return to the form that he showed in the winter of 2024.
Women’s Mile
Rachel Forsyth (Michigan State) - 4:33
Katelyn Stewart-Barnett (Michigan State) - 4:36
Sophie Novak (Notre Dame) - 4:37
Gretchen Farley (Notre Dame) - 4:38
Isabelle Schmitz (Minnesota) - 4:39
Analysis: While she may not have traditional mile pedigree, Michigan State’s Rachel Forsyth has repeatedly proven that she belongs among the NCAA’s best.
A World U20 silver medalist over 1500 meters and a top-20 finisher at the NCAA XC Championships, she has both the speed and strength to drop a huge PR and take home the win. Expect her to push the pace early and show little willingness to let up.
Spartan teammate Katelyn Stewart-Barnett owns a 4:37 mile PR and may have the highest floor of anyone in this race given her veteran status. While she is best known for her steeplechase prowess, she’s coming off of a strong 2:07 (800) PR, making her a serious threat in this kind of field.
Notre Dame’s Sophie Novak will look to break up the Spartan dominance. The senior, fresh off of an All-American steeplechase campaign last spring, holds a 4:38 mile PR. When she is firing on all cylinders, she can be much more challenging to take down than some people realize.
Meanwhile, underclassmen Gretchen Farley (Notre Dame) and Isabelle Schmitz (Minnesota) will aim to crack the 4:40 mile barrier for the first time, entering with PRs of 4:40 and 4:43, respectively.
Men’s Mile
Daelen Ackley (Notre Dame) - 3:55
Caleb Futter (Grand Valley State) - 3:56
Jack Crull (Bradley) - 3:57
Samuel Field (Loyola) - 3:58
Martin Segurola (Indiana) - 3:59
Analysis: A reliable source has confirmed that the rabbit for this race will be pacing the field through 1000 meters in roughly 2:27.
The home crowd, a (presumably) solid pace job, and a strong field should give Notre Dame junior Daelen Ackley the edge (and potentially a nice PR)...but not by much. Caleb Futter (Grand Valley State) has a 3:58 mile PR to his name and is coming off a new 800-meter personal best (1:50.25) as well.
Futter is a savvy racer and has shown time and time again that he can compete with the best in the country, regardless of division. Look for the reigning NCAA D2 mile champion to mix it up at the front.
Samuel Field (Loyola) and Jack Crull (Bradley) will most likely be battling for bronze. Field, a New Mexico transfer, produced a solid 4:01 (mile) effort back in December, a sign that he’s clawing his way back to his 3:58 chops. Martin Segurola’s tantalizing 4:00.58 (mile) time should act as the ultimate motivator to stick his nose in a field of surefire sub-4:00 milers.
Women’s 3k
Siona Chisholm (Notre Dame) - 8:58
Erin Strzelecki (Notre Dame) - 8:59
Emily Covert (Notre Dame) - 9:02
Leane Willemse (Wisconsin) - 9:03
Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State) - 9:06
Analysis: The Irish will be aiming for a dominant 1-2-3 finish in this race. Siona Chisholm holds the slight edge thanks to her 3k PR at 9:03, while Erin Strzelecki boasts a 5k PR of 15:34 and is coming off a cross country All-American finish.
Tennessee graduate transfer Emily Covert (Notre Dame) has tons of experience. And if she is able to translate the best parts of her fall campaign to the track, then she will be in contention for the win.
While Notre Dame will look to sweep the podium, Wisconsin’s Leane Willemse and Grand Valley State’s Natalie Graber will try to shake things up.
Willemse, a Wisconsin junior, owns a 9:03 PR in the event, while Graber -- a Division Two standout -- is coming off a 3rd-place finish at the NCAA D2 XC Championships from this past fall. She also holds a pair of All-American honors from last winter, but was arguably even more impressive in the winter of 2023.
Men’s 3k
CJ Singleton (Notre Dame) - 7:51
Archie Noakes (Wisconsin) - 7:53
Tyler Berg (Notre Dame) - 7:54
Vincent Mauri (Notre Dame) - 7:54
Izaiah Steury (Notre Dame) - 7:55
Analysis: This will likely be the best 3k field that this meet has seen in a long time. Even better, it looks like Notre Dame’s CJ Singleton is the favorite to win.
The junior is one of the top steeplechasers in the country, and his newly minted 13:38 (5k) PR doesn’t hurt, either. That, in turn, leaves us optimistic that he can handle a fast pace early-on and still close well.
However, this race won’t be a walk in the park for Singleton. A wild card pick to be in the mix is Wisconsin’s Archie Noakes. The Aussie arrived in Madison in the fall and owns a 7:53 (3k) PR from March 2023. While he "only" ran 8:08 during his one-year stint with Oregon, he should have more confidence after settling into Wisconsin’s system.
Another name to watch is Notre Dame’s Izaiah Steury. The cross country All-American hasn’t quite matched his grass success on the track, but if he can translate any of his fall form to this race, then it’s hard to imagine him not being in the mix.
Women’s 5k
Ali Weimer (Minnesota) - 15:54
Fiona McLoughlin (Wisconsin) - 16:10
Emma Atkinson (Minnesota) - 16:26
Eileen Seebon (Loyola) - 16:32
Brianne Brewster (Minnesota) - 16:37
Analysis: Based strictly on personal bests, one would believe that Wisconsin's Fiona McLoughlin is the class of this field. The Badger transfer has already clocked a 16:13 PR over 5000 meters and boasts an East Regional Championship appearance in the 10k.
The catch, however, is that Minnesota's Ali Weimer was absolutely brilliant on the grass this past fall. The Golden Gopher star was 11th at Pre-Nationals and took 3rd at the BIG 10 XC Championships. Her 48th place finish at the national meet, which was just eight spots away from an All-American honor, was arguably one of her lesser performances of the season.
We don't know exactly how effective Weimer will be as she translates her cross country success to the track. But at the very least, she should be able to secure the win and chase a sub-16:00 (5k) clocking.
Minnesota teammate Emma Atkinson, who holds a 5k PR of 16:31, will likely be in the mix for a top-five finish. The same could be said for Loyola’s Eileen Seebon, and Minnesota’s Brianne Brewster.
Men’s 5k
Lezawe Osterink (Michigan State) - 14:01
Andrew Lane (Michigan State) - 14:02
Ryan Pajak (Notre Dame) - 14:07
Jason Parra (Notre Dame) - 14:10
Tyler Pritchett (Michigan State) - 14:13
Analysis: Spartan redshirt freshman Lezawe Osterink has already proven that he can compete at a high level, making him the favorite to earn the win. His 19th-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional XC Championships in the fall suggests that he has the strength to run right around 14:00 (5k).
Teammate Andrew Lane, who boasts a 14:04 (5k) PR, also had a strong cross country season and was a reliable scorer for a quietly deep Spartan squad. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s Ryan Pajak and Jason Parra will look to make strong 5k debuts for the Irish. Both men have already showcased their talent in the mile, running 4:05 and 4:07, respectively.
Another name to watch is Michigan State’s Tyler Pritchett. A key contributor to the Spartan’s unsuccessful bid for an NCAA XC Championship berth in the fall, Pritchett was also an East Regional Championship qualifier in the steeplechase, clocking a respectable 8:52 mark in the steeplechase. Expect him to make a strong debut at this distance.
Women’s DMR
Michigan State Spartans - 11:10
Wisconsin Badgers - 11:14
Minnesota Golden Gophers - 11:19
Iowa Hawkeyes - 11:22
Ohio Bobcats - 11:26
Analysis: This will likely be Michigan State's race to lose. If Rachel Forsyth and Katelyn Stewart-Barnett actually compete in this relay like the entries say they will (although it could also be Sarah Forsyth, the entries don't specify), then it won't really matter who Minnesota or Wisconsin field.
It's truthfully hard to imagine this race being crazy quick. Wisconsin could mix things up if certain women run exceptionally well. However, the top-end talent in this race almost certainly won't threaten the 11-minute barrier.
Men’s DMR
Michigan State Spartans - 9:49
Iowa Hawkeyes - 9:52
St. Louis Billikens (A) - 9:57
St. Louis Billikens (B) - 10:03
Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons - 10:04
Analysis: Out of all of the lineups listed for this race, the Michigan State men are arguably the most complete. They have the best combination of half-mile and mile talents. That, in theory, should give them the edge over Iowa and a pair of mid-major programs.
