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Three Sentences Or Less: 2024 D3 NCAA Outdoor Championship Women's 5k Preview
- Conor Daly
- May 21, 2024
- 7 min read
Written by Conor Daly, edits and additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin & Gavin Struve
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 alphabetically to match the start list
Predictions coming later this week!
1. Evelyn Battleson-Gunkel (U. of Chicago)
This miler now turned long distance specialist out of Chicago is aiming to extend her momentum after claiming double bronze at the indoor national meet between the 3k and the 5k this past winter. While Evelyn Battleson-Gunkel may not have the foot-speed that she had flexed at this point last year, she’s proven to be a very strong doubler as of late which will be of the utmost importance as she looks to rebound from the 10k. Battleson-Gunkel has shown countless times that she isn’t afraid to push the pace early-on, so her competitors will step to the line knowing they will have to match an aggressive pace if they want to beat her.
2. Natalie Bitetti (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps)
You could argue that it was a slight surprise for Natalie Bitetti to scratch her 8th seed in the 1500 meters to go all-in for the 5k. But in reality, it makes a ton of sense considering Bitetti’s strong aerobic capabilities, as evidenced by her cross country national meet runner-up finish behind only Fiona Smith. If anyone stands a chance to hang with Smith and Grace Hadley, it’s Bitetti who is a dark horse pick for the win.
3. Alexandra Blake (Washington U.)
Once viewed as primarily a miler, Alexandra Blake has tapped into a new skillset in the 5k this spring. While she doesn't boast the proven success over 5000 meters that some women in this field possess, Blake will have the advantage of being one of a few athletes entering this race with fresh legs.
4. Jules Bleskoski (RPI)
In just her first collegiate outdoor track season, Jules Bleskoski has been a reliable pulse. She logged a pair of (roughly) 17:00 (5k) performances before cutting a healthy chunk off of that mark the Farley Inter Regional Extravaganza, finishing ahead of a very solid field in 16:50. While her first national level experience in the winter didn’t go particularly well, added collegiate experience and confidence could be the key for a fresh Bleskoski to make a run at a top-half finish in this field.
5. Lexi Brown (Wartburg)
During the track months, Lexi Brown comes across as a speed-based 5k runner, but we shouldn't forget about her cross country dominance. Even after starting her outdoor track season unusually late, Brown hasn’t had any major hiccups and has largely looked as if she hasn’t missed a beat. While settling for a runner-up 5k finish at the American River Conference Championships isn’t ideal, her recent 1500-meter win was dominant, signaling that she’s ready to go.
6. Riley Buese (Lewis & Clark)
This Lewis & Clark upperclassman has raced sparingly this spring, but has been very strong each time she's done so. Her infrequent racing schedule could leave her feeling more fresh for the 10k/5k double. Having earned All-American status both this past winter and fall, Riley Buese looks to be in a great spot to achieve that honor over each season of this academic year.
7. Deyanneira Colon Maldonado (Aurora)
This Aurora star isn’t one to only race when it matters most, as she races often. That strategy has allowed us to see Deyanneira Colon Maldonado persevere in many different racing situations and distances. And given that she'll first be making a run over 1500 meters this weekend, it feels so fitting that Colon Maldonado has been practicing managing multiple races at one meet.
8. Faith Duncan (Wilmington (OH))
It feels odd that Faith Duncan achieved her qualifying time in March and has not attempted to rip another 5k since, but maybe that’s all part of the plan. While she hasn’t done anything head-turning since then, she hasn’t done anything wrong, either. When you consider that Duncan is seemingly even fitter than when she ran her national qualifying time and that she enters this race as the second-highest seed out of women who will have fresh legs, it’s easy to foresee her earning an All-American finish.
9. Aubrie Fisher (Wartburg)
Known for her hefty schedule at national meets, Aubrie Fisher will look to score points for her team in the 5k after contending for her third steeplechase national title. While previous attempts at this double haven’t gone all that well for her, Fisher is running the best she ever has in the 5k. A flukey weekend at the American Rivers Conference Championship shouldn’t be an issue for someone who has been one of the better-known names in Division Three distance running for years.
10. Penelope Greene (SUNY Geneseo)
This long distance specialist took matters into her own hands when she ran a 15-second personal best for a convincing win at the Farley Inter Regional Extravaganza in recent weeks. That’s a huge breakthrough for the already-accomplished New Yorker. In the midst of a strong year, Penelope Greene’s recent personal bests and wins put her in a great position to cross the finish line in All-American standing.
11. Grace Hadley (WPI)
The only woman who enters this race with a seed time within 30 seconds of Fiona Smith is Grace Hadley who trails by a mere three seconds. Even after the 1500-meter finals the same day, this WPI star stands a fighting chance to take down Smith. If Hadley is able to maintain contact with the leader(s) and still be in the mix late in the race, her foot-speed is far better than that of anyone else in the field and could give her the upset victory.
12. Shaelyn Hostager (Wartburg)
"The further the distance, the better" stands true for Shaelyn Hostager when it comes to racing. After contesting the 10k, this Wartburg veteran seems like a very safe bet to double effectively. While she may not feel like a candidate for a breakthrough performance, Hostager enters this race with a very high floor.
13. Megan Johnson (Central College)
There’s no way around it: Megan Johnson has been racing incredibly throughout this outdoor track season. She has been running massive personal bests and beating some of the best in the business over 1500 meters, the steeplechase and the 5k. Her recent triple at the American Rivers Conference Championships shows us that she’s ready to go and suggests doubling back from the steeplechase this weekend will be no problem for her.
14. Caitlin Jorgensen (U. of Chicago)
Even though Caitlin Jorgensen puts most of her efforts toward the 3000-meter steeplechase, she’s no pushover in the 5k. While Jorgensen isn’t going to be at the front of this race, she can definitely beat some people who she’s not expected to. It will be an uphill battle for Jorgensen to score, but the U. of Chicago women are known to always be up for the challenge in the postseason.
15. Rebecca Markham (Hope)
Although she’s not from a school traditionally considered to be a Division Three distance running powerhouse, don’t sleep on Rebecca Markham. Get this: She’s either won or run a personal best in all eight races that she’s contested this outdoor track season. Most recently, Markham won the St. Francis 5k over two women who she'll face in this field, so she could be in for a breakthrough placement if she’s able to recover from the 10k.
16. Caroline McMartin (Central College)
This Central College veteran is one of the most well-rounded runners in this field with top-30 marks in every distance event from the half-mile up to the 5k (including the steeplechase). If Caroline McMartin has any juice left in her legs by the time she makes it to this event, she’s more than capable of leaving with an All-American finish. Ideally, McMartin would be best in a slow and tactical race, although that feels unlikely given the racing styles of many of the women in this field.
17. Sophie Porter (DePauw)
While most people don’t run a personal best the day after finishing a 10k, Sophie Porter is not like most people. That 4:33 (1500) effort, among other recent performances, makes it clear that Porter has been making recent strides that should set her up wonderfully for her first national meet on the track.
18. Grace Richardson (NYU)
You probably know Grace Richardson as the athlete who briefly took the lead from Fiona Smith in the final 50 meters of the 5k at the indoor national meet. While that feels unlikely to occur again, Richardson is certainly someone who is capable of finishing in a prime All-American position. No, she hasn’t run a particularly fast 5k on the outdoor oval this spring, but that isn’t frightening considering her strong body of work throughout this academic year.
19. Haley Schoenegge (Vassar)
This true freshman has enjoyed a breakthrough outdoor track season, coming into this meet in the mix for All-American status in both the 1500 meters and the 5k. While this race is not necessarily set up for the Vassar youngster to employ her devastating speed, Schoenegge has proven that she can succeed in fast-paced races like the Bison Outdoor Classic 5k.
20. Fiona Smith (St. Benedict)
If you follow Division Three distance running, then you’re probably pretty familiar with Fiona Smith, so we’re not going to make this analysis more complicated than necessary. While she certainly enters as the favorite in this field, the five-time national champion is by no means seen as untouchable. Whether Smith is able to break the tape is simply a question of whether her superior fitness can allow her to run away from the field.
21. Sara Stephenson (Johns Hopkins)
Sara Stephenson is no stranger to the national stage. Known more for her steeplechase exploits, the Blue Jay attacked the 5k at the Widener Final Qualifier just over a week ago to take home the win and earn her opportunity to be in this race. It’s a huge ask to double back from the steeplechase final (assuming she advances), and it would take a heroic effort for Stephenson to be a factor in this race, even coming off of her fresh 5k PR.
22. Kayla Werner (Lynchburg)
Scratching the 1500 meters to be fresh for the 5k was a clear statement from Kayla Werner that she thinks it’s her time to emerge as a top-half All-American. After all, she has been improving throughout the academic year and seems to be rounding into form well thanks to a conference title and a slew of personal bests as of late. Don’t underestimate the fact that she is the top-seeded woman with fresh legs which is a very powerful advantage.
