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Three Sentences Or Less: 2023 D3 NCAA Indoor Championship Women's 3k Preview
- Hannah Thorn
- Mar 10, 2023
- 6 min read
Written by Hannah Thorn, edits and additional commentary by John Cusick & 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 indoor national meets. Stay tuned!
The below list is ordered by seeding
1. Fiona Smith (St. Benedict)
On paper, Fiona Smith comes in with a 9:23 (3k) mark which is five seconds faster than the rest of the field. But in reality, that performance was converted from a 9:28.14 time. That’s an exact tie with Annika Urban’s time which makes this an extremely close 3000 meter race, almost too close to call.
2. Annika Urban (Emory)
Annika Urban will be coming back from the mile prelims and possibly the finals as she tries to upset Fiona Smith over 3000 meters. Her 9:28 mark is one of the few non-converted times in the field and she’ll need to summon that strength as Smith attempts to run away from Urban’s lethal kick. But truthfully, she's one of the few women in this field who can realistically match (most of) Smith's raw talent and firepower.
3. Clara Mayfield (Carleton)
At last year's national meet, the Carleton ace did the same double as she will this weekend, finishing 4th in the mile, but only 14th in the 3k. That's why Clara Mayfield would probably love for this to be a sit-and-kick race in an effort to best utilize that mile speed.
4. Maddie Kelly (U. of Chicago)
Maddie Kelly has been racing up a storm this season, but has taken the last two weeks off to come into this weekend well-rested. She is doubling in the 3k and the DMR which, while challenging, is probably the easiest distance double at the NCAA Indoor Championships. That, in theory, may give her an edge over the top-three seeds in this field.
5. Emily Konkus (Washington U.)
Primarily a 1500 meter runner before this indoor track season, Emily Konkus has decided to move up in distance this winter. Yes, she does have decent speed if this race comes down to a kick, but in general, she has become an incredibly well-rounded runner who has seemingly thrived in whatever field she's been in.
6. Sara Stephenson (Johns Hopkins)
Sara Stephenson is the only woman representing Johns Hopkins' distance crew which is pretty unheard of for a team of their caliber. After running a few 3k races in the 10:00 to 10:05 range, Stephenson dropped a massive 9:40 (3k) PR at the Tufts Last Chance meet to qualify for this race. Between her extensive postseason experience and clear postseason peak, we're not sure if we would want to line up next to this Blue Jay runner right now.
7. Ana Tucker (Hope)
Ana Tucker, who is going to be doubling back from the mile, has 4:53 speed in that event which gives her an advantage if this race goes out slow. However, she also has a 9:36 (3k) PR from December should this field go out fast and stay fast. At the same time, this veteran hasn't come within 13 seconds of that aforementioned 3k PR since then, leaving us to wonder which version of Tucker we'll see this weekend.
8. Aubrie Fisher (Wartburg)
Normally a steeplechaser, Aubrie Fisher does have plenty of experience running 3k races. Although, when she doubles on the national stage, her second race/event of the weekend isn’t always her best performance. Of course, when it comes to raw talent, this Wartburg runner is arguably just as good as the women seeded above her.
9. Morgan Lee (RPI)
Morgan Lee finished in 15th place over 3000 meters at last year's at indoor national meet, but she comes into this race (clearly) a lot stronger and fitter than last year. At the end of January, the RPI runner ran a massive 3k PR of 9:40 in Boston which she then comfortably paired with a 4:55 mile PR a few weeks later. There's no question that Lee will produce a stronger finish this weekend compared to last year, but will it be enough for an All-American honor?
10. Ella Ball (Williams)
Ella Ball has run four separate 3k races this year and in each effort, she has dropped time little by little, going from 9:59 down to 9:46. There is a good chance she that can/will continue that trend this weekend. And if she goes sub-9:45 (or faster), then the idea of this Williams runner being an All-American is plenty realistic.
11. Caitlin Jorgensen (U. of Chicago)
A steeplechaser by trade, Caitlin Jorgensen has never qualified for a national meet on the track, so this has been a massive season for her. In fact, almost exactly like Ella Ball, we've seen this Maroon runner improve upon her 3k personal best in all four instances that she has toed the line for this year. Simply put, Jorgensen is peaking just as well as any other woman in this field.
12. Jillian Richardson (Bates)
Jillian Richardson has always been stronger on the grass during cross country, but this year, she has shown off her track credentials in a big way. She is one of just a few women who will be fully focusing on the 3k this weekend which could pay off for her as many people will be racing on tired legs.
13. Maddie Hannan (UW-La Crosse)
Maddie Hannan had her pick of events this weekend and she could possibly be attempting the mile/DMR/3k triple. We don’t know if she will actually be racing in the DMR, but if she does and then makes the mile finals, then she will have three races under her legs before this 3k. She’ll likely be hoping for a sit-and-kick race as she has a 2:11 (800) PR which is the class of this field.
14. Jenna Allman (Calvin)
Jenna Allman has some national meet experience from racing in Calvin’s DMR last year and in the steeplechase at the 2022 outdoor national meet. Those learning experiences could be beneficial considering that her season so far has been a bit up and down. She’ll be hoping for more consistency this weekend which, in turn, could produce a pleasantly surprising result.
15. Caroline McMartin (Central College)
Caroline McMartin is another steeplechaser who will be focusing on the 3k without water pits and barriers this weekend. The breakout talent from Central College is not afraid of racing as she has competed during every weekend this season, making us feel slightly more comfortable about her doubling back from the DMR. And when you look at her last few weeks of racing, McMartin comes into this weekend with all of the momentum in the world.
16. Anna Kenig-Ziesler (U. of Chicago)
One of five Maroons in this race, Anna Kenig-Ziesler is doubling back from the 5k this weekend. Depending on how tired her and her teammates are, she should be able to work with them to get at least get two women to score.
17. Evelyn Battleson-Gunkel (U. of Chicago)
Evelyn Battleson-Gunkel did not need a last chance meet to qualify for this weekend, so she is coming into this race a little more rested than some of her competitors. For her to go from not making the Maroons' regional or national meet lineups to earning two national qualifying spots a season later is wildly impressive. She should be happy with any placement and experience that she can get this weekend.
18. Lexi Brown (Wartburg)
After grabbing her 3k national qualifying time fairly early-on, Lexi Brown has been working on her speed in recent weeks. Her 4:57 (mile) and 2:17 (800) marks are some of the better middle distance performances in this field and they are both PRs from the last few weeks. That’s a very good sign for a lower seed heading into this weekend.
19. Frances Schaeffler (U. of Chicago)
Usually a longer distance runner, Frances Schaeffler is dropping down to run the 3k come Saturday. Also doubling in the 5k, it will be interesting to see what her strategy is given how many teammates she'll have in this field. Schaeffler’s 3k seed time is 10 seconds behind the seventh seed, so she might be hoping for a slower race and for some other doubling women to tire out.
20. Molly Fitzgibbons (Williams)
Very few women scratched from this event, so Molly Fitzgibbons comes in with the last seed even though she was ranked at only NCAA #21. Allegedly, she will be racing the mile, the 3k and the DMR this weekend, so whatever Fitzgibbons has left at the end of Saturday can only be commended.
