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PREDICTIONS & PREVIEW: 2025 Florida Relays (1500m & 800m)
It's no secret that, from a distance running perspective, the Stanford Invitational will be the marquee meet to follow this weekend. The incredibly deep 10k fields and the thrilling matchups against top West Coast names make Palo Alto the place to be for this coming Friday and Saturday.
The Florida Relays, however, should be plenty entertaining in it's own right. That's because the Gainesville-based invitational features quietly excellent middle distance fields among collegians, specifically over 800 meters and 1500 meters.
Let's break down each of the men's and women's fields for those distances. By the time Sunday rolls around, the top of the national leaderboard could feature a handful of key names from this meet...
Men's 1500 Meters (Invite)
The men's invitational section of the 1500 meters is fairly interesting. There is plenty of potential for this race to be fast thanks to a handful of pros, even though there aren't any star-caliber collegiate milers in the field. There are, however, a handful of experienced veterans, high-upside talents and one standout ace who specializes over 800 meters.
For the latter athlete, I am, of course, talking about Texas A&M's Sam Whitmarsh. The 1:44 (800) man, who was the half-mile national meet runner-up last spring, will move up in distance to contest the second race of his 2025 outdoor track campaign.
Admittedly, Whitmarsh's indoor track season left us wanting more. Sure, he won the SEC title over 800 meters against a stacked field, but the Aggie standout never ran faster 1:47 on the indoor oval (and therefore didn't qualify for the national meet). Not only that, but Whitmarsh just ran the 800 meters at LSU this past weekend to open up his outdoor track season. There, he settled for an underwhelming 1:48-mid result to place 6th overall.
And yet, it's also fair to say that Whitmarsh has almost always been better on the outdoor oval. Could a simple change in scenery spell a return to the elite form that we saw Whitmarsh in last spring? If you're willing to ignore his season opener, then his 1500-meter PR of 3:41 certainly has a chance of falling this weekend.
This is also an ideal field for someone with Whitmarsh's skillset and background. Sure, it's not exactly loaded with elite mile stars, but it's still going to be quick without being overwhelming. For someone who has built up most of his experience in the half-mile, that should be viewed as a significant advantage.
However, if you're someone who prefers a pure miler, then Auburn's Max Hardin is probably going to be your pick. The Tiger ace has shown promise for the last few seasons, but recent PRs of 1:49 (800) and 3:57 (mile) this past winter are encouraging as far as his raw fitness is concerned.
Momentum is now on Hardin's side and he's no longer an inexperienced rookie (although he's still only a sophomore). There is a ton of upside within this Auburn runner. If he ends up having a breakout season, then it will begin at the Florida Relays this weekend.
Penn State's Jake Allen, who was previously at Kentucky, has looked solid as of late. Over the last five weeks, the Nittany Lion runner has posted times of 3:59 (mile), 7:59 (3k) and 13:53 (5k), the former and latter both being personal bests.
Alongside Allen is Nick Sloff, a guy who had a quietly great winter campaign and had a strong season opener at the Raleigh Relays. On the track, Sloff has times of 2:22 (1k) and 3:59 (mile) which have since been paired with a 13:46 (5k) from last weekend. On paper, Sloff is arguably the most complete athlete in this field as far as strength and speed are concerned.
Illinois veteran Will Merrick is another key name to watch. He has run 4:00 in the mile, and more importantly, has run 3:40 for 1500 meters, as well as 2:22 for 1000 meters. The BIG 10 talent showed flashes of promise this past winter, but he'll need to be at the top of his game if he wants a top-three finish (among collegians) this weekend.
Other collegiate entries include Nicolas Dovalovsky (Illinois), Joe Wester (Florida) and Cooper Atkins (Auburn). Each of those men have one or two key performances on their resume that, if replicated, could allow them to shake up the final results.
Final Predictions: Men's 1500 Meters
*collegians & attached runners only
Max Hardin (Auburn) - 3:39
Nick Sloff (Penn State) - 3:40
Sam Whitmarsh (Texas A&M) - 3:40
Jake Allen (Penn State) - 3:41
Will Merrick (Illinois) - 3:42
Women's 1500 Meters (Invite)
Just like the men's field, the invite section of the women's 1500 meters doesn't necessarily feature a ton of star power. However, it does have some, and among collegians, this race will be even deeper than what we'll see on the men's side.
The main collegiate headliner in this field is Florida's very own, Tia Wilson. The overseas rookie from the United Kingdom has shown tremendous promise during her still-short time with the Gators. On the grass, Wilson snagged a 63rd place finish at the NCAA XC Championships before moving to the indoor oval where she clocked an impressive mile mark of 4:30!
That mile effort allowed her to pull off an upset win against LSU's Lorena Rangel Batres en route to the SEC title. That mix of tactical know-how and still-rising fitness likely makes Wilson the collegiate favorite in this field. However, youth and inexperience are key factors to consider, something that could ultimately allow someone like Suus Altorf to pull ahead.
Altorf, a Florida State veteran, hasn't run as fast as Wilson has over the mile distance...but she's not far off. The Seminole talent has run 4:31 (mile) and is far more proven than Wilson, having also run times of 2:04 (800), 4:10 (1500) and 9:14 (3k). Those former and latter marks, as well as her mile PR, were each produced this past winter.
Altorf has national meet experience and is tactically strong. On paper, she's the most complete miler of this group. And if that's something that you value more than straight talent, then the FSU runner is likely your pick to secure this win.
Auburn's Brenda Jepchirchir is a fascinating name. The true long distance runner has built her reputation on the grass and over 5000 meters. She placed 21st at the NCAA XC Championships this past fall and ran 15:33 (5k) this past winter.
We have yet to see Jepchirchir drop down to the mile or the 1500 meters, events that are considered to be "off" disciplines for the Tiger star. Typically, aerobic-centric athletes like Jepchirchir aren't known for their turnover or mile speed. That's ultimately why we find it hard to envision the Auburn standout taking the win this weekend.
Of course, Jepchirchir is arguably the most naturally talented NCAA athlete in this field. That alone could carry her to a fast mark this weekend and allow her to be competitive.
I am a very big fan of Illinois' Halle Hill. I think she's a highly underrated distance runner who had great success this past winter. She is on a hot streak as far as her improvement is concerned.
After a strong fall campaign where she qualified for the NCAA XC Championships, Hill caught our attention by running times of 2:42 (1k), 4:32 (mile) and 9:11 (3k). The Illinois veteran is highly experienced, is fairly reliable and has had enough tactical awareness to secure multiple wins last season.
She won't be favored for the win, but if you're looking for an upset candidate, then Hill is likely the name you want to pick. Other names like Auburn's Gene Coetzee (2:07 for 800 meters), Auburn's Camila Gomes (4:37 mile), Miami (FL)'s Daphnee Lavassas (9:16 for 3k) and Penn State's Ada Rand (4:36 mile) are all capable of mixing it up with the women whom I already mentioned.
Gomes and Rand are the two women in particular who should be on your radar. The former has run two PRs in her last three meets between the 800 meters and the 3000 meters. In theory, that means that she's due for a new mile PR as well. Meanwhile, Rand is a high-upside rookie who was exceptionally consistent this past winter and is seemingly on a hot-streak of her own.
Final Predictions: Women's 1500 Meters
*collegians & attached runners only
Tia Wilson (Florida) - 4:09
Suus Altorf (Florida State) - 4:09
Halle Hill (Illinois) - 4:11
Camila Gomes (Auburn) - 4:14
Ada Rand (Penn State) - 4:15
Men's 800 Meters
I'll admit, I'm running a bit behind on this article, but the men's and women's 800-meter fields were too good to not discuss. As such, I'm employing our "three sentences or less" rule.
Below, I listed a handful of top collegians in the men's 800-meter field at the Florida Relays, but I'll only be allowed to offer a maximum of three sentences of analysis or less, per athlete.
Here are a handful of recognizable, nationally competitive names who will be competing over 800 meters this Saturday...
Eric Albright (Maryland)
With a 1:48 (800) PR and a few strong middle distance performances on his resume, Maryland's Eric Albright is better than some may realize. Admittedly, his best day won't make him competitive with the top names in this field, but we've seen him have moments of promise before.
Gabriele Angiono (Georgetown)
On paper, Gabriele Angiono is a top-five collegian in this field after running 1:46-mid for 800 meters at the East Regional Championships (he shockingly did not advance to the national meet with that time). The best version of this Hoya sophomore is VERY dangerous, but his winter campaign did not suggest that he's in/near that form.
Sam Austin (Florida)
One of the most experienced half-milers in the field, Sam Austin is unafraid to be an aggressive front-runner. However, in recent seasons, his consistency has been limited and he has seemingly been stuck at the 1:47 (800) mark. Can he shake that trend in a loaded regular season field on his home track?
Kimar Farquharson (Texas A&M)
With a 1:46 PR over 800 meters and an All-American honor in this event from last spring, it's not crazy to suggest that Kimar Farquharson could place as high as 2nd place in this event. However, his latest indoor track season was truthfully unimpressive, at least in comparison to what he has done on the outdoor oval. Could a simple change in scenery be all he needs to return to top form?
Nicolas Dovalovsky (Illinois)
With 1:48 (800) PR and an increasing amount of experience in nationally competitive fields, Nicolas Dovalovsky has a chance to produce a strong result this weekend. He is seemingly due to run a new PR, but depending on what heat he is in, that may not come in Gainesville.
Carter Fitzgerald (Penn State)
We've only seen Carter Fitzgerald race once since April of last year. That lone effort came last weekend at LSU where he ran 1:49 for 800 meters. Fitzgerald is sneaky-good and has national meet experience, but his limited racing leads us to believe that he'll be further shaking off the rust this weekend.
Max Hardin (Auburn)
While undoubtedly a bigger threat over 1500 meters than the 800 meters, it wouldn't surprise us if Max Hardin dropped his 1:49 (800) PR to down 1:48. However, if he contests the 1500 meters the night before like he is scheduled to, then a new half-mile PR admittedly feels unlikely.
Joshua Kosgei (South Carolina)
The South Carolina sophomore showed promise this past winter via his 3:59 mile PR, a mark which pairs well with his 1:48 (800) personal best from last spring. However, Kosgei hasn't been the most consistent middle distance runner as of late, making him a bit of a wild card in this field.
David Locke (Penn State)
The best version of David Locke was able to run 1:47 (800) three separate times to start the indoor track season. However, his last two half-mile efforts have resulted in him running 1:49 (800). That, in turn, has left us shrugging our shoulders as we try to predict what he could run this weekend.
Tinoda Matsatsa (Georgetown)
The clear-cut favorite to win this race, Tinoda Matsatsa will likely be eying the 1:45 (800) barrier after coming within striking distance of breaking that mark back in February. Sure, he didn't win the national title, but he is still the most fit 800-meter runner in this field. The only question is, how fast will he run on Saturday?
Caden Norris (Texas A&M)
One of the better breakout names from last spring who showcased great consistency, Norris' indoor track season was relatively unexciting. Of course, when you consider that he didn't compete during the winter of 2024, there's reason to believe that Norris could return to the 1:47 (800) man that we know he is later this weekend.
Miguel Pantojas (Florida)
The Florida talent has run 1:48 (800) numerous times, but he has also failed to crack 1:50 (800) on multiple occasions as well. When it comes to predictions for Miguel Pantojas, your guess is as good as mine.
Handal Roban (Penn State)
After sitting out during the winter months, Penn State star Handal Roban is seemingly set to return to competition. The Nittany Lion ace has run 1:45 (800) multiple times and, at his best, is one of the top postseason performers in the NCAA over the half-mile distance. Roban can mix things up with Matsatsa, but what should we expect from this Jamaican ace after not seeing him race since last spring?
Niko Schultz (Nebraska)
Be very careful of Niko Schultz this weekend. The Nebraska talent has run 1:47 (800) multiple times with his outright PR coming at this same meet last year. The Husky standout showcased sneaky-good consistency during the winter months and could be due for a new PR.
Pradeep Senthilkumar (Nebraska)
This Nebraska rookie has proven that he is talented, having run 1:48 (800) this past winter. Even so, it feels like we haven't seen enough from Senthilkumar yet to truly evaluate his potential in a field like this.
Darius Smallwood (Penn State)
Running 1:46 (800) twice during the first-half of his indoor track season, Darius Smallwood began to cool off in the second-half of his winter campaign. Has the Penn State star hit reset since the end of the indoor track season? Or is he still trying to shake off his dissipating momentum from the last few months?
Joe Wester (Florida)
Joe Wester ran 1:48 (800) on his home track last spring two weeks after the Florida Relays. However, since the end of the 2024 outdoor track season, Wester hasn't contested an 800-meter race since, making him a bit of a wild card this weekend.
Sam Whitmarsh (Texas A&M)
The very best version of Sam Whitmarsh can run 1:44 (800) and take the overall win on Saturday (which includes defeating Tinoda Matsatsa). However, Whitmarsh didn't look great this past winter (although he was excellent at the SEC Championships) and his recent 800-meter outing leaves us wanting more. If the Texas A&M star can suddenly return to top, then he'll be a massive problem for Matsatsa this weekend, but that's easier said than done.
Theo Woods (Georgetown)
After running PRs of 2:22 (1k) and 4:03 (mile), I thought Theo Woods was primed to run 1:48-ish for 800 meters on the indoor oval. That, however, didn't happen as he failed to run faster than 1:50 (800) in his final two indoor track races. Woods is a very underrated runner overall, but it feels like he's still waiting to make one more leap.
Final Predictions: Men's 800 Meters
*collegians & attached runners only
Tinoda Matsatsa (Georgetown) - 1:44
Handal Roban (Penn State) - 1:45
Sam Austin (Florida) - 1:46
Darius Smallwood (Penn State) - 1:46
Kimar Farquharson (Texas A&M) - 1:47
Women's 800 Meters
I'll admit, I'm running a bit behind on this article, but the men's and women's 800-meter fields were too good to not discuss. As such, I'm employing our "three sentences or less" rule.
Below, I listed a handful of top collegians in the women's 800-meter field at the Florida Relays, but I'll only be allowed to offer a maximum of three sentences or less per athlete. And yes, for whatever reason, the men's races had more notable names than the women's field.
Here are a handful of recognizable, nationally competitive names who will be competing over 800 meters this Saturday...
Alli Bookin-Nosbisch (Iowa)
While some of her races are better than others, it's hard to bet against an established 2:03 (800) veteran like Alli Bookin-Nosbisch. She may not have the upside to contend for the win, but if she has one of her better races, then she could definitely sneak into the top-five.
Grace Bookin-Nosbisch (Iowa)
With a 2:05 (800) PR, Grace Bookin-Nosbisch has the potential to be competitive in this field. However, her winter campaign left us wanting more, making it challenging to see a scenario where finishes among the top-five collegians this weekend.
Sylvia Chelangat (South Carolina)
I am a big believer in Sylvia Chelangat's raw talent, especially after she ran 2:01 for 800 meters last spring. However, as of late, it feels like the South Carolina talent has stalled at the 2:04 mark. She hasn't been running poorly by any means, but we also know that she's capable of more than what she has shown us in 2025 so far.
Jessica Edwards (Florida)
A 2:05 (800) PR from last spring theoretically sets up Edwards for a strong spring campaign in 2025. However, the Florida talent appeared only once this past winter (in the DMR), making it difficult to gauge her fitness going into the Florida Relays.
Camila Gomes (Auburn)
In two of her last three meets, Camila Gomes has run 2:06 (800) and 4:37 (mile), both of which are personal bests. That, in theory, suggests that she could further improve upon her 800-meter PR this weekend. However, with Gomes also entered in the women's 1500 meters the night before, it's hard to set expectations for the rising Auburn talent.
Gabriella Grissom (Miami (FL))
Gabriella Grissom put together an outstanding postseason campaign this past winter, validating her recent success while boasting a 2:01 (800) PR and a 6th place All-American honor. We're still learning more about this Hurricane ace, but momentum is on her side and she has proven that she is, in fact, the real deal.
Halle Hill (Illinois)
Everything that we said about Halle Hill in the above section can largely be applied to this race. However, it's also fair to suggest that Hill is more of a mile-centric talent, making this more of a speed-refinement race for the Illinois veteran.
After a massively successful freshman year, specifically on the indoor oval, it seems like Allison Johnson has slowly clawed her way back to top form. After running PRs in nearly every event except the 800 meters, one can only assume that the Nittany Lion talent is due to at least match her 2:02 personal best. The only question is, when will we see that happen?
Fajr Kelly (North Carolina A&T)
A 2:05 (800) mark back in February is a nice step in the right direction for Fajr Kelly and a 2:07 (800) effort isn't a bad way to kick-off her spring campaign. Even so, it would take a fairly significant performance from Kelly if she wants to set a new PR this weekend.
Smilla Kolbe (North Florida)
Debatably the favorite to win this race, Smilla Kolbe had an outstanding indoor track season, running 2:01 (800) and placing 5th at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Kolbe is excellent in fast-paced races, making this regular showdown a battle that will likely lean in her favor.
Ada Rand (Penn State)
Despite running 2:07 (800) this past winter, we think Rand is capable of more. Times of 2:45 (1k) and 4:36 (mile) on the indoor oval signal that the Penn State rookie can likely run around 2:05 for the half-mile distance. We'll see if our projections are right this weekend (assuming she races fresh).
Melissa Riggins (Georgetown)
The best overall runner in this field, some people may choose Melissa Riggins to win this race -- and I wouldn't argue against them. With an 800-meter PR of 2:01, a recent mark of 2:03 (800) from this past winter and ongoing national-caliber mile success, this Hoya star has enough raw talent to secure gold if everything breaks her in her favor.
Final Predictions: Women's 800 Meters
*collegians & attached runners only
Smilla Kolbe (North Florida) - 2:01
Melissa Riggins (Georgetown) - 2:01
Gabriella Grisson (Miami (FL)) - 2:02
Allison Johnson (Penn State) - 2:03
Sylvia Chelangat (South Carolina) - 2:04
