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Three Sentences Or Less: 2023 D1 NCAA Indoor Championships Women's DMR Preview
- Maura Beattie
- Mar 3, 2023
- 4 min read
Written by Maura Beattie, edits and additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin
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Our TSR writers were asked to produce three sentences or less of analysis on every entrant in every distance event for every division. We will be slowly rolling out these previews over the next week leading up to the indoor national meets. Stay tuned!
Predictions coming next week
The below list is ordered by seeding.
1. Washington Huskies
The Huskies boast the fastest DMR time in NCAA history. However, with targets on their backs, can they handle the pressure against numerous teams that are legitimate title threats? Many of Washington’s DMR legs are also expected to double, adding an extra layer of difficulty to next week's national meet.
2. NC State Wolfpack
The success of the Wolfpack women will depend on two things. The first is Katelyn Tuohy opting to double back from the 5k. The second is a motivated Sam Bush running on the lead-off leg after NC State's DMR squad was DQ’d in this race last year.
3. Oregon Ducks
If Klaudia Kazimerska and Izzy Thornton-Bott are the bookends to the Ducks' DMR lineup, then this team can legitimately challenge for the national title. The middle two legs of this relay will simply need to do their part and keep the stick moving to ensure that Thronton-Bott is in contention for the win. And let's not forget, both Kazimerska and Thornton-Bott have proven to be very effective doublers this season...
4. Arkansas Razorbacks
It would be wise for the Razorbacks to put national meet veteran Lauren Gregory, a 4:31 miler, on the anchor leg. With her in that final spot, the Razorbacks have a shot at winning NCAA gold, but will leaving Britton Wilson out of this lineup (per the declarations) be a mistake?
5. BYU Cougars
The BYU Cougars always find a way to surprise us on the national stage. And given the depth of their distance roster this year, we are confident in saying that whoever runs the anchor leg will be competitive in this field. But how much of an impact will this very young and inexperienced group have on Friday night?
6. Stanford Cardinal
The weight of this relay's success will be on the shoulders of stud freshmen Roisin Willis and Juliette Whittaker, the two expected runners on the final two legs. The hopes of sub-2:00 (800) and sub-4:30 (1600) splits could lead the Cardinal women to the top. But is it safe to assume that Willis and Whittaker will even double back from the 800 meter prelims?
7. Duke Blue Devils
It’s a little hard to gauge what we will see from the Blue Devils with Dalia Frias no longer in this lineup after entering the transfer portal. If Duke wants a shot at finishing amongst the top-five, is it smarter to move Amina Maatoug to the lead-off leg or keep her at the anchor? In fact, are we even sure that Maatoug is going to run on this relay?
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Having a fresh Olivia Markezich on the anchor leg could make all the difference for the Fighting Irish women next Friday. But the real determinant of how well Notre Dame will performs is going to be based on how effective Katie Thronson and Kaitlin Ryan are. Luckily, those two women have been running exceptionally well as of late.
9. Oklahoma State Cowgirls
With Gabija Galvydyte scratching the mile and Taylor Roe also being fresh for the anchor leg, the Oklahoma State women could be significant threats for a top-three finish despite their seed placement. Their real x-factor, however, will be their 800 meter leg who needs to give the Cowgirls a big performance if they want to contend for NCAA gold.
10. Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky women impressed us last year when they recorded a huge 5th place All-American finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships. But will the Wildcats be able to find that magic again? Experience at the national level from Jenna Schwinghamer and Tori Herman will be key as Kentucky looks to outperform their seeding yet again.
11. Georgetown Hoyas
One could argue that the Georgetown women have one of the most complete DMR lineups in this field. Between Katy-Ann McDonald, Melissa Riggins and Grace Jensen, there is legitimate firepower on each of their main distance legs. The Hoyas don't necessarily have a home-run hitter like Tuohy, Maatoug or Gregory, but they don't have many weaknesses, either.
12. UCLA Bruins
Under first-year distance coach Sean Brosnan, the UCLA women have absolutely nothing to lose. When the Bruins landed Virginia transfer Mia Barnett and dropped a 10:54 (DMR) mark earlier this season, questions began floating among us at TSR about what kind of role they could play in this field. We still need to learn more about this lineup, but they could absolutely be in the All-American conversation with Barnett as their anchor.
