.png)
Three Sentences Or Less: 2024 D1 NCAA Outdoor Championship Men's 5000-Meter Preview
- Finn Birnie
- Jun 5, 2024
- 8 min read
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 athletes are ordered to match the start list
1. Habtom Samuel (New Mexico)
Habtom Samuel may be the only man in this field who can match Nico Young’s overall aerobic strength. The New Mexico standout has a menacing 26:53 (10k) PR to his name and his 13:13 (5k) personal best is no joke, either. If Samuel wants to have a chance at coming out on top, then he may actually have to be the aggressor from the gun.
2. Chandler Gibbens (Kansas)
Like many athletes in this field, Chandler Gibbens will be doubling back from the 10,000 meters, an event where we feel he will have better fortunes. That being said, his 13:33 (5k) PR is still very respectable and at his best, he can be pushing for an All-American finish. However, with his consistency leaving much to be desired, we are left wondering which version of the Jayhawk ace we will see in Eugene, Oregon.
3. Wil Smith (Gonzaga)
We will be completely honest: This wasn't the event that we expected to see Will Smith toe the line for at this year’s outdoor national meet, especially after he dropped a fantastic 28:04 mark over 10,000 meters earlier this year. However, after struggling over 25 laps at the West Regional Championships, the Gonzaga ace rebounded superbly to earn his spot on the line in the 5000 meters. Smith offers some serious strength and very underrated speed, a combination that should enable him to rewrite his 13:40 (5k) PR if the race goes out accordingly.
4. Alex Maier (Oklahoma State)
Alex Maier’s ability to thrive on the national stage is second-to-none. The Cowboy veteran is a master at peaking for the postseason and if his indoor national meet results are any indication, then he can transform a solid season into an elite campaign in a matter of days. His knack for shining when the lights are brightest means that, much like in the 10k, we can't count him out of the All-American conversation.
5. Brian Musau (Oklahoma State)
Oklahoma State newcomer Brian Musau has raced sparingly this spring, but that hardly matters when in the one regular season 5k race that he contested, he ran 13:13 and beat New Mexico superstar Habtom Samuel in the process. However, Musau showed us that he was human after an underwhelming 4th place finish at the BIG 12 Championships over 1500 meters. While his postseason may not have started in ideal fashion, the Cowboy's blend of strength and exceptional speed makes him a serious threat to those vying for a podium spot.
6. Jackson Sharp (Wisconsin)
To put it simply, Jackson Sharp is a true racer. The Badger is a multiple-time All-American and has earned three bronze medals on the national stage (DMR, 3k and outdoor 5k). With a 13:17 (5k) personal best now added to his arsenal, could we see the Badger senior return to the podium once more in Eugene, Oregon?
7. Nico Young (Northern Arizona)
In 2024, there hasn't been a single distance runner in the NCAA who has been better than Nico Young. The Northern Arizona standout has not only improved his already-elite aerobic strength with a jaw-dropping 26:52 (10k) PR, but he has also honed his speed by running absurdly fast over 800 meters (1:47) and 1500 meters (3:34). Young is looking better than ever and anything other than NCAA gold would be considered a major upset.
8. Ky Robinson (Stanford)
In a surprise that shocked many, Stanford’s Ky Robinson opted to put all of his focus on the 5000 meters. The double-distance champion from last year’s outdoor national meet is one of a handful of athletes who can truly challenge Nico Young and even then, it's going to take a monumental effort if he hopes to regain his 5k crown from last year. Will the Cardinal star's decision to bet the house in this event pay off in grand fashion?
9. Cael Grotenhuis (Northern Arizona)
After being the lowest-seeded 10k runner to qualify for the national meet, rising Lumberjack talent Cael Grotenhuis rallied back to also snag a national qualifying spot in the 5k. Grotenhuis has been terrific this postseason and while his experience on the national stage doesn't yet compare to that of some of his competitors, the junior can take great confidence in both his momentum and the fact that he has multiple teammates to key off of.
10. Dylan Schubert (Furman)
Time and time again, Furman’s Dylan Schubert has proven himself to be a handful on the grass and this spring, he began to do the same on the track. The Paladin star dropped a very respectable 13:36 (5k) mark at the Wake Forest Invitational earlier this season and while that time may not jump off the page, he produced that mark en route to beating a host of athletes who also feature on this list. Schubert is a true competitor and someone who we can't help but think could be a dark horse contender for All-American honors.
11. Graham Blanks (Harvard)
After an injury derailed his national meet hopes this past indoor track season, Harvard's Graham Blanks has made his return to running with varying success. He hasn’t reached the same heights that led to him posting a 13:03 (5k) PR on the indoor oval back in December, but considering the lengthy period that he was out for, Blanks has made a strong comeback. At the East Regional Championships, he showed us that he can still produce a strong close, but will he have the fitness to contend for an All-American accolade?
12. Brodey Hasty (Northern Arizona)
Much like Schubert, the majority of Brodey Hasty’s success has come from the grass where he has been an integral piece in establishing Northern Arizona’s dynasty. However, this spring, we have seen encouraging improvement from him on the outdoor oval, including a new outdoor 5k PR of 13:39 and a new 1500-meter personal best. Hasty is renowned for his reliability on the national stage and if he can capitalize on his recent track form, then we could certainly see the Lumberjack feature in the top-half of the race.
13. Acer Iverson (Harvard)
Harvard veteran Acer Iverson has looked a long way from his best this past year, but that didn't stop him from qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a “big Q” at the East Regional Championships. The Crimson veteran has run 13:26 (5k) in the past and while his 13:48 mark from this spring hardly compares, his last two performances have been very encouraging, leaving us to wonder: Is the best yet to come for Iverson?
14. Rocky Hansen (Wake Forest)
True freshman Rocky Hansen made waves after his spectacular start to the 2023 cross country season, but a season-ending injury halted his momentum until the spring. His return campaign has featured a respectable 13:44 mark for 5000 meters, a 6th place finish at the hotly-contested 1500-meter final at the ACC Championships and an eventual ticket to the NCAA Championships. Hansen is an electrifying talent, but with little championship experience and a lack of races to analyze, it's hard to pinpoint just how well the youngster will do.
15. David Mullarkey (Florida State)
David Mullarkey has shown great versatility as a racer during his time in the NCAA. The Seminole senior has not only proven that he can run fast (13:28 for 5k), but he can also seemingly adapt to a variety of different race scenarios. A 4th-place finish at the ACC Championships over 5k was a very solid start to the postseason, but he will likely need to muster up more if he hopes to contend for an All-American honor in Eugene, Oregon.
16. Aidan Troutner (BYU)
This is the second national meet on the track that BYU’s Aidan Troutner has qualified for this year, but his event selection is very different. The Cougar was great on the indoor oval and while he hasn't quite showcased the same fitness this spring, he still managed to punch his ticket to Hayward Field. In recent seasons, Troutner has proven to have decent turnover given his mile prowess, an attribute that he is going to have to use to his advantage this Friday.
17. Jesse Hamlin (Butler)
Over the years, Jesse Hamlin has shown flashes of brilliance, but has never really been able to capitalize on that momentum…depending on how you view his backend 3k All-American honor from the winter of 2023. A big victory over Gary Martin over 5000 meters was a brilliant season opener which was then followed by a very impressive 13:27 (5k) mark out in California. The Bulldog senior offers proven turnover and if it's his day, then he could prove to be very dangerous.
18. Said Mechaal (Iowa State)
Much like he did on the indoor oval, Said Mechaal started his season strongly with a 13:34 mark over 5000 meters, but he has since left us wanting more. A silver medal over 10,000 meters at the BIG 12 Championships was a positive step in the right direction, but his effort to double back over 5000 meters was a little underwhelming. The Spaniard has shown that his aerobic strength is exceedingly strong and the fact that he only has to contest one event is going to benefit him greatly.
19. Nickolas Scudder (Charlotte)
Charlotte’s Nickolas Scudder has traditionally focused on the 10k when it comes to the postseason, but he returns to the national meet only having to contest half the number of laps. A proven aerobic stalwart, Scudder is no stranger to the front of races, often thriving as the aggressor. However, with a field as loaded as this, he may have to reevaluate his approach if he hopes for another top-half finish.
20. Parker Wolfe (North Carolina)
If there is one athlete in this field who can go toe-to-toe with Nico Young, then it's North Carolina’s Parker Wolfe. The Tar Heel superstar is not afraid to make the first move, a tactic that has often gotten the better of his competitors within the final mile and one that put significant pressure on Young at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Fully expect to see Wolfe take the race by the scruff in the closing stages as he hopes to turn those indoor national meet silver medals into gold.
21. Marco Langon (Villanova)
Don't let his lower seed fool you, Villanova’s Marco Langon is the real deal. The Wildcat runner has proven to be a fearless competitor and the owner of a menacing kick, a tool that he displayed in full force at the BIG East Championship as he came tearing past Butler's Jesse Hamlin to victory. While he may not have the national stage experience of his fellow competitors, Langon possesses all of the racing attributes to make a big splash in Eugene, Oregon.
22. Toby Gillen (Ole Miss)
Toby Gillen was last spring's breakout star and for the most part, he has managed to maintain the same trajectory since he moved to Ole Miss. Gillen’s most valuable skill is his change of pace, something which has enabled him to seemingly come from nowhere over the final 200 meters. His trip to the national meet last spring didn't quite live up to expectations, but with some valuable experience earned, don't be surprised to see the Rebel improve upon his 14th place finish come Friday.
23. Yaseen Abdalla (Tennessee)
With an abundance of talent and some excellent times to his name, Yaseen Abdalla has always been a contender to keep an eye on, although the postseason hasn’t always been as kind to him as one would hope. A blistering 7:42 (3k) mark that was posted in January shows us just how strong the Volunteer star can be on his best day. If Abdalla can produce improved championship poise and mesh that with his raw fitness, then he'll most certainly be an All-American contender on Friday night.
24. Nicholas Bendtsen (Princeton)
This isn’t Nicholas Bendtsen’s first rodeo. The Princeton star returns to the national stage once again and while he may not have reached the same heights time-wise as he did a year prior, the Tiger ace has still impressed, racking up three Ivy League titles in 2024. Experience is going to be Bendtsen's biggest trump card this week as he hopes to better his 16th-place finish from last year’s outdoor national meet.
