.png)
TSR's 2026 D1 Indoor Top 25 Individual Rankings (Women): Update #2
Written by Mike McKean & Garrett Zatlin
Edits and additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin
NOTE: These rankings are based on how an individual fared throughout the entirety of a season, not just how they ran at a singular meet or (eventually) at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships.
KEY
(Unranked):
Was not ranked in our last update.
(#/#):
The first number indicates how much the individual has moved in the rankings.
The second number indicates where the individual was ranked in our last update.
25. Stephanie Moss, Senior, Duke (Unranked)
Here's the thing: Stephanie Moss' 5000-meter time of 15:35 from December was great, but that mark alone was not enough for her to be ranked. Funny enough, you could say the same thing about her mile performance from this past weekend. At the Came City Distance meet, Moss ran 4:29.99 in the mile -- a strong time, but by itself, would not be good enough to put her in these rankings.
However, Moss' mile speed and aerobic strength, when paired together, make her a legitimate threat to other top distance women in the NCAA. In theory, she could throw down a fairly quick 3000-meter time later this season and give herself a complete winter resume without a single flaw.
Let's also not ignore the possibility of Moss qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships with that mile time. Sure, a 4:29.99 mark wouldn't have made it to the national meet last year, but after scratches, that may barely be enough to extend her season to March...maybe.
Either way, we've seen enough value on Moss' resume for her to be listed in these rankings.
24. Sadie Engelhardt, Freshman, NC State (-1 / 23)
We were incredibly impressed by Sadie Engelhardt when she ran 4:27 in the mile at the Dr. Sander Scorcher meet. That field was loaded with pros and Engelhardt could have very easily been overwhelmed by her competition. Instead, she ran an outstanding time and snagged 3rd place overall.
However, just one week later, Engelhardt again attempted the mile at Liberty University. And when she did, she was soundly beaten by Allie Zealand by a margin of four seconds. The NC State rookie did earn silver, but settled for a not-so-inspiring mile time of 4:32.
We'll admit, that latest mile performance felt like a clear step back for the Wolfpack freshman who looked incredible the week prior. And yet, when you look at the other women who could potentially fill-in the latter portion of these rankings, it felt clear to that Engelhardt was simply better than they are, at least for now.
After all, it may be better for the NC State freshman to get a tough performance out of the way now rather than in the postseason.
23. Angelina Napoleon, Junior, NC State (+1 / 24)
Has not competed since our last rankings update.
22. Erin Vringer, Senior, Utah (Unranked)
Over the last year, Erin Vringer has jumped onto the scene as a breakout name who has been quietly underrated in certain seasons. She did, after all, help her DMR squad to a 5th place All-American honor last winter and even ran 4:10 for 1500 meters at the BIG 12 Outdoor Championships.
Even so, placing 59th at the NCAA XC Championships and running 9:01 for 3000 meters at the Boston U. Season Opener didn't necessarily tell us that Vringer was a top-25 distance runner on the track this winter...or so we thought.
At the UW Invite, the Utah standout was fantastic, putting together a highly productive weekend double that featured personal bests of 4:32 (mile) and 8:48 (3k). That latter effort was especially impressive, mainly because she secured the overall win over Regan Yee (Under Armour), Chloe Thomas (Washington) and Zenah Cheptoo (Washington State).
With that performance, we now have to look at Vringer in an entirely new light. The Ute veteran is suddenly a big-time name who will likely be competing on the national stage over 3000 meters. The only question is whether or not she can further build off of that tremendous weekend, especially once we enter the postseason.
21. Billah Jepkirui, Rs. Junior, Oklahoma State (Unranked)
Billah Jepkirui’s road back to being a national-caliber athlete has required a great deal of patience. Thankfully, the Cowgirl star finally made her long-awaited indoor track debut at the Razorback Invite -- and boy, was it an encouraging one for the Oklahoma State junior.
Jepkirui clocked an excellent 8:45 (3k) personal best to open her winter campaign before anchoring Oklahoma State’s DMR with an eyebrow-raising 4:27 split later in the meet.
The Stillwater standout has spent the majority of the last year-and-a-half sidelined. That's why simply getting her back to racing, and doing so competitively, is a meaningful step forward for an athlete who posed as a national title threat in 2024.
This ranking is attributed to both what she’s done so far and also about what it signals moving forward. If she can continue stacking weeks of training, then there’s reason to believe sharper performances are coming -- and even a stronger rankings.
But for now, Jepkirui bursts onto our rankings at TSR #22 as a veteran presence trending in the right direction.
20. Hayley Burns, Junior, Northern Arizona (0 / 20)
I'll admit, it feels wrong to not have Hayley Burns any higher than TSR #20 in our rankings. She did, after all, clock a mile time at altitude which ultimately earned her a 4:25 conversion.
Despite no movement in our rankings, Burns still deserves plenty of kudos for the season that she has put together. In addition to that blistering 4:25 mile conversion, the Northern Arizona product also ran 15:29 for 5000 meters back in December and, most recently, scored a strong win over 3000 meters with a time of 8:52.
A collection of marks that feature times of 4:25 (mile, conversion), 8:52 (3k) and 15:29 (5k) are very strong. It's clear that her pure fitness and overall momentum are still building and there's no sign that she'll be slowing down anytime soon. Even so, we're still waiting for Burns to take down a top-tier name before we can place her any higher than TSR #20.
19. Sanu Jallow, Senior, Arkansas (-1 / 18)
Sanu Jallow continues to quietly put together one of the more impressive all-around resumes in the NCAA. The Arkansas senior picked up a convincing 2:01 (800) victory at the Razorback Invite two weekends ago, defeating the talented Miami (FL) duo of Natalie Varela and Gabriella Grissom in the process.
The Arkansas talent followed up that performance with an eye-opening double this past weekend at the Woo Pig Classic, posting a 52.06 personal best in the open 400 meters before returning later in the meet to run a 4:40 (mile) personal best.
Competing at a high level across such a wide range of events speaks volumes about her fitness and versatility. In fact, Jallow is putting forth a display of range that we’ve never seen from her!
While showing a clear growth that’s evident of an experienced veteran, Jallow’s consistency and ability to excel across distances keeps her firmly inside our top-20 rankings. A slight dip in placement has more to do with movement around her than any shortcomings on her end.
18. Silvia Jelelgo, Sophomore, Clemson (-3 / 15)
Has not competed since our last rankings update.
17. Chloe Foerster, Senior, Washington (-1 / 16)
After a rough showing at the Dr. Sander Scorcher meet, where she settled for an underwhelming 4:39 (mile) clocking, Chloe Foerster responded exactly how a veteran of her caliber should.
At the UW Invite, the Washington senior looked far more like herself, battling wire-to-wire with Washington State’s Rosemary Longisa in a barnburner of a mile race.
Foerster ultimately finished runner-up, but did so in personal best fashion (4:25), a significant bounce back performance that reaffirms her status as one of the more talented middle distance stars in the country. This latest showing, combined with her 2:37 (1k) mark from earlier in the season, gives us reason to believe she’s the All-American favorite that we expected her to be at the beginning of the season.
With sharper fitness now evident, Foerster remains well positioned as the postseason picture comes into focus, even if she slides one spot back in this tightly-packed portion of our rankings.
16. Rosemary Longisa, Sophomore, Washington State (Unranked)
There’s no longer any justification for keeping Rosemary Longisa out of our rankings. The Washington State sophomore has been stellar throughout the indoor track season, and her performance at the UW Invite forced our hand.
Longisa ran an otherworldly 4:24 (mile) personal best two weekends ago to earn a major win, taking the scalp of multi-time All-American Chloe Foerster in the process.
That result pairs nicely with a growing body of work this winter, including a 2:38 (1k) at the UW Preview and an 8:55 (3k) personal best at the Boston U. Season Opener back in December. Across multiple distances, Longisa has proven competitive and consistent.
With legitimate range and momentum on her side, Longisa skyrockets into our rankings. It also feels like there may still be another gear to uncover as the season progresses. For now, we’ll slot Longisa into TSR #16 as she further realizes her full potential and her ceiling.
15. Allie Zealand, Sophomore, Liberty (-1 / 14)
Allie Zealand’s sophomore campaign continues to impress, even with a limited number of appearances on the indoor oval. The Liberty standout opened her season in early December with a stellar 8:44 (3k) personal best at the Boston U. Season Opener, picking up right where she left off after an impressive cross country season.
After an extended break from competition, Zealand returned last weekend at the Brant Tolsma Invite and delivered once again, running a 4:28 (mile) personal best for a dominant victory. She won by nearly four seconds and defeated NC State’s Sadie Engelhardt (TSR #24) in the process, no small feat given the freshman’s trajectory.
While others around her may have been more active, Zealand’s efficiency has been impossible to ignore. The marks are there, she’s consistently competing for the win (even if she doesn't always cross the line first) and as long as she continues to execute racing tactics well beyond her years, she’ll remain a fixture in these rankings.
14. Hilda Olemomoi, Senior, Florida (-1 / 13)
Seeing Hilda Olemomoi make an appearance in Florida's DMR at the Razorback Invite a couple of weeks ago was encouraging in the sense that she was available and competing.
That said, the Florida veteran split a truthfully underwhelming 4:40 mark on the anchor leg of the Gators' relay, giving her team a shrug-inducing 5th place finish.
We won't look too heavily into that performance, especially since Olemomoi is more of a long distance talent. Even so, it's hard to get too excited about the Florida ace after seeing that result.
13. Vera Sjoberg, Senior, North Carolina (-1 / 12)
Has not competed since our last rankings update.
12. Sophia Gorriaran, Junior, Harvard (+5 / 17)
After opening her 2026 indoor track season with times of 4:32 (mile) and 2:01 (800), Sophia Gorriaran decided to attack the 1000-meter distance two weekends ago. Upon doing so, the Harvard star clocked a brilliant mark of 2:38 (1k), a performance that now sits at NCAA #3 all-time.
Consistent listeners of The Stride Report Podcast know that I have been singing the praises of Gorriaran so far this season. Not only has she been as consistent as ever, but she is showcasing excellent composure in each of her races, too.
Gorriaran's latest effort feels like a clear uptick in her fitness. The Crimson middle distance standout is now throwing down times that rival other all-time marks -- and that could mean that a 2:00-low effort over 800 meters is coming soon. But even if it doesn't, Gorriaran looks far more complete and confident as a competitor this winter than she ever has before.
11. Salma Elbadra, Junior, South Carolina (-1 / 10)
Yes, we'll admit, a 4:31 split on the anchor leg of South Carolina's DMR at the Razorback Invite left us wanting more.
Sure, it was a good effort, but for someone who has run 4:05 for 1500 meters and clocked a monster 8:41 (3k) PR back in December, we figured that Elbadra would be splitting comfortably under the 4:30 barrier.
Even so, it's best not to read too closely into a DMR split -- those races, especially on the latter legs, rarely mimic the actual battles that Elbadra will see over the next month of competition.
10. Pamela Kosgei, Sophomore, New Mexico (-1 / 9)
Has not competed since our last rankings update.
9. Makayla Paige, Rs. Senior, North Carolina (-2 / 7)
Has not competed since our last rankings update.
8. Gladys Chepngetich, Junior, Clemson (+11 / 19)
Making the biggest in-ranking jump this week is Gladys Chepngetich -- and rightfully so! That's because the Clemson middle distance star threw down an unreal 800-meter time of 1:58.81 at the Boston U. John Thomas Terrier Classic two weekends ago.
That jaw-dropping mark now sits at NCAA #2 all-time for the indoor 800 meters and it makes Chepngetich just the second collegiate woman to break the 1:59 barrier at the half-mile distance during the winter months.
If it wasn't already obvious, Chepngetich's raw fitness has reached an unreal level. Sure, we knew that she was talented, but a performance of this enormity was absolutely stunning.
And yet, at the same time, we're still unsure what to expect out of the Tiger superstar come the postseason. Despite her immense talent, Chepngetich has only made it out of the 800-meter prelims once in her four national meet appearances -- and when she did make it out of the prelims, she took last place in the finals.
That said, when you run as fast as Chepngetich just did, the importance of tactics begins to dwarf compared to the pure, raw fitness of a 1:58 half-miler.
7. Hayley Kitching, Senior, Penn State (+4 / 11)
When Hayley Kitching ran 2:38 for 1000 meters, breaking the official NCAA record in the process, we were incredibly encouraged. After a tough year in 2025, Kitching had seemingly rebounded.
Sure enough, that suspicion was validated when the Penn State veteran scored a massive half-mile time of 2:00.01 on her home track, just barely missing the two-minute barrier in the process.
We've always been impressed with Kitching's intangibles, but her fitness is suddenly at an all-time -- and a bit unexpectedly given the challenges that she had in 2025. With tons of momentum on her side, there's a realistic world where Kitching wins the NCAA title over 800 meters this winter.
6. Silan Ayyildiz, Senior, Oregon (0 / 6)
Seeing Silan Ayyildiz secure a mile win in a time of 4:25 at the Razorback Invite was incredibly impressive. And yet, at the same time, there isn't much to analyze.
We knew Ayyildiz was plenty fit after running 8:42 (3k) at the New Balance Grand Prix earlier this season. And given that she ran the NCAA mile record of 4:23 last winter, seeing her effectively solo a 4:25 mile effort is hardly shocking.
5. Juliette Whittaker, Senior, Stanford (0 / 5)
There isn't much to discuss when it comes to Juliette Whittaker, at least, not in terms of in-depth analysis. Two weekends ago, the Stanford star ventured to the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston to run the mile. There, she ran 4:30 to emerge as the top collegian.
But truthfully, we were expecting a bit more out of Whittaker who, despite being a predominant half-miler, has proven to be very effective in the mile as well.
That said, Whittaker rebounded two days later at the Millrose Games when she ran a very fast 600-meter time of 1:25.64. That mark puts the Cardinal ace at NCAA #4 all-time for the distance and it signals that a fast 800-meter effort is likely coming from her in the near future.
Whittaker's turnover and speed is as sharp as it seemingly ever has been. Even so, we have yet to see her contest the 800 meters this season, leaving us eagerly waiting to see what kind of mark she produces this winter.
4. Riley Chamberlain, Senior, BYU (0 / 4)
Lost in the madness of the Millrose Games was BYU's Riley Chamberlain who clocked a still-strong 3000-meter time of 8:43. Sure, we thought she could maybe run a bit faster after posting a 14:58 (5k) PR in December, but it's hard to be critical of a time as quick as that.
The BYU veteran was ill back in January prior to the Millrose Games and was probably still on the upswing upon traveling to New York. The fact that she ran as fast as she did is still plenty impressive, even if it doesn't tell us anything new about her.
3. Wilma Nielsen, Rs. Senior, Oregon (0 / 3)
It was a phenomenal effort at the Millrose Games, but Wilma Nielsen just barely missed the NCAA mile record of 4:23.46 held by her teammate, Silan Ayyildiz. Even so, one has to give major kudos to Nielsen. The Oregon star still ran 4:23.56 as she ambitiously pursued a fast pace in an overwhelming field of pros.
Despite the two-second personal best, it's hard to say that we really learned anything about Nielsen. Her win at the Dr. Sander Scorcher meet was arguably just as impressive and her return to The Armory showed us that her raw fitness is at an all-time high.
Right now, Nielsen is still the clear mile national title favorite. And in most years, she would typically be listed at TSR #1. Of course, most years in the NCAA haven't featured women like Doris Lemngole or Jane Hedengren.
2. Jane Hedengren, Freshman, BYU (0 / 2)
Sure, she may not have won and she may not be the new NCAA record holder over 3000 meters...but it's hard not to appreciate Jane Hedengren.
At the Millrose Games, in an overwhelmingly elite 3000-meter field that was nationally televised, Hedengren put herself at the front of the field and pushed the pace...as a true freshman. It didn't end in her winning gold, but an NCAA #2 all-time mark of 8:34.98 is a damn-good consolation prize.
Much like I mention with Doris Lemngole below, there isn't anything I can say about Jane Hedengren that hasn't already been said. The BYU rookie has completely redefined what is possible for American collegiates -- and she's only halfway through her freshman year.
1. Doris Lemngole, Junior, Alabama (0 / 1)
Doris Lemngole ran 8:31 for 3000 meters, breaking the NCAA record by four seconds (previously held by Katelyn Tuohy) and winning the Millrose Games in the process.
And somehow, I'm just not surprised.
The Alabama phenom is so good that, frankly, offering any crazy in-depth analysis seems a bit pointless -- it would just be redundant based on everything that I've already written about her. At this point, you know how talented she is and you know that she is more-than-deserving of our TSR #1 ranking.
ADDED
Stephanie Moss (Duke)
Erin Vringer (Utah)
Billah Jepkirui (Oklahoma State)
Rosemary Longisa (Washington State)
KICKED OFF
Paityn Noe (Arkansas)
Sophia Kennedy (Stanford)
Amy Bunnage (Stanford)
Grace Hartman (NC State)
JUST MISSED (in no particular order)
Joy Naukot (West Virginia)
Mary Bonner Dalton (Notre Dame)
Isca Chelangat (Oklahoma State)
Judy Chepkoech (Florida)
Jadyn Keeler (North Dakota)
Mia Cochran (Washington)
Sophia Kennedy (Stanford)
Boh Ritchie (Penn State)
Marion Jepngetich (New Mexico)
Kaiya Robertson (Boise State)
HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order)
Natalie Varela (Miami (FL))
Gabriella Grissom (Miami (FL))
Tayissa Buchanan (Penn State)
Aniya Mosley (Ohio State)
Maeve O'Neill (Providence)
Jenna Hutchins (BYU)
Chloe Thomas (Washington)
Bahiya El Arfaoui (Oregon)
Suus Altorf (Florida State)
Betty Kipkore (Iowa State)
Notes
- N/A
