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Three Sentences Or Less: 2023 D1 NCAA Outdoor Championship Men's 1500 Meters Preview
- Finn Birnie
- Jun 5, 2023
- 7 min read
Written by Finn Birnie, edits and additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin
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Editor's Note: 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 leading up to the outdoor national meet. Stay tuned!
The below names are ordered by seeding (via qualifiers list)
1. Nathan Green (Washington)
Despite his youth, Husky star Nathan Green has already proven himself to be one of the top talents in the nation. The sophomore standout opened his spring season in dominant fashion by taking down a deep field at the PAC-12 Championships, seemingly with no rust to bust, and he did it all over again at the West Regional Championships. While not necessarily favored to do so, there's a realistic scenario where Green uses his 1:46 (800) speed to win the 1500 meter national title.
2. Fouad Messaoudi (Oklahoma State)
Fouad Messaoudi is the fastest man in the nation this spring, boasting a huge 3:35 (1500) PR which was nearly enough to upset Cooper Teare at the Bryan Clay Invite. Messaoudi knows how to win races in essentially any fashion, making him the most complete distance talent in this field and likely the 1500 meter national title favorite in the eyes of many.
3. Adam Spencer (Wisconsin)
Aussie distance ace Adam Spencer blends an unprecedented amount of speed and strength. A top-tier name at both the 800 meters (1:46) and 1500 meters (3:37) this season, Spencer comes into these championships likely knowing that he can contend no matter how the race pans out. And truthfully, his best race may still be to come...
4. Isaac Basten (Drake)
Issac Basten has a wealth of experience when it comes to championship settings. The Bulldog stud is known for having one of the most devastating kicks in the NCAA as well as being a tactical nightmare. If he is able to nail his timing, then he could well leave Austin, Texas with a 1500 meter national title.
5. Cathal Doyle (Portland)
Portland’s Cathal Doyle is another athlete renowned for his blazing finish. The Irishman is returning for his third appearance on the national stage and this time around, he will be hoping that his killer final stretch will be enough to secure him an All-American honor. He has run 3:39 (1500) twice this season, but given that he has only contested two meets, Doyle feels like a little bit of a wild card in this field.
6. Alex Stitt (Oklahoma State)
No one is peaking quite like Oklahoma State’s Alex Stitt. He has been in superb form as of late, earning PRs in both the prelims and the finals at the West Regional Championships (now holding a PR of 3:40 over 1500 meters). While not necessarily a star (yet), Stitt will be heading into these championships with some serious momentum and with a chance to deliver on the potential that he has flashed for the last few years.
7. Christopher Middleton-Pearson (Oklahoma State)
Much like fellow Cowboy teammate Alex Stitt, Christopher Middleton-Pearson has been rounding into tremendous form at the perfect time. He sailed through the 1500 meter prelims at the West Regional Championships and then backed that up by running his second-fastest 1500 meter time ever to qualify for his first NCAA Championship. Middleton-Pearson is a gutsy racer and someone who will benefit greatly from having his teammates alongside him.
8. Liam Murphy (Villanova)
Liam Murphy may be the most dangerous man in this entire field. He is undefeated this season when it comes to individual events and he has paired these victories with upper-tier times. The Wildcat ace is without a doubt a major dark horse for the national title as he combines exquisite tactical awareness with an imposing kick.
9. Ezekiel Rop (Iowa State)
Cyclone star Ezekiel Rop had one of the biggest breakout races of the season with a blistering 3:36 (1500) PR at the Bryan Clay Invite. He then validated that fantastic effort at the BIG 12 Championships, finishing a close runner-up behind Fouad Messaoudi with a 3:37 mark. Rop has proven that his times are no fluke, although how he fares in speedier, tactical settings this week/weekend will be an interesting aspect to monitor.
10. Mael Gouyette (Iona)
Mael Gouyette is one of the more underrated talents in this field and he has been having a tremendously consistent season. While there isn't one singular aspect of his resume that jumps off the page, the Iona runner has proven to be solid across the board. It will be intriguing to see how he translates that consistency and tactical success from his regional meet showing to the "Big Dance".
11. Finn Walsh (Pittsburgh)
Finn Walsh is admittedly an underdog who has capitalized on his postseason opportunities this spring in the best way possible. The Pitt standout ran 3:42 (1500) at the ACC Championships, which was a major PR, although he settled for a 14th place overall. But after advancing to the national meet thanks to a brilliant tactical showing, Walsh has done just enough to be viewed as a wild card rather than a non-factor.
12. Ethan Strand (North Carolina)
Ethan Strand's rise to power this past winter was a pleasure to watch. His lethal kick helped him transcend from "good" to "great" and he has carried that momentum throughout the spring season. With an ACC title over 1500 meters to his name, as well as a 3:38 PR in the event, this North Carolina youngster is going to be a dangerous name no matter how the prelims and finals unfold.
13. Sean Donoghue (Villanova)
The Irishman has been an integral part of Villanova's middle distance success this season. A BIG East title in the 1500 meters was a huge step forward and that momentum has propelled him into his first NCAA Championship appearance. Sean Donoghue always seems to be in the right place at the right time, a skill which is going to help him greatly when navigating the 1500 meter preliminary rounds.
14. Evan Dorenkamp (Penn State)
After a season-ending injury derailed his 2022 spring campaign, Penn State star Evan Dorenkamp has slowly rebounded to top form. Dorenkamp is a sound tactician who has thrived in a championship setting before (he was a mile All-American in the winter of 2022). We haven't quite seen this Nittany Lion ace return to his 3:55 mile fitness yet, so it's going to be very interesting to see how he fares in his first major championship race since his setback.
15. Joe Waskom (Washington)
Joe Waskom has the perfect combination of firepower and tactical expertise. The Husky superstar also boasts one of the best last-ditch kicks in the nation, something that he put on full display last year. This Washington star can absolutely win another national title, especially after running 3:35 (1500) earlier this season, although his lackluster PAC-12 Championship showing still lingers in our minds.
16. Matthew Payamps (Georgetown)
This Hoya upperclassman tends to thrive in quicker races, but he historically hasn't been amazing when his competition is above a certain tier. Luckily, Matthew Payamps has looked far stronger this season and his 800 meter speed adds some value if these 1500 meter races become tactical. On paper, this Georgetown talent has the credentials to eventually become an All-American.
17. Luke Houser (Washington)
NCAA mile champion Luke Houser has had a fairly lackluster season thus far. While a 3:39 (1500) clocking is impressive, everything else from his 2023 spring campaign has left us wanting more. Of course, after seeing what he could do in a tactical race at the indoor national meet, it would be silly to dismiss this Washington ace as we enter this week/weekend.
18. Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)
Lumberjack rookie Colin Sahlman was a phenom in high school and he is fast-gaining the same reputation in college. He boasts some unprecedented range (especially for someone who is so young) and despite his lack of experience, he has looked far more confident in each of his races this spring. With a monster 800 meter PR of 1:46.99 and a sneaky-fast 5000 meter PR of 13:42, the 1500 meters is the perfect meeting point for Sahlman's skillset.
19. Garrett MacQuiddy (California)
Garrett MacQuiddy has been flying under the radar this season, racking up solid effort after solid effort. An exceptional finish in the 1500 meter finals at the PAC-12 Championships is yet another display of his underrated tactical ability. The California star has all of the right tools to mix it up with the nation's top talents.
20. Nick Foster (Michigan)
Michigan senior Nick Foster has cemented himself as one of the finest middle distance athletes in the BIG 10. His versatility and ability to adapt on the fly makes him very difficult to compete against. After just missing out on All-American honors in the mile this past winter, Foster has looked far more refined and his overall fitness has continued to (slowly) rise.
21. Anass Essayi (South Carolina)
Over the last two years, there have been times where Anass Essayi has looked unbeatable. The 2021 Olympian has been nothing short of phenomenal since arriving in the NCAA, but when it comes to major championships, he has fallen short of expectations (some instances more than others). Will Essayi be able to fully capitalize on his incredible talent and add an NCAA title to back-up his jaw-dropping times?
22. Jesse Hunt (North Carolina)
Jesse Hunt has always been a top talent, but his monster 3:37 (1500) PR at the Wake Forest Invitational truly validated what we saw this past winter. The Aussie miler is tremendously consistent and his experience is evident when he is racing. With an upper-tier time to pair with underrated championship success, Hunt could be a sleeper pick for All-American honors in Austin, Texas.
23. Gavin Gaynor (NC State)
NC State veteran Gavin Gaynor has really come into his own this season in terms of consistency. He has proven himself to be a ferocious racer and an athlete who isn’t afraid to make an aggressive move if necessary, something which could favor him in such a deep field. While he may not have the flashiest resume in the field, Gaynor's fitness has finally caught up with his excellent tactical understanding this spring.
24. John Petruno (Michigan State)
John Petruno is a true veteran of the game and his experience is going to be invaluable on the national stage. The Spartan veteran knows exactly what it takes to make an NCAA final, and he is certainly going to have to draw from that knowledge in Austin, Texas. Don't forget, this Michigan State runner has personal bests of 3:58 (mile) and 3:39 (1500), making him one of the faster underdog national qualifiers in this field.
