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Three Sentences Or Less: 2024 D1 NCAA Outdoor Championship Men's 800-Meter Preview
- Finn Birnie
- Jun 2, 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
Predictions coming soon!
1. Rynard Swanepoel (Wake Forest)
Wake Forest star Rynard Swanepoel took a monumental leap in his fitness this spring, running a massive 800-meter time of 1:45.84 at the Wake Forest Invitational. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, he did it all over again last weekend, producing another blistering 1:45 mark at the East Regional Championships (which was a slight PR). The Demon Deacon ace is in the form of his life, and with his latest effort flirting with 1:44 territory, Swanepoel’s best may still be yet to come.
2. Shane Cohen (Virginia)
Cavalier newcomer Shane Cohen has simply caught fire this postseason and is looking more refined with every stride. Cohen’s ability to emerge from the depths of the last 100 meters not only highlights his furious turnover, but also shows us just how well he judges his exertion. With a seriously underrated skillset and a shiny new 800-meter PR of 1:45.36 obtained at the East Regional Championship, Cohen now finds himself in the thick of the All-American conversation.
3. Camden Marshall (Indiana)
After coming agonizingly close to qualifying individually for the national meet on numerous occasions, Indiana’s Camden Marshall has finally punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships. Marshall has been excellent over the past few years, so seeing him crack the 1:46 (800) barrier at the East Regional Championships felt like a long time coming. With a hefty amount of experience and a new PR to boot, the Hoosier veteran is certainly a contender for an All-American accolade after seeing how competitive he’s been with his star-caliber BIG 10 rivals.
4. Oussama El Bouchayby (Alabama)
Former D2 megastar Oussama El Bouchayby has had a fairly turbulent arrival to the Division One ranks, but a 1:45 (800) clocking at the East Regional Championship was a pleasant reminder of just how good the Alabama man can be. When healthy, the Crimson Tide ace can run with anyone who shares the line with him, but his overall consistency/availability as of late has made it tricky to gauge which version of El Bouchayby we are going to get. If we get the version of him that we just saw in Lexington, Kentucky, then the Crimson Tide talent certainly can't be counted out of the national title picture.
5. Tarees Rhoden (Clemson)
Tarees Rhoden's aggressive front-running tactics make him a captivating athlete to watch, but in recent weeks, the Clemson middle distance star has begun to show some steadiness (while retaining his ambition). The end result has been two 1:45 (800) clockings and an ACC outdoor title over the half-mile distance. While Rhoden is certainly still the aggressor in races, he has shown a new ability to come from behind without sacrificing a quick first lap, a skill that could benefit him greatly in Eugene, Oregon.
6. Handal Roban (Penn State)
Nobody has the ability to peak in the postseason quite like Penn State's Handal Roban. The Nittany Lion has amassed two national meet bronze medals in the past year over 800 meters and secured a 6th place honor in that same event at the 2024 indoor national meet. While Roban hasn’t necessarily blown us away this spring, his 1:46-low (800) performance at the East Regional Championships and his proven ability to peak for the national meet means that we cannot discount him as a potential top-half medalist.
7. Yusuf Bizimana (Texas)
Convincing victories at the BIG 12 Championships and the West Regional Championships have put any doubts about Yusuf Bizimana’s ability to rebound to bed after he shockingly missed the 800-meter finals at the indoor national meet earlier this year. When firing on all cylinders, there is a strong argument that Bizimana is the best all-around 800-meter runner in terms of fitness and tactical prowess. Even so, can he match the raw elite talent that we've seen from Sam Whitmarsh and maybe a handful of others this spring?
8. Yukichi Ishii (Penn State)
Penn State has a knack for getting their athletes to peak at just the right moment. And sure enough, junior Yukichi Ishii delivered an exceptional performance at the East Regional Championships, lowering his 800-meter PR by over a second (1:46.22) to earn his first NCAA Championship appearance. While Ishii’s championship resume isn’t quite on par with that of his competitors, he will be heading to Hayward Field with a ton of momentum and an experienced teammate to follow.
9. Nicholas Plant (Virginia Tech)
Virginia Tech sophomore Nicholas Plant has made significant strides in bolstering his strength this spring. A 3:38 (1500) run at the Wake Forest Invitational complements his already impressive 1:46 (800) speed, giving him an aerobic edge over the majority of the runners in this field. The Hokie ace will be in the hunt to add another All-American honor to his tally this year, although he will need to reevaluate the bold tactics that he used at the ACC Championships if he hopes to be successful.
10. Sean Dolan (Villanova)
Sean Dolan has long been synonymous with consistency, but this spring, he has taken his fitness to new heights. A monster 1:45 (800) PR at the BIG East Championships not only proved that he was in shape, but it also solidified him as one of the best all-around half-milers in the nation. The Wildcat veteran has displayed excellent tactical flexibility and after his silver medal over 800 meters at the indoor national meet, you can't help but include him among those in the national title conversation.
11. William Cuthbertson (Butler)
An exceedingly clutch performance at the East Regional Championship was enough to earn Butler’s William Cuthbertson his first-ever national appearance. While the Bulldog will certainly enter this field as an underdog, the steady consistency that he has shown this season will be of great benefit to him, especially if he can replicate his 1:46 (800) performance from Lexington, Kentucky.
12. Luke Griner (Army West Point)
Luke Griner’s impeccable consistency finally came up big at the East Regional Championships as he punched his ticket to Eugene, Oregon. A well-deserved 1:46 (800) PR when it mattered the most speaks volumes as to just how good the Army Black Knight has been over the past few seasons. Griner has always been an athlete who isn't afraid to assert himself in the race and he is going to have to continue this approach if he hopes to book his spot in the finals.
13. Gabriele Angiono (Georgetown)
We'll admit that Gabriele Angiono wasn’t the Georgetown name that we expected to see making the trip to Hayward Field. The Italian middle distance talent has made steady improvements since arriving in the NCAA, but a new 1:46 (800) PR is certainly the pick of the bunch. While Angiono may have limited championship experience, especially within the NCAA, his run at the East Regional Championships was enough for him to be viewed as a wild card rather than a non-factor.
14. Cole Lindhorst (Texas)
A 1:46 (800) PR at the West Regional Championship felt like a long time coming for Texas runner, Cole Lindhorst. The former Falcon-turned-Longhorn has been teetering around the 1:47 mark for some time, so to finally dip below that barrier is a huge development, especially just weeks before the all-important NCAA Championships. Lindhorst is truly renowned for his ability to competitively double, an attribute that will be extremely favorable should he successfully navigate the heats.
15. Rivaldo Marshall (Iowa)
A 4th place finish at the BIG 10 Championships over the 800 meters was far from the ideal result for someone who had just won an indoor national title over the same distance. However, it's important to note that Iowa's Rivaldo Marshall finished in 5th place at the BIG 10 Indoor Championships just weeks before he went on to win said title. Marshall has been solid this season, running 1:45 (800) and holding his own in a handful of races, but his latest postseason efforts leave us viewing him as a "contender" rather than a "favorite."
16. Kimar Farquharson (Texas A&M)
Kimar Farquharson's transition from the NJCAA to the NCAA ranks has been relatively seamless. The former JUCO standout has consistently posted times just above and below the 1:47 (800) mark and he has looked remarkably comfortable doing so. While his hunt for an All-American accolade won't come without its challenges, Farquharson can take comfort from the fact that he won't be the only Aggie toeing the line in Eugene, Oregon.
17. Sam Whitmarsh (Texas A&M)
There is a strong argument that Sam Whitmarsh is heading to Hayward Field as the national title favorite in the men's 800 meters. The Aggie runner has been superb this spring, clocking a jaw-dropping 1:44 (800) mark, a time which he has since validated on numerous occasions. Not afraid of setting a relentless pace, will the Texas A&M star run away from the field just like he did at the hotly contested SEC Championships?
18. Andrew Casey (Wisconsin)
Few outside the Wisconsin camp expected true freshman Andrew Casey to punch his ticket to the national meet, and for those in his camp, it may have still come as a pleasant surprise. That being said, hats off to Casey for running back-to-back PRs at the West Regional Championships. While this will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge of the young Badger's career, he enters the meet with an unprecedented amount of momentum.
19. Mehdi Yanouri (Oklahoma State)
While Oklahoma State All-American Mehdi Yanouri hasn't been soaring to the same heights as last year, it was highly encouraging to see him achieve a seasonal best and secure a ticket to the "Big Dance" at the West Regional Championships. Yanouri knows exactly what it takes to become an All-American in this event, but he will need another significant jump if he hopes to reach that status again.
20. Dayton Carlson (Arizona State)
After a string of modest 1:49 (800) performances, Arizona State standout Dayton Carlson really came into his own in the postseason, earning a terrific silver medal against exceptionally stiff competition at the PAC-12 Championships. This momentum was then capitalized on at the West Regional Championships where he ran his first 1:47 (800) mark since last February. While the Sun Devils' spring resume isn't as flashy as some of his competitors, his recent performance at the PAC-12 Championships shows us that he knows exactly how to handle himself in a championship setting.
21. Finley McLear (Iowa State)
An underwhelming showing at the BIG 12 Championships left us feeling a little uncertain about how indoor bronze medalist Finley McLear would fare as we delved deeper into the postseason. However, his performances at the West Regional Championships proved that his conference meet result was just a minor blip. McLear has the unique ability to find space no matter how little room there may seem to be and when paired with his devastating gear change, he poses as a massive threat to anyone vying for a spot on the podium.
22. Sebastian Fernandez (BYU)
It's been a somewhat turbulent last two years for BYU’s Sebastian Fernandez, but the junior is finally making his return to the national stage as an individual. The Cougar has produced a pair of highly encouraging 1:46 (800) marks this spring and earned a hard-fought silver at the highly competitive BIG 12 Championships. With NCAA Championship experience in his back pocket, Fernandez could be viewed as a dark horse All-American pick.
23. Caden Norris (Texas A&M)
Texas A&M’s Caden Norris has been fantastic over the past month, although that's been slightly overshadowed by how exceptional his teammates have been. The Aggie junior picked up a 1:47-low (800) PR en route to a 4th-place finish at the SEC Championships, a performance that he later validated just two weeks later. Realistically, Norris isn't pinned as an athlete favored for an All-American finish, but that's a scary thing to say about someone who has comfortably beat the expectations that were set for him this season.
24. Darius Kipyego (Iowa State)
It's been a year to remember thus far for Darius Kipyego. After a strong 6th place All-American finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, the Cyclone star dropped a huge 1:45 PR over 800 meters to kick-off his outdoor track season. Kipyego has proven time and time again that he is a true competitor and with a truly elite time now to his name, it feels like he will be a shoo-in for an All-American accolade.
