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Three Sentences Or Less: 2023 D1 NCAA Outdoor Championship Men's 5000 Meters Preview
- Gavin Struve
- Jun 7, 2023
- 8 min read
Written by Gavin Struve, 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.
The below names are ordered by seeding (via qualifiers list)
1. Ky Robinson (Stanford)
Was the concern over Ky Robinson all for naught? After an underwhelming series of races earlier this spring, by the immense standards that he has built for himself, Robinson won the 5k title at the West Regional Championships with the second-fastest time in the nation this season (13:22), a mark that is still over 10 seconds off of his personal best from December. The six-time All-American and World XC Championship qualifier has seemingly rounded into top form at the perfect time. It feels like he enters this race without the pressure of being the national title favorite despite holding finishing speed which could give him a top-three finish.
2. Brian Fay (Washington)
Brian Fay is a dynamic distance talent who made the decision to go all-in for what should be his best event this spring. This Washington star could very realistically win this national title given that he holds the nation-leading time in this event (13:21) and because he may have the best kick in this field. The narrative surrounding Fay may be a "title or bust" mindset, but any improvement on the highest of his five All-American results (6th place) should be deemed a success in this loaded field.
3. Jackson Sharp (Wisconsin)
Jackson Sharp is not a traditional distance star in the same vein as many of the other men in this race. The Wisconsin star has never contested a 10k on the track, but he’s arguably the most dangerous man on a loaded distance roster. And as someone who won a BIG 10 title in the 1500 meters, took bronze in the 3k at the NCAA Indoor Championships and finished as a top-20 cross country All-American in the same academic year, Sharp has the finishing kick to be a major factor in Austin, Texas.
4. Charles Hicks (Stanford)
Despite being one of the most decorated distance runners in the NCAA, Charles Hicks has never finished as an All-American in the 5k. He won bronze over 3000 meters at the 2022 indoor national meet and showcased championship pedigree by winning the individual title at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships. Those accolades, along with an impressive 13:22 (5k) PR, means that this Stanford ace has to be taken seriously as a national title contender even if he may not be favored in either a time trial or sit-and-kick setting.
5. Matt Strangio (Portland)
Matt Strangio is slowly living up to his high prep billing and emerging as the face of one of the NCAA's better distance running programs. And yet, despite that, this will surprisingly be his first-ever NCAA Championship appearance, inexperience that was likely considered when making our predictions. While Strangio has showcased tremendous consistency this spring, he may have to lean on his 1500 meter speed to find an edge against an accomplished field.
6. Toby Gillen (Saint Louis)
One of the biggest breakout names of this outdoor track season, Toby Gillen broke onto the scene by winning the Raleigh Relays' 5k title before improving his PR (13:30) to become one of the final national qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He could end up sustaining (and building upon) this momentum come Friday night which could put him in All-American territory. Gillen is also one of the top names in the transfer portal and could become the face of a larger program in the near future (or a key member of a powerhouse team).
7. Nico Young (Northern Arizona)
Nico Young further proved himself as a remarkably reliable postseason performer as he salvaged a top-half All-American result in the 5k at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships from what many considered to be a “down” winter campaign for him. The Northern Arizona star has been similarly solid, yet unassuming, in recent months, but we shouldn’t forget that this is someone who finished runner-up at the NCAA XC Championships this past fall and holds a 13:11 personal best at this distance. He may not be a national title favorite, but he's still impossible to write off.
8. Casey Clinger (BYU)
While he’ll be hard-pressed to do so, Casey Clinger will enter this race with the opportunity to match or improve upon his runner-up finish in the 5k at the NCAA Indoor Championships. His lengthy experience, imposing aerobic-based strength and sneaky-good range will give him an opportunity to succeed in multiple race scenarios. And if you're looking for a potential upset pick for the national title, Clinger may be the guy to choose over Jacobs and Fay.
9. Sam Gilman (Air Force)
Sam Gilman has been one of the more underrated distance mainstays in the past few years and it would feel fitting for his collegiate career to end with an All-American result (which would be his third). He’s a strength-based runner with some turnover to boot, and he’ll be racing at his ideal distance, all of which feels like a recipe for success. After all, he finished 5th in this event at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships and we could see a very similar race on Saturday as we did in 2022.
10. James Mwaura (Gonzaga)
James Mwaura certainly feels more in line for a stronger result in the 10k as he doubles in Austin, Texas, but he should not be discarded as an afterthought in this 5k field. The Gonzaga low-stick holds a strong PR (13:30) and capably contested the same double at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The veteran also has the tendency to be an aggressive pace-pusher, something to monitor if he wants to spread this field out.
11. Eli Bennett (Air Force)
Perhaps the most anonymous name in this field, Eli Bennett peaked perfectly at the West Regional Championships to snag one of the final spots to the outdoor national meet. However, this Air Force talent hinted at his emergence with a 13:42 (5k) win over a solid second heat at the Stanford Invitational as well as a 7:53 (3k) personal best this past winter. If you’re looking for a breakout performer from a reliable program and someone whose momentum is following an upwards trajectory entering this weekend, then Bennett should be your guy.
12. Chandler Gibbens (Kansas)
Potentially the biggest breakout star of this entire season -- who was even more of an unknown than both Toby Gillen and Eli Bennett entering this season and now has a faster 5k PR (13:28) -- Gibbens has been relatively quiet since bursting onto the scene with his runner-up 5k finisher at the Stanford Invitational. He barely qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, but he won five races between those meets, including a pair of BIG 12 titles in the 5k and the 10k over Alex Maier and Isai Rodriguez. This is someone who has been racing to win and could be a massive wild card who continues to pull off upsets this weekend.
13. Graham Blanks (Harvard)
While likely better-suited for the 10k as he tackles the double this week, Graham Blanks has the legs to summon a quick 5k time (he holds a 13:18 PR) and finish near the front of this field in an honest race. That, of course, is all dependent on whether or not this aerobic phenom still has enough juice in his legs after what’s sure to be a hard 10k effort.
14. Carter Solomon (Notre Dame)
Carter Solomon will be hungry for his first All-American finish on the track as he’s now the de facto face for a new era of Notre Dame distance running (especially with current freshman Izaiah Steury transferring to Oregon). The Fighting Irish veteran has sneaky good range — boasting a 3:57 mile PR as well as a top-20 NCAA XC Championship finish — which could prepare him well for a 5k race that could play out in a number of ways.
15. Yaseen Abdalla (Tennessee)
Don’t be distracted by the fact that Yaseen Abdalla has one of the slower 5k personal bests in this field. The high-octane, Texas-to-Tennessee transfer has just as much raw talent as a handful of top men in this field as shown via his 7:42 (3k) PR from this past winter. Admittedly, his last few postseason efforts on the track have left us wanting more, but if Abdalla can produce improved championship poise and mesh that with his raw fitness, then he'll most certainly be an All-American on Friday night.
16. Brian Masai (Akron)
Brian Masai hasn’t displayed the top-end firepower of other names in this field, but the Kenya native is in the midst of an extremely productive freshman campaign in which he’s run respectable times from the mile up to the 10k. The focus for him in Austin, Texas may be to continue his momentum and garner invaluable high-leverage racing experience for the future.
17. Simon Bedard (Butler)
Forgotten by some after over a year of inactivity, this France native, who entered the collegiate landscape in 2017, is finally racing at the biggest stage on the oval. Simon Bedard already holds an All-American billing from the cross country course in 2020. His experience, paired with a dynamic skillset (3:39 PR over 1500 meters to 28:33 PR over 10,000 meters) makes him a prime candidate for a top-half finish in this field which could surprise some.
18. Zach Facioni (Wake Forest)
Even if fellow teammate Luke Tewalt has been garnering more attention as of late, Zach Facioni is Wake Forest’s most accomplished runner and he has a surplus of experience racing on the national stage. Case in point, this is the Aussie’s third time racing the 5k at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in as many years and he has finished as a cross country All-American in just as many times. There may not be one aspect of his resume that stands out in any dramatic way, but this veteran feels like one of the more complete distance talents in this field.
19. David Mullarkey (Florida State)
One of the greener runners in this field in terms of NCAA experience, David Mullarkey is in his first year competing at Florida State. However, the British distance talent does not lack high-level racing experience as he ran collegiately across the pond. The 23-year-old will bring no shortage of racing knowledge and some versatility to his first time competing at the NCAA Championships.
20. Dylan Jacobs (Tennessee)
Look here for a prosperous late-career renaissance from a heralded prep recruit. Dylan Jacobs progressed from being part of a DMR national title-winning team to a multi-time cross country All-American to the face of an upstart distance running power. The defending national champion at this distance from the NCAA Indoor Championships may look to control the race to give himself (and teammate Yaseen Abdalla) the best chance at scoring points for the Volunteers.
21. Parker Wolfe (North Carolina)
Parker Wolfe has already emerged as a dependable source of scoring potency in his young collegiate career and before the Tar Heels look to make the next step on the cross country course, their program leader will try to further his production on the track. Wolfe placed 5th over 5000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships a few months ago, and replicating that performance, which he’s fully capable of doing, would be a commendable result for the sophomore.
22. Luke Tewalt (Wake Forest)
It seems absurd that Luke Tewalt has the slowest 5k PR in this field as he has yet to break the 13:40 barrier. He may fare best in a more tactical affair, as his strategic mastery belies his youth, and he has strong middle distance speed (running 3:38 for 1500 meters). However, this is also someone who finished in the top-25 at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships and has shown the fortitude to fight through any type of race, overcoming multiple falls in recent 1500 meter efforts.
23. Nicholas Bendsten (Princeton)
Nicholas Bendsten has enjoyed a similarly-fruitful transition to the NCAA and quick progression as Parker Wolfe, reaching this level as a sophomore while emerging as a possible face of one of the Ivy League’s top programs. He may not have as many wins as some of the men in this field, but Bendsten has experience competing in loaded races, particularly this season, which may afford him some confidence in a field largely more accomplished than him.
24. Antonio Lopez Segura (Virginia Tech)
Equally adept when moving up to the 10k or down to the 1500 meters, Antonio Lopez Segura boasts experience and versatility that is largely unmatched even by the very best men in this field. Interestingly, he’s had the most success at the unconventional 3k distance, so there’s reason to believe that he could chop some time off of his 13:38 (5k) PR. And in a tactical setting, this Virginia Tech veteran feels like a major threat.
