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Three Sentences Or Less: 2026 D2 NCAA Indoor Championship Men's DMR Preview
Written by Gavin Struve, edits & additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin
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 teams are ordered by seeding (via qualifiers list)
Predictions are coming next week!
1. Wingate Bulldogs
Wingate's DMR squad hasn't raced against any Division Two opposition this season, but it didn't need to in order to become the only D2 team to run under 9:30 this winter. If the Bulldogs field their full qualifying lineup -- one that features D2's only unconverted sub-3:58 miler (David Holman), a 1:47 half-miler (Klaus Scholz) and Swiss army knife anchor Luca Poppe -- then they'll be the clear favorite for NCAA gold after nearly nabbing it last year. In fact, even if they don't field that original group, their distance contingent is deep enough to swap in other individuals and still win the NCAA title.
2. CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves
Not only did CSU-Pueblo win the RMAC DMR title, but the ThunderWolves also more impressively won a head-to-head matchup against rival Adams State at the New Mexico Team Open, by six seconds to boot. The lone returner from the team that finished 4th in this event at the 2025 indoor national meet, Jon Sweepe, will likely take over the anchor leg role from superstar Reece Sharman-Newell, given that Sweepe scratched out of the mile. Caleb McLeod's and Tim Anstett's status as some of the very best 800-meter runners in Division Two means that CSU-Pueblo has a real chance of winning the DMR crown.
3. Grand Valley State Lakers
The emergence of Flynn Pumpa as a 4:00 miler to complement 4:01 man Owen Westerkamp means that GVSU has a highly competitive bookend, although both men will be doubling back from the mile prelims. Half-mile talent Samuel Allen won't be fresh on Friday night either, but GVSU should still be able to outperform its 7th-place finish from last year's indoor national meet in the DMR with an entirely different lineup.
4. Adams State Grizzlies
On paper, the backend of this lineup should be able to compete with any other third and fourth relay legs in this field. However, these men have only run together once this season and weren't all too close to defeating CSU-Pueblo when they did. If 4:01 miler Jack Gumm and 400-meter runner Ryan Chacon can keep the Grizzlies in the mix, then 1:47 (800) runner Louis O'Loughlin and star miler Harrison Boyd should be able to bring them home to a top-half All-American finish.
5. NW Missouri Bearcats
The Bearcats earned silver in the DMR at last year's NCAA Indoor Championships, but lost the last two legs of that lineup. The good news is that they've brought in 3:59 miler Aziz Mohammed as their new anchor. Versatile lead-off leg Riley Witt and 400-meter runner Logan Arellano are experienced DMR stars, but the key will be getting a strong 800-meter split from Charlie Kinslow.
6. Pittsburg State Gorillas
The defending NCAA DMR champions return three-quarters of their title-winning lineup, although they're arranged in a different order. Tactical technician Dylan Sprecker has moved from the lead-off leg to the anchor to account for the graduation of Mason Strader, while Jordan Kilonzo moved from the half-mile spot to the lead-off position. Can the familiarity they've bred with MIAA 400-meter champion Caden Williams make up for the relative inexperience of underclassman 800-meter leg, Eli Gilmore?
7. Indianapolis Greyhounds
Don't be surprised if Indianapolis is very much in the mix entering the anchor leg. If so, it will be up to Felix Rivet to pull a strong mile out of his balanced, strength-based skillset. Half-mile national champion Josue Le Cadre figures to put the Greyhounds in a great position on the opening leg, while Yanis Le Mouillour is a talented enough 800-meter runner to keep U. Indy in it.
8. Colorado Mines Oredigges
Two-thirds of the Orediggers' middle distance runners from last year's 5th-place DMR finish at the indoor national meet are back. We'll admit, Max Bonenberger isn't in an ideal spot as a lead-off leg given that he's never run an individual race under 3000 meters, collegiately. However, Tim Thompson is one of the nation's best half-milers, and Brock Drengenberg is a more-than-capable anchor.
9. Missouri S&T Miners
The Miners' race will be all about putting the program's focal star, Henry Born, in position to chase down (or outlast) enough opposing anchor legs to snag a backend All-American spot. That said, this quartet almost upset Pittsburg State on the Gorillas' home track a few weeks ago, and freshman Jack Janovick has been a pleasant surprise as a 1:51 (800) runner. If you're looking for a deep sleeper to make some noise, take a glance at Missouri S&T.
10. Western Colorado Mountaineers
An RMAC runner-up finish was enough to get this band of Mountaineers into the indoor national meet (as a DMR) after a one-year absence. They'll be heavily reliant on anchor Tyler Nord, who's quietly had a resurgent season, to keep competitive with the top-half of the field.
11. Lee (Tenn.) Flames
Stephen Clark is a sufficient lead-off leg as a 1:52 (800) guy who has cross country and steeplechase strength. Meanwhile, Eli Cobble can put down a 48-second 400-meter leg. Between William Adkins, who's run 1:52.07 (800), and 4:04 miler Pierre Chauveau, the Flames don't really have any weak spots and could certainly outperform their seed position.
12. Ashland Eagles
The strongpoint of this group is 800-meter man Colton Thress, who will get to run his natural event in this DMR lineup. However, he'll probably need to be brilliant, coming off of the 800-meter prelims no less, in order for the G-MAC champions to earn an All-American finish.
