After a Thursday mostly filled with fast 10k performances, we got to see a few more impressive results scattered throughout the NCAA's conference meets. With a large handful of prelim races preparing us for the finals, the headline-worthy results weren't quite as plentiful. Even so, the analysis that we do have could have fairly significant implications on the NCAA Championship qualifying picture and even who TSR picks to be All-Americans in June. Let's review some of the top races from Friday, shall we? Providence's Kimberley May Drops Huge 15:26 (5k) PR to Win BIG East Title I gotta be honest, I don't totally know why I was surprised to see Kimberley May run 15:26 for 5000 meters at the BIG East Outdoor Championships. Maybe it's because I was more surprised that she opted to run that fast (when she clearly didn't need to) rather than the actual time itself. But if you've been following May since the cross country season, then you know that she's had top-tier range for a while. Not only does she boast a 4:27 mile PR, national meet success, a 2:03 personal best for 800 meters and an 8:54 (3k) mark, but she was also an outstanding low-stick for Providence on the grass! In the grand scheme of things, May's 5k performance from last night doesn't dramatically shift the NCAA landscape in any major way. Make no mistake, that's a terrific time, but the 1500 meters will undoubtedly be her focus on the national stage. Now, that said, it's very possible that May does the 1500/5k double at both the regional and national meets. And if that happens, then I don't think double All-American honors is out of the question for her. However, what if I told you that her 5k performance may have larger implications? Not now, but in the future. The Providence women just landed UMass Lowell standout Kenzie Doyle from the transfer portal. And if both May and Shannon Flockhart return in the fall to use their remaining cross country eligibility, then the Friars are going to be an even more formidable team than they've been for the last two years. And with a 15:26 (5k) PR, May is showing us that she can be a legitimate upper-half All-American threat and the leader of a potential top-15 team in the country. Virginia's Nathan Mountain & Yasin Sado Run 8:30 & Go 1-2 in Men's Steeplechase at ACC Championships Does anyone know why the ACC is so unbelievably good in the steeplechase? Sure, other conferences have one or two great programs that headline that event while other conferences have solid depth, but not many home-run hitters. However, the ACC has both of those things and they have had that for a while now. One of the biggest and best steeplechasers in the conference is Virginia's Nathan Mountain. The Cavalier star ran 8:20 over the barriers and water pits earlier this season and has looked absolutely incredible in this event. Sure enough, he showcased that incredible talent and poise at the ACC Championships on Friday evening. In a lead pack that was bunched to the quartet of Mountain, Yasin Sado (Virginia), Brett Gardner (NC State) and CJ Singleton (Notre Dame), it was the former who showcased the most control in his fitness. After taking over with 450 meters to go, Mountain looked effortless as he built a gap that no one else in the field was going to cover. And when he crossed the line, Mountain defended his steeplechase title from last year with a mark of 8:30. Video via @theACC // X.com The range, the poise, the control, the intangibles, the raw fitness -- Mountain checks each of those boxes. He's not the only NCAA title favorite in the steeplechase this year, but his case to be the heaviest favorite is certainly growing. And just like last year, the Virginia men also took 2nd place in this event at the ACC Championships. Except this time, it was Yasin Sado, not Derrick Johnson, who secured silver. Sado has been a really great runner for the Cavalier men for a while. He's an accomplished veteran who has tons of steeplechase experience. Even so, it's clear that the UVA veteran has elevated his fitness to a new tier this year. After placing 73rd at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships, Sado posted personal bests of 3:55 (mile), 7:56 (3k) and 13:31 (5k) on the indoor oval. Thankfully, that momentum and fitness translated to his primary event, the steeplechase, as he ran a new PR of 8:30 on Friday. Seeing Sado be the aggressor in this race was an encouraging sign. That showed me that he's not only fit enough to take that approach, but that he's comfortable running fast and putting himself in a position to win. That last part didn't happen, but he did run a new PR at the most important time of the year. Among all of the non-NCAA title contenders, Sado is becoming one of the names who I feel most comfortable about becoming an All-American. Let's chat about NC State's Brett Gardner, the veteran who made a big move in the last 200-ish meters of this race. Admittedly, that move wasn't really going to put Mountain in any danger, but he did put a lot of pressure on Sado. In the end, Gardner settled for bronze, although the word "settling" comes with the implication that this wasn't among his best-ever performances. However, I would argue that Gardner had the single-best race of his career on Friday evening. In his last two steeplechase races (the other being at the Penn Relays), Gardner has proven to be a legitimate factor at the end of races. He looks so much more calm and controlled in crowded packs and he just ran a new steeple PR of 8:31. Across the board, it's hard to dislike Gardner. He simply appears to be far more sure of himself. He's another guy who I may end up choosing to be an All-American. Video via @Wolfpack_TFXC // X.com We then come to CJ Singleton, the Notre Dame sophomore who grabbed 4th place in this steeplechase battle and recorded a strong time of 8:35. The Fighting Irish underclassman has been awesome this year. He turned into a reliable scorer on the grass, showed promise on the indoor oval and has evolved into a national-caliber name in the steeplechase. In fact, his most recent 8:35 effort isn't even a PR! Singleton actually ran 8:33 in this event at the Bryan Clay Invite earlier this spring. Now, for as much as I like CJ Singleton, I'll admit, I thought he made a subtle, but crucial, tactical error in this race. Taking over with 600 meters to go was all the indication that Nathan Mountain needed to prepare his final move and take over when everyone else in that pack was flipping on another (and likely their final) gear. In retrospect, it may have made more sense to wait for someone else to make that kind of move when they were that late into the race. ...and yes, I understand that what I am saying is far easier to type out than actually do. Regardless, Singleton looks like the future face of Notre Dame's distance program. He has been so strong and has now proven on multiple occasions that he can consistently produce national-caliber results. Also, shoutout to Duke's Michael Keehan for taking 5th place. His effort completed my prediction for this race that Mountain, Sado, Gardner, Singleton and Keehan would be the top-five finishers. The only catch is that I predicted a mostly different order. Notre Dame's Sophie Novak Runs 9:48 to Win ACC Steeplechase Title I'm not someone who pats myself on the back too often (ok, maybe that's a lie), but I thought I mostly nailed the women's steeplechase predictions at the ACC Championships. Perfect? No. But good enough to lightly brag about? Yeah, I think so. Anyways, Notre Dame's Sophie Novak continues to do this thing where she puts together a really great performance and remains super underrated. The South Bend veteran has been awesome this year. Between the winter and spring months, Novak has produced personal bests of 4:14 (1500), 4:38 (mile), 9:02 (3k) and, as of Friday night, 9:48 (steeple). However, what I loved the most about Novak's performance wasn't necessarily her time, but rather, how she executed. It became apparent early-on that her race plan was very complex. The plan? Go to the front and run really fast. Like I said, very complex. As soon as the gun went off, Novak went straight to the front and dared anyone to go with her. Georgia Tech's Helena Lindsey stuck with her ACC counterpart for a while, but Novak eventually shook off the Yellow Jacket talent and simply ran away with the title. Like I mentioned with Yasin Sado on the men's side, I may not see Novak as a national title contender this year, but the arguments against her being an All-American favorite are rapidly beginning to dwindle. Also, where on Earth did Syracuse senior Madison Neuner come from? The Orange veteran was not at all someone who was on my radar, but she led the chase pack and was rewarded for her measured approach with a silver medal and a 9:56 PR. Neuner's prior steeple PR was 10:07 from the Virginia Challenge and before that, it was 10:09 from the Raleigh Relays. Now, she has her third-straight PR in the event this spring and, more importantly, she has a nationally competitive mark that could position her to be an NCAA Championship qualifier. Few women, from a time perspective, have the same kind of momentum and hot streak that Neuner is very clearly on right now. Georgia Tech's Helena Lindsey snagged 3rd place with a 10:01 personal best. And although she faded from Sophie Novak, I did like that Lindsey was the only one to run with the same ambition that Novak did. And while she may not have stuck to her, Lindsey did record a new personal best and a bronze medal at a major conference meet. BYU's James Corrigan Holds Off Oklahoma State's Victor Shitsama to Win BIG 12 Steeplechase Title In what may have been the most entertaining race of Friday night, the men's BIG 12 steeplechase produced some fireworks among a few All-American hopefuls. This race started as a three-man pack which was led by Iowa State's Gable Sieperda. Behind him, Oklahoma State's Victor Shitsama sat on his shoulder while BYU's James Corrigan stayed in contact with the group. That pack largely stayed the same until Shitsama made a move around a fading Sieperda and attempted to pull away with 500 meters to go. However, Corrigan refused to let his Cowboy counterpart get too far out of reach. And after the final water jump, the BYU runner shockingly found space on the inside rail which he took full advantage of. Corrigan would kick home to victory in an outstanding time of 8:29-mid while Shitsama took home a narrow runner-up finish in 8:29-high. Iowa State's Gable Sieperda earned bronze with an 8:33 mark. Video via @BYUTFXC // X.com I will admit that James Corrigan hasn't always been given the respect that he deserves from The Stride Report. He ended his 2023 fall campaign as an All-American, but we struggled to find a spot for him in our end-of-season top-50 individual cross country rankings after seeing his less-than-inspiring season that he had leading up to the meet. Corrigan would later run 13:30 for 5000 meters on the indoor oval, but his performance was largely not discussed despite winning the Husky Classic in the process. And even through this outdoor track season, the BYU talent was only lightly discussed despite posting an excellent 8:34 mark over the barriers and water pits. But Friday night felt like a statement race for Corrigan. It was a performance that allowed him to beat an aggressive front-runner with an 8:26 PR (Gable Sieperda) as well as a steeplechase All-American with the best raw fitness in the field (Victor Shitsama). So far this spring, Corrigan has gone from 8:50 to 8:46 to 8:34 to 8:29 in the steeplechase. That is incredible progression and further proof that Coach Ed Eyestone is still one of the best developers of collegiate steeplechasers in the nation. And when I think about the subtle intangibles that truly separate good runners from great runners, Corrigan showcased a lot of those aspects on Friday night. As for Victor Shitsama, I actually liked how he ran this race...for about 2850 meters. The Cowboy veteran sat on the shoulder of Sieperda and aimed to make his big move from roughly 400 meters, choosing a more strength-based kick rather than a final straightaway surge (a decision which I loved). However, failing to protect the inside rail on the final water jump (which, in fairness, is more challenging than it seems in a late-race scenario) is what allowed Corrigan to maintain momentum and kick past Shitsama. Even so, I thought there was still a lot of good that we saw in Shitsama. He looks to be as fit as he ever has been and seemingly had an understanding of how to attack certain fields and races. We then come to Gable Sieperda, the Iowa State runner who has developed a knack for pushing the pace once the gun goes off. We saw him do that at the Bryan Clay Invite and we saw him do it at the BIG 12 Championships. And in both of those efforts, he dropped back, fell out of contention and settled for marks of 8:34 and 8:33, respectively. But make no mistake, the Cyclone veteran has proven to be just as talented and fit as Corrigan and Shitsama this season. Sieperda did, after all, post a monster steeplechase PR of 8:26 at the Virginia Challenge. This steeplechaser from Ames, Iowa is talented enough to be an All-American. However, properly channeling and translating that fitness to a championship race is going to ultimately determine whether or not he finishes among the top-eight at the NCAA Championships. Penn State Duo of Florence Caron & Sophia Toti Go 1-2 in Women's 10k at BIG 10 Championships On Friday night, the Penn State women went to work at the BIG 10 Championships. The duo of Florence Caron (who was contesting her first-ever 10k race) and Sophia Toti led a group of four other women under 34 minutes over 10,000 meters. The former earned a very strong time of 33:04 while the latter, who had already run under 33:00 this spring, ran 33:20. There isn't much that we need to discuss with this race, although Caron was way better in her 10k debut than I thought she would be. Plus, women like Alexa Westley (3rd) and Kaitlyn Hines (5th) had the best races of their seasons. Oh, and Samantha Saez? Well, the Michigan veteran continues to find great success at the BIG 10 Championships. Video via @PennStateTFXC // X.com Let's briefly step back and look at how good the Penn State women have been this year. Florence Caron has run times of 4:33 (mile), 4:13 (1500), 15:32 (5k) and now 33:04 (10k). Sophia Toti, meanwhile, has produced times of 15:44 (5k) and 32:57 (10k). Kileigh Kane has improved her range while maintaining her mile talent with marks of 4:13 (1500), 4:32 (mile) and 15:58 (5k). And of course, who could forget about Hayley Kitching, a woman who has been a national-caliber stud over 800 meters this year? She holds a blistering time of 2:01 (800) as well as a 4:14 (1500) mark. Major kudos to whoever directly works with the women's distance runners at Penn State. Whether that's Coach John Gondak, Ryan Foster or Kara Foster, I'm not quite sure, but they've done a heckuva job. Alabama's Doris Lemngole Runs 9:28 to Win SEC Steeplechase Title, Elise Thorner Runs 9:43 This performance was undeniably strong enough to deserve it's own headline rather than be relegated to our "Quick Hits" section. Even so, I'm not sure there is a whole lot to discuss. Alabama's Doris Lemngole already showed us at the Wake Forest Invite earlier this spring that she's an elite steeplechaser, posting a time of 9:22 and comfortably defeating Olivia Markezich. Seeing her run 9:28 and take down Florida's Elise Thorner by 15 seconds to win the SEC title, while impressive, doesn't tell us anything that we didn't already know about her. Video via @AlabamaTrack // X.com And when it comes to Elise Thorner, it's a similar story. The Lobo-turned-Gator runner already proved that she could be a major threat in the steeplechase this year after she posted a 9:28 PR at the Bryan Clay Invitational. But despite that impressiveness of that mark, Lemngole is simply on another level right now. Also, really solid runner by Arkansas' Laura Taborda who ran 9:52.99 in the steeplechase to secure bronze. That's not a new PR for the Razorback veteran, but she's certainly approaching her 9:50 personal best at just the right time. And when you pair that momentum with her experience, this is someone who could end up making it to the steeplechase finals on the national stage in June. Quick Hits Yasmin Austridge (Colorado State) took home steeplechase gold at the Mountain West Championships in 9:58. That's a promising result for the graduate transfer from Lamar. Austridge had been struggling to return to her 2023 form this spring, but Friday suggested that she is nearing that point. What a huge win by Marco Langon! The Villanova talent out-kicked Butler's Jesse Hamlin at the BIG East Championships to secure gold in a time of 13:45. Langon should be very proud of himself. Hamlin is not an easy guy to beat given how dynamic his resume is. That win should give the Wildcat redshirt freshman some great momentum heading into the regional and national meets. Really solid win for Wyoming's Ryker Holtzen. The Cowboy runner posted a strong time of 8:43 to secure steeplechase gold at the Mountain West Championships. And when you see that four other men went sub-8:50, Holtzen's victory looks that much more impressive. This race won't get much attention, but the Montana State duo of Rob McManus and Levi Taylor went 1-2 in the men's steeplechase at the BIG Sky Championships. With times of 8:50 and 8:51, these two men will receive hefty altitude conversions, although nothing past what they've already run this season. Also, valiant efforts from the Weber State men who took spots 3-4-5 in this same race. HUGE win for Northern Arizona's Cael Grotenhuis. The Lumberjack veteran outran two very talented Montana State runners in Matthew Richtman and Ben Perrin on Friday night to win the BIG Sky 10k title. With a mark of 29:38, expect Grotenhuis to earn a big-time altitude conversion.

Thursday is all wrapped up and so are the first few distance races of the weekend. Last night gave us just a small taste of what the rest of this weekend could/will have in store for us. For the sake of time, we're going to go in-depth on the Power Five 10k performances (and the women's BIG East 10k), but will also be sure to mention a handful of other results that caught our attention in the "Quick Hits" section. Let's break down some of the recent performances from last night and see what insight / takeaways that we got from these results... Parker Wolfe Wins ACC Title in First-Ever 10k Going into the ACC Championships, North Carolina's Parker Wolfe was slated to attempt his first-ever 10k on a track. In that same field, he would face-off against sub-28:00 (10k) teammate Alex Phillip as well as Raleigh Relays 10k champion, Will Anthony (Virginia). And yet, Wolfe's inexperience simply didn't matter. The Tar Heel superstar was simply more fit than everyone else and he pulled away to run a time of 29:15, putting a three-second gap on Anthony who earned a quietly great finish over Alex Phillip. Video via @UNCTrack_Field // X.com After a performance like that, some may wonder if Wolfe would opt to contest the 10k at the East Regional Championships in addition to the 5k. The only problem? There is very little chance that he even qualifies for the regional meet with that time, even after scratches. And truthfully, even if he could qualify, it's still highly unlikely that Wolfe would actually contest the 10k on the national stage. He's super inexperienced in that event (at least on the oval) and he is far better in the 5k, a race that he would want to be fresh for. As for Anthony, I really like that he got silver. He has just been so good this spring, seemingly elevating his fitness to a new tier. Taking down someone like Alex Phillip should not be a result that is simply brushed aside. Phillip earned one of the more impressive wins of the regular season and looked like a 10k All-American threat in that same Bryan Clay Invite race. Don't take Anthony lightly once he reaches the national stage (assuming he qualifies). He also has 3:58 mile speed to pair with his excellent aerobic strength. In theory, that makes him plenty dangerous. Amaris Tyynismaa Cruises to Comfortable ACC 10k Title Detailing the women's 10k race at the ACC Championships last night would largely be a negligible exercise. All that you really need to know is that NC State's Amaris Tyynismaa was head and shoulders above the field. Her final 10k time of 33:42 was respectable, but what the final results don't show you was how relaxed this Wolfpack ace was. In the latter portions of this 10k battle, Tyynismaa looked to the sidelines of the back straightaway, potentially awaiting a sign from her coach as to when she could make her move. And once she did, gold was hers. Video via @Wolfpack_TFXC // X.com The final time and the win admittedly weren't surprising for Tyynismaa who was heavily favored to win Thursday night's race. However, this effort does stack another encouraging performance onto the resume of this long distance talent who has been rallying back from an injury that she was working through in the fall. After running 15:40 (5k) at the Wake Forest Invitational last month and putting together a 32:52/4:19 (10k/1500) weekend double at the Raleigh Relays, Tyynismaa is looking more and more like the 5k All-American that she was last year -- and she's seemingly coming into form at just the right time. Sure, she'll face far greater competition in the future, but this was a nice way to kick-off her postseason endeavors. As for Notre Dame's Arianne Olson, this feels like her true introduction to the NCAA. She had already run 16:07 (5k) earlier this season in her first-ever collegiate race wearing a Fighting Irish singlet and was a true star in high school. A 33:56 (10k) mark isn't going to drop any jaws, but beating Syracuse's Savannah Roark, Virginia's Camryn Menninger and Notre Dame's Erin Strzelecki as a true freshman certainly caught my attention. Also, great run by Georgia Tech sophomore Kate Jortberg. She ran a 33:57 PR in this event earlier this season and now has a top-five scoring finish at the ACC Championships on her resume. And after seeing her produce numerous personal bests this spring, it seems safe to say that this Yellow Jacket runner could be fairly competitive in the future. Victor Kiprop Takes Down SEC Field to Win 10k Title in Surprisingly Tactical Race Alabama veteran Victor Kiprop walked away from last night's 10k race with an SEC title after he did enough to defeat the likes of Patrick Kiprop (Arkansas), Yaseen Abdalla (Tennessee), Kirami Yego (Arkansas) and his newest teammate, Dennis Kipruto. Kiprop's final time was a 29:36 mark, a surprisingly slow time given that Patrick Kiprop, Kirami Yego and even Victor Kiprop himself have been known to be the aggressive pace pushers. However, this does give me a little bit more confidence that Kiprop can fare well in a tactical setting on the national stage. Video via @AlabamaTrack // X.com Admittedly, the tacticians who Kiprop will be racing against on the national stage are far more lethal, but this Alabama ace has been making subtle improvements on his intangibles and is leaning less and less on just raw talent. That's a good thing as we prepare to dive deeper into championship season. I don't have much more to discuss about this race...except for one thing. Where is Peter Maru? The Arkansas rookie made headlines during the winter with his explosive and exciting long distance talent, often choosing to be the aggressor in a variety of race scenarios. However, he has yet to race this season and isn't in the SEC Championship entries. This likely means that he's redshirting which I imagine is a big relief to a handful of All-American hopefuls in the 5k this spring. Hilda Olemomoi Earns Comfortable 10k Win as Paityn Noe Also Runs Under 34 Minutes There truthfully isn't much to talk about when it comes to Hilda Olemomoi. She was the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC 10k title and sure enough, she delivered on expectations. And while I'd like to offer some original insight, I don't think we learned anything new about the Kenyan junior. Let's briefly chat about Arkansas freshman Paityn Noe. Her runner-up effort last night came with a 33:57 (10k) mark. And when you pair that performance with her 16:02 (5k) and 33:11 (10k) personal bests from earlier this spring, I can't help but wonder...could this rookie qualify for the outdoor national meet? Noe was really strong during the fall months, acting as a consistent low-stick ace for most of the cross country season. And after not racing during the winter, the Razorback freshman hasn't lost a step when toeing the line on the outdoor oval. I'll admit, I don't necessarily love all of the options in the women's West region 10k this year when it comes to predicting national qualifiers. And while I would usually eschew the idea of a freshman advancing to the national meet in the 10k, I may make an exception for Noe. Also, strong 3rd place run for Emily Covert. She's not in her prior All-American form, but she has returned to a competitive tier this season which is nice to see. Oh, and one more thing: Vanderbilt freshman Bria Bennis ran 16:05 (5k) earlier this season and just took 4th place overall at the SEC Championships in her first-ever 10k. That is a tremendous display of promise for the Commodore rookie. Sanele Masondo Takes Down Top-Heavy BIG 12 10k Field as Said Mechaal Gives Iowa State a 1-2 Sweep Now THIS is the Sanele Masondo who we've been waiting to see! THIS is the former JUCO standout who is delivering on his full potential that he flashed before coming to the NCAA. For the most part, Masondo's 2023 cross country season was very underwhelming...until the NCAA XC Championships where he secured a stunning upper-half All-American finish basically out of nowhere. But after a promising 13:33 (5k) personal best at the Boston U. Season Opener, the Cyclone ace would go on to conclude an unexciting winter campaign. However, this spring, Masondo has been excellent. The JUCO transfer has finally begun to establish consistency and string together great race after great race. He initially ran 28:54 (10k) at the Stanford Invitational and later put together a 28:35/13:36 (10k/5k) weekend double at the Bryan Clay Invitational. And on Thursday night, Masondo defeated multiple men who no one would be surprised about if they became All-Americans in June. However, maybe the most important part of this win is that Masondo won with a great finishing kick, something that pure long distance runners like himself aren't always known for. In a tight pack of four men going into the last lap, the Iowa State standout actually found himself behind teammate Said Mechaal and Oklahoma State's Adisu Guadia. For a moment, it looked Masondo was out of contention for the win. However, Mechaal was in the lead and continuously looked back to see where his teammate was. And somehow, Mechaal kept a hard-charging Guadia at bay which allowed Masondo to get back to the leaders and kick home for the win. Mechaal would grab runner-up honors. Video via @CycloneTrackXC // X.com Truthfully, I'm not sure if Masondo would have been in a position to win this race if Mechaal wasn't controlling lane one and fending off Guadia. Even so, last night was a very encouraging display of speed for someone who is more aerobic centric. And with momentum very clearly on his side, I can't help but wonder if Masondo should be considered an All-American contender in the 10k come June. As for Mechaal, he may have gotten silver, but he was a major reason why the Cyclones went 1-2. His ability to recognize the position of his opposition and gauge his effort accordingly is really hard to do in a race that involves a kick like that. And truthfully, if Mechaal wasn't trying to get Masondo into contention for a 1-2 sweep, I can't help but wonder if he was the guy who would have won this race. Keep an eye out for Mechaal moving forward. He has been so solid across the board this year. He isn't quite an All-American threat (yet), but he has turned into one of the more reliable nationally competitive runners in the country. As for Adisu Guadia, it may not have been the result that he wanted, but at least he was competitive and made this a race. Said Mechaal certainly didn't do him any favors on the final lap and when you look at who he beat, there is a lot more good that Guadia can take away from this race than not. Rounding out the top-five was Ernest Cheruiyot (Texas Tech) and Joey Nokes (BYU), a duo that finished in 4th place and 5th place, respectively. Admittedly, those results aren't exactly encouraging. Both of those of runners have proven to be incredibly talented, but it's clear that they fare better in aggressive, fast-paced scenarios rather than something more tactical. As we prepare for the regional and national meets, being able to respond to late-race moves in a slower race setting will almost certainly be required if certain men are going to, a) qualify for the national meet, and b) earn upper-half finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Gabby Hentemann Shows Return to Form, Secures BIG 12 10k Title Over Eva Jess Oklahoma State veteran Gabby Hentemann comfortably secured the BIG 12 title over 10,000 meters on Thursday night. And although, Texas' Eva Jess took over the lead with 2000 meters to go, Hentemann simply sat on the shoulder of her conference rival until the final 400 meters where she easily kicked away from Jess and secured gold. Hentemann has had limited availability over the last year of racing. Her 2023 outdoor track season ended after the Stanford Invite in early March where she ran 33:17 (10k). She was then a DNF at the Cowboy Jamboree during the cross country season, sat on the sidelines for the rest of the fall months and had two unexciting results during the 2024 indoor track season. But in her two races this spring, Hentemann has been very solid. The Cowgirl ace posted a time of 33:27 (10k) at the Stanford Invite and comfortably secured a conference title in the same event. Admittedly, last night's 10k field wasn't exactly the most competitive race that Hentemann has ever been in, although Eva Jess deserves some respect given that she has run under 33 minutes this spring. In a West region 10k field that seems relatively wide-open, it wouldn't surprise me if Hentemann, who was a 2022 All-American in the 10k, returned to the national stage in a few weeks time. Chloe Scrimgeour Runs 32:26 in First-Ever 10k Race to Win BIG East Title, Laura Mooney Runs 33:16 For Silver Leave it to Chloe Scrimgeour to have such a great performance that she forces us to deviate from the Power Five-centric analysis of this article. The Georgetown star continues to show that she is an aerobic machine, thriving in her first-ever 10k race on Thursday night at the BIG East Outdoor Championships. This race was mostly a battle between Scrimgeour and Providence veteran Laura Mooney. But around two-thirds of the way in, the Hoya ace hit the gas and established an insurmountable gap. Despite having never run a 10k before, Scrimgeour still earned a fantastic PR of 32:36 at that distance to secure a conference title. And during the latter portion of this race, she was racing mostly alone. If Scrimgeour is able to run that well in her first-ever 10k, then what can she do when she gets more reps under her belt at this distance? How will she respond when she's actually pushed? How much faster do we think she can go? Regardless of those answers, I think Chloe Scrimgeour should absolutely pursue the 10k/5k double at the regional and national stages. She has been incredibly reliable and has yet to have a poor race. And while both the women's 10k and the women's 5k looks incredibly top-heavy right now, there are few women who I feel better about being All-Americans at those distances that Scrimgeour. As for Mooney, this was a really solid race that deserves some props. The Providence veteran has had a handful of great moments throughout her career, but had truthfully been struggling leading up to this outdoor track season. However, the Friar runner produced a 33:00 (10k) PR and a 15:59 (5k) PR earlier this spring. And although she wasn't able to keep pace with Scrimgeour, Mooney still put forth a competitive effort and a strong mark. This is the best that she has looked in quite some time. Key Names Do Not Advance to 1500m Or 800m Finals In the SEC prelims over 800 meters, there weren't necessarily any names who crossed the finish line and were shockingly left out of the finals. However, according to the results, 1:46 man Oussama El Bouchayby (Alabama) didn't toe the line and Cade Flatt (Ole Miss) was listed as a DNF. Not having El Bouchayby does sting a bit if you're Alabama and that also means that there is one less pace-pusher in the field for the 800-meter finals. As for Flatt, he's been racing on and off for the last few seasons. The former high school superstar hasn't been near his prior peak form (yet), but resting during the summer and fall months should allow him to effectively reset for next year...right? As we turn our attention to the 1500-meter prelims at the BIG 12 Championships, we saw Lucas Bons (BYU), Yusuf Bizimana (Texas) and Tyler Wirth (Cincinnati) all fail to advance to the finals. While this may seem like a surprising development for Bons, it should be noted that he had not raced since the mile finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships. That nonexistent racing schedule leading into the conference meet was certainly not a good sign. Yusuf Bizimana not advancing to the 1500-meter finals isn't ideal, especially for someone who was once an All-American in the mile. Even so, him missing the finals is not the end of the world. Bizimana will still have his main event, the 800 meters, to focus on. And assuming that he qualifies for the finals at that distance, then he won't have to worry about the 1500-meter finals which come before the 800-meter finals. And then there is Tyler Wirth, a Bearcat standout who has run 3:39 for 1500 meters this year. The Cincinnati runner has been great for the newly-inducted BIG 12 program over the last year and has also proven to be fairly dynamic. That's why I was surprised to see that he wouldn't be advancing to the finals in his best event this weekend. At the ACC Championships in Atlanta, we saw both Daelen Ackley (Notre Dame) and Zach Hughes (NC State) end their 1500-meter campaigns in the prelims. Neither runner is a massive superstar, but both men have also been underrated at times and have proven to be very effective in the middle distances. However, Thursday afternoon was more likely a fluke rather than an accurate representation of what we could expect to see from them at the East Regional Championships. Quick Hits My goodness, did anyone see how well the Butler men ran over 10,000 meters at the BIG East Outdoor Championships? The Bulldogs went 1-2-3 in the final results while both Will Minnette (28:54) and Florian LePallec (28:59) cracked the 29-minute barrier. Kudos to Coach Matt Roe who continues to put together some of the more underrated men's distance groups in the country. Great 10k win by Colorado State's Sarah Carter at the Mountain West Championships. She ran 34:00 to defeat New Mexico ace Nicole Jansen who was 11 seconds behind. That's a pretty convincing margin of victory for Carter given how talented Jansen has proven to be. Luke Combs had a HUGE race at the Mountain West Championships. Not only did he run 29:05 (10k) to set a new championship record (which surprised me, I thought the prior record would've been faster), but he also took down New Mexico's Vincent Chirhir by five seconds! On paper, Combs has arguably been just as good as Chirchir this season, but that doesn't make his win over a 13:34 (5k) and 28:19 (10k) runner any less impressive. At the Army West Point Twilight meet, Army's Luke Griner and Columbia's Justin O'Toole both threw down 1:47 marks over 800 meters. That's not too surprising for Griner given how consistent he's been this year, but it seemed like Justin O'Toole had been struggling to return to form since mid-February. Thankfully, his latest result suggests that he may be nearing his prior peak level of fitness. Sneaky-good run for the Princeton men over 1500 meters at the West Point Twilight meet. Sophomore Connor McCormick ran a great time of 3:40 while leading teammates Jack Stanley and rookie Collin Boler to 3:41 marks. Kudos to the Tigers who have showcased a lot of great all-around development this year. Speaking of Princeton, at that same meet, Mena Scatchard posted a 2:03 (800) PR. She keeps posting great result after great result and I'm becoming increasingly closer to picking her as a national meet qualifier in my predictions.

*Cue Will Ferrell singing, "Time to Say Goodbye" Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is it. The final PAC-12 Championship. With nearly every program in the PAC-12 joining different conferences later this fall after failing to negotiate a TV deal earlier this year, the 2024 PAC-12 Outdoor Championships will be the last time that we see all of these west coast powers matchup for one conference meet. Here is how TSR's Maura Beattie sees the meet playing out in its final days and hours... *Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back). Times that are listed below are shown as altitude conversions. The meet is being held in Boulder, CO. Men’s 800 Meters NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Nathan Green (Washington)* - 1:47 James Harding (Oregon) - 1:47 Angus Harrington (UCLA) - 1:48 Matthew Erickson (Oregon) - 1:48 Dayton Carlson (Arizona State) - 1:49 Analysis: The men’s 800-meter race will be a close one, but if you’re looking for the safest choice, I would suggest taking Washington’s Nathan Green for the win. The Husky ace ran 1:46 (800) on the indoor oval and after a recent 3:34 (1500) effort, Green seemingly has his momentum back after a rocky month of racing between indoor track and outdoor track. He will, however, be pushed by the Oregon duo of James Harding and Matthew Erickson, two highly qualified men who can steal the win on a good day. Women’s 800 Meters NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Roisin Willis (Stanford) - 2:00 Kate Jendrezak (UCLA) - 2:02 Wilma Nielsen (Washington) - 2:02 Rose Pittman (UCLA) - 2:03 Klaudia Kazimierska (Oregon)* - 2:03 Analysis: Sophomore Roisin Willis made her season debut with a modest mark of 2:02 (well, modest by her standards). Her resume speaks for itself and even if she has a very minor "off" day, she can still contend for gold in this field. UCLA’s Kate Jendrezak has been riding high since the indoor track season. And after running a 400-meter PR last month, speed and momentum are seemingly on her side. Klaudia Kazimerska, a 1500-meter specialist, could finish well amongst the middle distance stars if this turns into a strength-based race. However, the biggest threat to Willis may end up being Wilma Nielsen, a middle distance veteran who has metronomically run 2:02 (800) this season. Men’s 1500 Meters NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Luke Houser (Washington)* - 3:41 Nathan Green (Washington)* - 3:42 Isaiah Givens (Colorado)* - 3:42 Elliott Cook (Oregon)* - 3:43 Joe Waskom (Washington)* - 3:43 Analysis: The Washington trio of Luke Houser, Nathan Green and Joe Waskom will probably employ some team tactics in the men’s 1500 meters. Houser gets the nod over his teammates, but you can’t count out guys like Isaiah Givens (Colorado) and Elliot Cook (Oregon), the latter of whom has displayed some great 800-meter speed this spring and in prior seasons. Women’s 1500 Meters NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Klaudia Kazimierska (Oregon)* - 4:12 Chloe Foerster (Washington) - 4:12 Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) - 4:13 Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon)* - 4:13 Erin Vringer (Utah)* - 4:15 Analysis: With altitude coming into play and women doubling up on other events, the women's 1500-meter race at the PAC-12 Championships will likely be somewhat tactical one. However, there is also too much talent in this field for the pace to lag in a significant way. As much as I want to pick Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) to take home gold thanks to her speed, Klaudia Kazimierska (Oregon) and Chloe Foerster (Washington) are simply more reputable at the metric mile distance. Don't sleep on Silan Ayyildiz, either. She has been on fire as of late. Men’s 5000 Meters NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Ky Robinson (Stanford)* - 13:55 Austin Vancil (Colorado)* - 13:57 Leo Daschbach (Washington)* - 13:57 Evan Jenkins (Washington)* - 13:59 Devin Hart (Oregon)* - 14:03 Analysis: The men’s 5k will most likely shape out to be a sit-and-kick affair as the five men mentioned above are all contesting the 10k earlier in the weekend. Ky Robinson of Stanford will have a target on his back and if he lets the competition do the work, then he could make a strong move from 1000 meters out and earn the win. However, Colorado veteran Austin Vancil won’t let Robinson get too far as Vancil hopes to take advantage of the altitude and win on his home track. Women’s 5000 Meters NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Maddy Elmore (Oregon)* - 15:40 Amy Bunnage (Stanford) - 15:42 Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon)* - 15:42 Bailey Hertenstein (Colorado)* - 15:45 Zenah Cheptoo (Washington State) - 15:49 Analysis: Pre-race favorites Maddy Elmore (Oregon), Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon) and Bailey Hertenstein (Colorado) are all doubling back from an earlier race, so a fresh Amy Bunnage (Stanford) is going to need to play her cards right if she wants to come out on top. Elmore and Ayyildiz are the leaders time-wise, but Bunnage has the potential to be competitive with those women after running 15:11 (5k) during the indoor track season. Men’s 10,000 Meters NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Ky Robinson (Stanford)* - 28:36 Evan Jenkins (Washington)* - 28:40 Devin Hart (Oregon)* - 28:43 Tyrone Gorze (Washington)* - 28:45 Austin Vancil (Colorado)* - 28:47 Analysis: No PRs are going to be set this weekend in the 10k at the PAC-12 Championships as the men are going to have to fight the lack of oxygen up in Boulder, Colorado. Evan Jenkins (Washington) may have the fastest seasonal best among this group, but he’s going to have to face reigning NCAA champion, Ky Robinson (Stanford). The race will probably go out at a relatively predestination pace before ramping up and turning into a fairly honest battle. Women’s 10,000 Meters NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Maddy Elmore (Oregon)* - 33:32 Haley Herberg (Washington)* - 33:38 Anika Thompson (Oregon)* - 33:39 Bailey Hertenstein (Colorado)* - 33:45 Samree Dishon (Colorado)* - 33:47 Analysis: Oregon’s Maddy Elmore has a busy weekend ahead of her as she prepares to take on the 10k/5k double. But even though Elmore’s going to be racing up at altitude, her remarkable growth over the past year leads us to believe that the Oregon Duck will not only win, but also run a fairly respectable conversion. Colorado’s Bailey Hertenstein and Samree Dishon have an advantage over the competition, but will that be enough to take down others who are on massive hot streaks? Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Benjamin Balazs (Oregon)* - 8:49 Sam Affolder (Washington)* - 8:51 Joe Waskom (Washington)* - 8:52 Kole Mathison (Colorado)* - 8:55 Charles Welch (Colorado) - 8:57 Analysis: In the pouring rain, Oregon’s Benjamin Balazs ran a strong 8:45 PR in the steeplechase. So, on a clear day, what can this talented Duck do? Balazs will have company up front with Washington’s Sam Affolder and Joe Waskom, two established runners in the NCAA. Waskom, who is a stellar 1500-meter runner, will need to tap into his prior 8:35 steeplechase strength if he wants the title. Be sure to keep an eye on other sub-8:50 guys such as Giuliano Scasso (Oregon), Kole Mathison (Colorado) and Kelvin Limo (Washington State). Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase NOTE: Times are listed as converted marks from altitude. Katie Clute (Oregon)* - 10:03 Caroline Jerotich (Washington State)* - 10:05 Mia Kane (UCLA) - 10:09 Georgia McCorkle (California) - 10:19 Riley Stewart (Stanford) - 10:22 Analysis: There’s really no clear-cut title favorite in the women’s steeplechase at the PAC-12 Championships. Oregon freshman Katie Clute enters with the only sub-10:00 steeplechase performance in the field, but inexperience could hinder her from standing atop the podium. Washington State’s Caroline Jerotich has consistently improved each week and Mia Kane of UCLA could surprise us this weekend in only her third collegiate steeplechase effort. Clute’s path to the title will not come easy, but she has had a quietly great rookie year and hasn't shown many signs of slowing down.

The BIG 10 is one of the nation's best conferences when it comes to athletics. However, the conference will grow even stronger with the upcoming introduction of Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC starting this fall. And when it comes to track and field, that makes this already-strong conference even better. This weekend will be the final rendition of the BIG 10 as we currently know it. And with the conference competition only improving, athletes and coaches alike will be gunning for championship titles before that task becomes even more challenging for the foreseeable future... *Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back). Men’s 800 Meters Rivaldo Marshall (Iowa) - 1:46 Adam Spencer (Wisconsin) - 1:46 Handal Roban (Penn State) - 1:46 Camden Marshall (Indiana) - 1:47 Andrew Casey (Wisconsin) - 1:48 Analysis: There are four men who could legitimately win this race and they are appropriately listed as my top-four names in these predictions. Rivaldo Marshall is the safest pick given how strong he has looked throughout the spring months, but Handal Roban has historically peaked for the postseason. Adam Spencer may not be a pure 800-meter runner, but he has proven multiple times before that he can be a massive threat in this event. His raw fitness could carry him to a title on Sunday. As for Marshall, don't forget, he's the defending indoor conference champion at this distance. And if this field gives him an opening, he can (and likely will) take full advantage of that opportunity. Women’s 800 Meters Hayley Kitching (Penn State) - 2:02 Alli Bookin-Nosbisch (Iowa) - 2:04 Aniya Mosley (Ohio State)* - 2:05 Brooke Jaworski (Minnesota)* - 2:05 Victoria Vanriele (Penn State) - 2:06 Analysis: This is Hayley Kitching's race to lose as I struggle to see someone giving her any real trouble this weekend. However, it should be noted that Alli Bookin-Nosbisch has been the next-most consistent half-miler in this field. And while I like Aniya Mosley quite a bit, having her double back from the 1500-meter finals on the same day (assuming she qualifies) makes it challenging to envision her getting past Bookin-Nosbisch. Men’s 1500 Meters Evan Dorenkamp (Penn State)* - 3:47 Nick Foster (Michigan)* - 3:48 Trent McFarland (Michigan) - 3:50 Henry Johnson (Michigan) -3:50 Eli Hoeft (Minnesota)* - 3:50 Analysis: If Vegas was setting betting odds for this race, I think they would have Michigan's Nick Foster as the title favorite. And while I agree that he is the favorite on paper, I could very easily see Evan Dorenkamp taking this win. Dorenkamp has fantastic turnover and is often really great in tactical championship races. Nick Foster, however, is arguably the better overall miler from a time and fitness standpoint. But given the struggles that the BIG 10 veteran has had on this stage in the past and his underwhelming effort at the Wake Forest Invite, I'm taking the Nittany Lion ace in this one. Of course, if you're Michigan, that likely won't make a big difference in the grand scheme of things. The Big Blue men have tons of great runners in this field and I wouldn't be surprised if they made up at least half of the scoring positions in this race. Women’s 1500 Meters Kileigh Kane (Penn State)* - 4:17 Lauren Freeland (Michigan State)* - 4:17 Alexandra Carlson (Rutgers)* - 4:19 Aniya Mosley (Ohio State)* - 4:20 Madison Mooney (Wisconsin) - 4:20 Analysis: Kileigh Kane is probably favored to win this race given her consistency over the last few months, her standout personal bests, her strong range and prior national meet experience. However, Lauren Freeland is an excellent tactical racer and often peaks for the postseason better than most women. Alex Carlson could be a key name to watch if she continues to pick up momentum while Aniya Mosley could very well win this race if she is able to validate her fantastic 4:12 (1500) effort which gave her a win at the Penn Relays. Men’s 5000 Meters Skylar Stidam (Indiana)* - 14:00 Austin Haskett (Indiana)* - 14:04 Johnny Livingstone (Wisconsin)* - 14:09 Luke Venhuizen (Michigan) - 14:16 Logan Measner (Wisconsin)* - 14:17 Analysis: Gosh, this is such a tricky race to predict. Many of the conferences best longer distance runners have mostly opted out of this event. And among the men who are viewed as top contenders in this field, they'll also be doubling back from events like the steeplechase and the 10,000 meters. To me, Skylar Stidam and Austin Haskett have been the best two runners in this field across a variety of distances and they have great momentum, too. Even so, racing on tired legs leaves us with a lot of unknowns going into Sunday's race. Women’s 5000 Meters Florence Caron (Penn State)* - 15:45 Katie Osika (Michigan State) - 15:48 Sophia Toti (Penn State)* - 15:53 Leane Willemse (Wisconsin) - 15:55 Danielle Santos (Ohio State)* - 16:02 Analysis: Florence Carson has simply been the best 5k runner of anyone in this field. She's run 15:42 and 15:32 over this distance in just this season alone. Her last race also yielded a 4:13 (1500) PR. With a winter campaign validating this recent rise in fitness, it's hard to find many arguments against her. Katie Osika, however, is an accomplished veteran who has tons of experience. She ran a 15:39 (5k) PR earlier this spring and could absolutely up-end Caron for gold come Sunday. Sophia Toti, meanwhile, has tons of momentum under her legs, thriving in the longer distances this spring. If she's feeling good, then I wouldn't be shocked if she stays with her teammate until the very end. Men’s 10,000 Meters Tom Brady (Michigan) - 29:03 Skylar Stidam (Indiana)* - 29:06 CarLee Stimpfel (Michigan State) - 29:16 Zubin Jha (Ohio State)* - 29:37 Micah Wilson (Wisconsin)* - 29:45 Analysis: Tom Brady is very clearly the best 10k runner in this field and Skylar Stidam is very clear the second-best 10k runner in this field. After that duo, I opted to choose reliable veterans who have shown great consistency and know what to expect on Friday night. Of course, guys with underclassman eligibility such as Andrew Lane, Abe Eckman and Hayden Healey (among others) have showcased enough talent to be top-five contenders. Eckman in particular could be very dangerous with his 28:58 (10k) PR. However, the rest of his resume makes that result look like a significant outlier, ultimately making him a major x-factor going into Friday night. Wisconsin's Evan Bishop is entered in this race with no time. He's talented enough to finish in the top-three, but his recent lack of racing and two unexciting results was enough for me to leave him out of my picks. Women’s 10,000 Meters Sophia Toti (Penn State)* - 33:28 Danielle Santos (Ohio State)* - 33:43 Andrea Kuhn (Ohio State)* - 33:44 Florence Caron (Penn State)* - 34:04 Samantha Saenz (Michigan)* - 34:20 Analysis: I just think Sophia Toti is better than the rest of this field and that's the only way that I can explain why I chose her to win. Her times and recent momentum have been too good to not give her consideration for the title. The Ohio State duo of Danielle Santos and Andrew Kuhn have been very steady this spring. They both thrive in the longer distance races and they almost always run side-by-side. Caron may be the most talented runner in this field, but this is also her first-ever 10k. And when it comes to Samantha Saenz, she is someone who has been quietly awesome at nearly every BIG 10 meet that she has contested over the last few years. I don't expect that to stop this weekend. Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Logan Measner (Wisconsin)* - 8:44 Austin Haskett (Indiana)* - 8:46 Caleb Jarema (Michigan) - 8:50 Andrew Nolan (Michigan State) - 8:50 William Merrick (Illinois) - 8:51 Analysis: Gosh, it feels like there are a handful of names who could win this race. Logan Measer is probably the favorite given his 8:37 (steeple) PR and the fact that he's run four different personal bests in his last four races (if you include cross country). And after getting silver in this race last year, I see the Wisconsin runner taking home gold in 2024. Austin Haskett, however, has arguably been better than Measner which you factor-in his indoor track campaign. He is very dynamic and has been a great steeplechaser for a while. If he's still around the leaders with a lap remaining, he'll be a massive threat for gold. Caleb Jarema also ran 8:37 in the steeplechase in the same race that Measner ran his PR. Admittedly, the rest of his resume is quite as extensive as what Measer and Haskett have shown. However, it's clear that the Michigan talent has elevated his fitness this year when you see all of the personal bests that are scattered near the top of his TFRRS profile. Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Makenna Krebs (Penn State)* - 10:01 Zoie Dundon (Minnesota) - 10:01 Taya Skelton (Nebraska)* - 10:19 Taylor Kreitinger (Minnesota) - 10:22 Emma Squires (Purdue)* - 10:23 Analysis: Zoie Dundon is the only woman in the field with a steeplechase seed time that sits under 10 minutes (9:57). However, Penn State's Makenna Krebs isn't far behind with a 10:01 mark of her own. Dundon is only a freshman and that inexperience on a championship stage in an event as variable as the steeplechase has to be taken into consideration. That's ultimately why I took Krebs for the win, but there's a very real scenario where Dundon builds on her fitness even further and produces a monster PR.

Rankings crafted via Marissa Kuik & Nolan Ryan

Among the Power Five conferences, the BIG 12 always seemed to play the role of the youngest sibling. While certainly a strong and competitive conference nationally, it was clear that the BIG 12 simply wasn't as strong (athletically speaking) when compared to the SEC, the BIG 10, the ACC and the PAC-12. Of course, between the PAC-12's crumble and a mass introduction of new member schools, the BIG 12 is all grown up and the most competitive that it's ever been. Now, when it comes to this weekend, we'll get to see this revamped conference do battle for a league title. Here is what we are predicting to see in the distance events over the next few days... *Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back). Men’s 800 Meters Finley McLear (Iowa State) - 1:46 Yusuf Bizimana (Texas)* - 1:46 Darius Kipyego (Iowa State) - 1:46 Sebastian Fernandez (BYU) - 1:47 Cole Lindhorst (Texas)* - 1:47 Analysis: Yusuf Bizimana is still the focal name of the men's 800 meters in the NCAA, but it feels like the Iowa State duo of Finley McLear and Darius Kipyego have shortened the gap between them and the Longhorn ace ever-so-slightly. In the grand scheme of things, we don't have any reason to doubt the English middle distance star from the Lone Star state. However, doubling back from the 1500 meters to face a fresh pair of Cyclones isn't going to make this race any easier for him. Women’s 800 Meters Gabija Galvydyte (Oklahoma State) - 2:01 Kelly-Ann Beckford (Houston) - 2:01 Billah Jepkirui (Oklahoma State)* - 2:03 Olivia Howell (Texas)* - 2:03 Riley Chamberlain (BYU)* - 2:04 Analysis: Yes, Kelly-Ann Beckford did beat Gabija Galvydyte at this meet during the winter months and yes, she has run faster so far this season. Even so, the Oklahoma State veteran proved that she can peak for the postseason very effectively and her recent 2:02 (800) mark suggests that she's trending in the right direction at the right time. Men’s 1500 Meters Brian Musau (Oklahoma State)* - 3:41 Ezekiel Rop (Iowa State) - 3:41 Alex Stitt (Oklahoma State)* - 3:42 Yusuf Bizimana (Texas)* - 3:42 Tyler Wirth (Cincinnati)* - 3:42 Analysis: Gosh, this race could be a thriller. I think you could make arguments for a variety of men to win this race. Brian Musau is probably the best distance runner from 1500 meters and up, but Ezekiel Rop is the best true miler in this field. Alex Stitt has the fastest seasonal best, Yusuf Bizimana has the best raw speed in the field and Tyler Wirth is tactically excellent. This is going to be a fascinating race, but choosing Brian Musau seems like the safest move....right? Women’s 1500 Meters Billah Jepkirui (Oklahoma State)* - 4:10 Gracie Morris (TCU) - 4:11 Riley Chamberlain (BYU)* - 4:12 Juliet Cherubet (Texas Tech)* - 4:15 Sadie Sargent (BYU)* - 4:16 Analysis: Billah Jepkirui is the best miler in this field...but not by a lot. Riley Chamberlain has proven to be a borderline star (although more so during the winter than the spring) and Gracie Morris is on fire after throwing down a monster 4:29 DMR anchor split at the Penn Relays. Even so, I'll take Jepkirui who can seemingly do no wrong. Men’s 5000 Meters Fouad Messaoudi (Oklahoma State) - 13:33 Joey Nokes (BYU)* - 13:37 Ernest Cheruiyot (Texas Tech)* - 13:39 Alex Maier (Oklahoma State) - 13:39 Brian Musau (Oklahoma State)* - 13:41 Analysis: Given that Fouad Messaoudi is going to be fresh for this race, I feel comfortable saying that he'll walk away with a BIG 12 title. This is someone who has run under 3:38 for 1500 meters twice this spring and is a multi-time top-half All-American on the grass. Behind him, I trust Joey Nokes the most in this race, but that's largely because Brian Musau will double back from the 1500 meters and because Ernest Cheruiyot is still very inexperienced. Women’s 5000 Meters Taylor Roe (Oklahoma State) - 15:34 Molly Born (Oklahoma State) - 15:38 Juliet Cherubet (Texas Tech)* - 15:44 Jenna Hutchins (BYU) - 15:49 Billah Jepkirui (Oklahoma State)* - 15:55 Analysis: At a quick glance, you would expect this race to be the Oklahoma State show. Both Taylor Roe and Molly Born are the clear top-two options in this field, but it's not by as much as you would expect. That's because Texas Tech's Juliet Cherubet is much better than some people may realize and she could create some problems if the Cowgirls don't shake her early enough. After all, Cherubet holds a 15:25 (5k) PR from this season. Men’s 10,000 Meters Ernest Cheruiyot (Texas Tech)* - 28:11 Joey Nokes (BYU)* - 28:14 Adisu Guadia (Oklahoma State)* - 28:27 Sanele Masondo (Iowa State)* - 28:38 Said Mechaal (Iowa State)* - 28:49 Analysis: I am someone who often avoids picking young and inexperienced runners on championship stages for my predictions, especially over the longer distances. But after seeing how strong and poised Ernest Cheruiyot looked in his 10k battle with Alex Phillip (where they both went under 28 minutes), I feel pretty confident in this Texas Tech rookie going into Thursday night. Joey Nokes is looking just as sharp as he ever has and that should keep in contention to win. However, more importantly, this race will likely be fairly quick if Cheruiyot runs the same way that he did at the Bryan Clay Invite. In theory, that kind of racing style favors the skillsets of Adisu Guadia and Sanele Masondo. Women’s 10,000 Meters Taylor Roe (Oklahoma State)* - 33:00 Gabby Hentemann (Oklahoma State)* - 33:35 Eva Jess (Texas)* - 33:46 Dana Fayen (Iowa State)* - 33:50 Anastacia Chepkorir (Texas Tech)* - 33:52 Analysis: It's Taylor Roe and then everyone else. That's the best way to describe this race. This will be a great opportunity for certain women to build momentum going into the regional stage, but Roe will keep this race fairly unexciting. Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Gable Sieperda (Iowa State)* - 8:35 James Corrigan (BYU)* - 8:36 Victor Shitsama (Oklahoma State)* - 8:36 Wyatt Haughton (BYU) - 8:39 Quinton Orr (Iowa State)* - 8:51 Analysis: I would argue that Gable Sieperda, James Corrigan and Victor Shitsama all have the ability to win this race. However, Sieperda has been flat-out better in this event this spring and his experience in this discipline is extensive. James Corrigan, however, has had a great year across all three seasons and he may even be on a bit of a hot streak right now. Shitsama, meanwhile, has only raced twice this year, but an 8:36 mark suggests that he's still an All-American threat. Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Janette Schraft (Iowa State)* - 9:45 Lona Latema (Kansas)* - 9:54 Taylor Lovell (BYU) - 9:54 Mikenna Vanderheyden (West Virginia) - 10:06 Allie Warner (BYU) - 10:10 Analysis: After seeing how easily Janette Schraft dominated the Stanford Invite steeplechase field back in late March, I would be very surprised if she lost. Lona Latema has proven that she's great in the postseason and Lovell is having a breakout spring campaign. Even so, this Iowa State's steeplechase ace has likely grown even stronger since late March, making her that much harder to take down.

Predictions & analysis via Maura Beattie, edits & additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin Years ago, the SEC was not considered to be a competitive conference within the distance running realm. That narrative, however, has changed dramatically. Nowadays, the nation's most elite middle distance stars and long distance juggernauts all hail from the Southeastern Conference. And in 2024, that couldn't be more true. That's why, despite the late release of the entries, we needed to make sure that we produced predictions! Alright, here we go... *Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back). Men’s 800 Meters Sam Whitmarsh (Texas A&M) - 1:45 Parvej Kahn (Florida)* - 1:45 Tyrese Reid (Mississippi State) - 1:46 Oussama El Bouchayby (Alabama) - 1:46 Sam Austin (Florida) - 1:47 Analysis: This is probably the race of the weekend at the SEC Championships, and maybe the entire NCAA, given the depth in the field. Sam Whitmarsh (Texas A&M) is the title favorite, but the competition won’t let him run away with the title. Florida’s Parvej Kahn has the home track advantage and has a reputation for a VERY fast finish. Tyrese Reid of Mississippi State ran 1:45 (800) earlier this season, but he was overshadowed by Whitmarsh's 1:44 mark in that same race. This will be a huge opportunity for Reid to validate his early-season effort. And that’s just the potential top-three that we could see! There's a very real possibility that we see four or even five men under 1:47 this weekend. Women’s 800 Meters Michaela Rose (LSU) - 1:58 Sanu Jallow (Arkansas) - 2:02 Sylvia Chelangat (South Carolina) - 2:02 Sydney Steely (Kentucky)* - 2:03 Lorena Rangel Batres (LSU)* - 2:03 Analysis: LSU’s Michaela Rose is in a league of her own. The Tiger star is the clear title favorite, so let’s focus on the race for 2nd place. Arkansas' Sanu Jallow has continued to find success over 800 meters on the outdoor oval, consistently running 2:03 marks. However, despite her ongoing consistency, Jallow will have to fend off a quietly deep field of women. Among those women includes Sylvia Chelangat of South Carolina, the SEC runner-up in this event back in 2023. Men’s 1500 Meters Parvej Kahn (Florida)* - 3:40 Jaouad Khchina (South Carolina)* - 3:41 Ryan Kinnane (Auburn)* - 3:41 Cruz Gomez (Ole Miss)* - 3:43 Ben Shearer (Arkansas)* - 3:43 Analysis: All-American talent Parvej Kahn (Florida) should come charging down the homestretch with his chain necklace in his mouth and win his first outdoor SEC title this weekend. Watch for Jaouad Khchina of South Carolina, though. The freshman is an unknown entering the men's 1500-meter field this weekend, but mark my words, his 1:48 (800) and 3:41 (1500) marks are worthy of him giving Kahn a run for his money. Women’s 1500 Meters Flomena Asekol (Florida)* - 4:14 Judy Kosgei (South Carolina)* - 4:15 Lorena Rangel Batres (LSU)* - 4:15 Tiana LoStracco (Arkansas) - 4:17 Mia Cochran (Arkansas)* - 4:18 Analysis: A sub-4:10 (1500) performance probably isn’t what we’ll see from the women at the SEC Championships, but rather, we’re going to get a tactical race. Florida’s Flomena Asekol's impeccable range will land her atop the podium, but SEC newcomer Judy Kosgei and veteran Lorena Rangel Batres have the wheels to challenge the Gator to the line. Men’s 5000 Meters Victor Kiprop (Alabama)* - 13:36 Kirami Yego (Arkansas)* - 13:38 Toby Gillen (Ole Miss)* - 13:39 Brandon Olden (Tennessee) - 13:42 Patrick Kiprop (Arkansas)* - 13:43 Analysis: It’s honestly anyone’s race in the 5k. Victor Kiprop of Alabama leads the SEC this spring with his 13:24 (5k) PR performance, but a time that fast likely won't be run this weekend. Many men are doubling back from the 1500 meters or the 10k, but not Tennessee’s Brandon Olsen. The Volunteer’s fresh legs will help him tremendously against a field of aggressive front-runners. Women’s 5000 Meters Parker Valby (Florida) - 14:51 Doris Lemngole (Alabama)* - 15:04 Hilda Olemomoi (Alabama)* - 15:09 Sydney Thorvaldson (Arkansas)* - 15:27 Brenda Tuwei (Alabama)* - 15:41 Analysis: Florida’s Parker Valby will be making her first appearance on the outdoor oval since recording an NCAA 10k record of 30:50. Fans shouldn’t be shocked one bit to see Valby improve upon her current 14:52 (5k) PR at the SEC Championships and continue her undefeated junior year. For the remainder of the podium, Alabama’s duo of Doris Lemngole and Hilda Olemomoi stand out and will sit on Valby as long as possible. Men’s 10,000 Meters Patrick Kiprop (Arkansas)* - 29:13 Victor Kiprop (Alabama)* - 29:17 Bradley Makuvire (South Carolina)* - 29:24 Yaseen Abdalla (Tennessee)* - 29:25 Jacob McLeod (Arkansas)* - 29:30 Analysis: Don’t expect a fast one from the men in the 10k. The heavy favorites, Patrick Kiprop (Arkansas) and Victor Kiprop (Alabama), will be doubling back later in the weekend for the 5k and won’t want to exert too much energy. The 10k at the SEC Championships is really about bragging rights and execution of tactics this weekend. Women’s 10,000 Meters Hilda Olemomoi (Alabama)* - 34:20 Sydney Thorvaldson (Arkansas)* - 34:28 Joy Gill (Alabama) - 34:31 Ella Chesnut (LSU)* - 34:32 Emily Covert (Tennessee)* - 34:36 Analysis: There’s not much to say here. Alabama’s Hilda Olemomoi should be able to run away from Arkansas’ Sydney Thorvaldson somewhat convincingly, although not necessarily easily. And while the times may seem slow, you have to remember that both of those women have to double back for the 5k. Florida is also a hot and humid setting and last year's 10k race, won by Thorvaldson, was won in 35:07. If you want a dark horse though, pay attention to LSU’s Ella Chestnut. The Tiger sophomore is finding her groove in the 10k after focusing on the steeplechase in 2023. A top-five finish after running 32:46 (10k) earlier this season isn’t out of the question for Chestnut. Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Victor Kibiego (Texas A&M)* - 8:37 Carson Burian (Alabama)* - 8:46 Brett Brady (Tennessee) - 8:49 Jackson Watts (Kentucky)* - 8:55 Wesley John (Georgia) - 8:58 Analysis: Victor Kibiego doesn’t need to run lights out this weekend in the steeplechase as the Texas A&M star is leaps and bounds ahead of the field. No one from the chase pack is really catching our eyes. The men’s steeplechase at the SEC Championships just isn’t deep enough to give Kibiego a fight for the win. Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Doris Lemngole (Alabama)* - 9:32 Elise Thorner (Florida)* - 9:34 Laura Taborda (Arkansas)* - 9:54 Kennedy Fontenot (Texas A&M)* - 10:02 Teresa Cherotich (South Carolina)* - 10:05 Analysis: Doris Lemngole (Alabama) surprised anyone who wasn't familiar with her steeple accolades when she beat Notre Dame’s Olivia Markezich in that event a few weeks ago. But heading into the SEC Championships, everyone knows what to expect from the Crimson Tide freshman. Lemngole and Florida’s Elise Thorner should have a nice battle upfront for the win, but the former has the advantage over the Gator.

The ACC could be argued as the deepest distance running conference in the entire NCAA, especially with the introduction of Stanford happening in the fall. As such, the ACC Outdoor Championships will give east coast fans plenty of exciting races to watch and important results to monitor. Here's how we see this conference meet unfolding... *Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back). Men’s 800 Meters Nick Plant (Virginia Tech) - 1:46 Tarees Rhoden (Clemson) - 1:46 Rynard Swanepoel (Wake Forest) - 1:46 Jack Balick (Wake Forest) - 1:47 Zach Hughes (NC State)* - 1:48 Analysis: In my opinion, Nick Plant is the most complete half-miler in this field. He has championship experience (and success), a nationally competitive PR, effective middle distance range, strong consistency, excellent poise and a good understanding of tactics...what's not to like? Tarees Rhoden is arguably just as talented, but his championship tactics over the years have led to mixed results. Rynard Swanepoel is the only guy in this field who has run under 1:46 (800) this season, but this weekend will be a great chance for him to validate that huge breakout result. Women’s 800 Meters Lindsey Butler (Virginia Tech) - 2:01 Gladys Chepngetich (Clemson)* - 2:02 Star Price (Virginia Tech) - 2:03 Makayla Paige (North Carolina) - 2:03 Esther Seeland (Virginia) - 2:03 Analysis: Lindsey Butler is certainly favored to win this race given her history of dominance at this meet and her recent success. That said, Gladys Chepngetich (Clemson) and Makayla Paige (North Carolina) have both run faster this season and teammate Star Price has been closing the gap between her and Butler. Regardless, I'll take the long-time veteran who (usually) peaks beautifully for this meet every year. Men’s 1500 Meters Ethan Strand (North Carolina)* - 3:39 Gary Martin (Virginia)* - 3:39 Wes Porter (Virginia)* - 3:41 Steven Jackson (Boston College) - 3:41 Daelen Ackley (Notre Dame)* - 3:42 Analysis: I would not at all disagree with anyone who wanted to pick Gary Martin for the win. In my eyes, both him and Ethan Strand have an equal shot at winning gold. Strand is slightly more accomplished than his UVA counterpart at the mile/1500-meter distances by the narrowest of margins, but this is still a coin-toss race. I like the experience of Wes Porter and I feel like he's due for a top finish while Steven Jackson hasn't done anything to lower his stock since the winter. As for Daelen Ackley, he's a touch underrated and has consistently been a threat over this distance. Women’s 1500 Meters Margot Appleton (Virginia)* - 4:11 Sam Bush (NC State)* - 4:11 Molly Hudson (Boston College)* - 4:13 Grace Hartman (NC State)* - 4:13 Suus Altorf (Florida State) - 4:15 Analysis: It's probably best not to go against Margot Appleton in these predictions, a woman who has a 4:29 mile PR and has developed a reputation for peaking in the postseason. Even so, Sam Bush is beginning to build a lot of positive momentum and as long as the pace doesn't get away from her, I could see her winning gold. The rest of the field could break up those two women, but when it comes to contenders for gold, Appleton and Bush seem like the best options. Men’s 5000 Meters Parker Wolfe (North Carolina)* - 13:25 Alex Phillip (North Carolina)* - 13:33 Will Anthony (Virginia)* - 13:36 Perry Mackinnon (Syracuse) - 13:37 Gary Martin (Virginia)* - 13:42 Analysis: It should be no surprise that we have Parker Wolfe winning. And when it comes to Alex Phillip, he is simply the next-most accomplished runner in this field. For that reason, we have him getting silver, although Will Anthony has been really strong this season as well. But considering that the UNC men will likely work together, it would take a herculean effort to break up that Tar Heel duo. Women’s 5000 Meters Olivia Markezich (Notre Dame) - 15:32 Amaris Tyynismaa (NC State)* - 15:35 Margot Appleton (Virginia)* - 15:37 Grace Hartman (NC State)* - 15:40 Kelsey Chmiel (NC State) - 15:47 Analysis: With Olivia Markezich eschewing the steeplechase to be fresh for the 5000 meters, it's hard to imagine she'll lose on fresh legs. That's especially true given that Amaris Tyynismaa, Margot Appleton and Grace Hartman will all be doubling back from the 1500-meter finals (assuming they qualify). Men’s 10,000 Meters Parker Wolfe (North Carolina)* - 28:22 Alex Phillip (North Carolina)* - 28:36 Paul O'Donnell (Syracuse)* - 28:44 Will Anthony (Virginia)* - 28:46 Colton Sands (North Carolina)* - 28:57 Analysis: It doesn't matter that Parker Wolfe hasn't run a 10k on the track before. He's simply way too fit for anyone else in this field to beat him -- and that's saying something given that Alex Phillip has run under 28:00 (10k) this spring. Paul O'Donnell continues to be overlooked over the 10k distance despite his historical success, Will Anthony is a reliable pick and Colton Sands has been great in the two races that he has contested this spring. Women’s 10,000 Meters Amaris Tyynismaa (NC State)* - 32:49 Erin Strzelecki (Notre Dame)* - 32:58 Savannah Roark (Syracuse)* - 33:12 Winnie Incorvaia (Pittsburgh)* - 33:33 Caroline Garrett (Wake Forest) - 33:41 Analysis: After running 15:40 (5k) less than a month ago, Amaris Tyynismaa's fitness is seemingly nearing it's prior peak form. The NC State talent is definitely a better 5k runner than she is a 10k runner, but she should still be able to fend off Notre Dame's Erin Strzelecki who has been excellent at the ACC Championships over her last few years with the Irish. Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Nathan Mountain (Virginia)* - 8:28 CJ Singleton (Notre Dame)* - 8:31 Brett Gardner (NC State)* - 8:33 Yasin Sado (Virginia)* - 8:34 Michael Keehan (Duke) - 8:37 Analysis: This is a very, very good field. And yet, Nathan Mountain is far and away the best steeplechaser in this field. He's the defending ACC steeple champion, ran 8:20 earlier this spring and was a 4th place All-American in this event last year. I don't see him losing. Notre Dame sophomore CJ Singleton has been incredible this spring and despite his relative youth, I don't think it's going to matter. That's saying a lot considering that Brett Gardner, Yasin Sado and Michael Keehan have all proven (to varying extents) that they could be steeplechase All-Americans on the right day. Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Sophie Novak (Notre Dame) - 9:49 Emma Tavella (Boston College) - 9:49 Helena Lindsay (Georgia Tech)* - 9:59 Angelina Napoleon (NC State) - 10:03 Emily Cole (Duke) - 10:08 Analysis: Sophie Novak peaked at the ACC Outdoor Championships last year en route to a 9:48 (steeple) PR. But this year, she's been even better in the her lead up to this meet. In theory, that experience and recent momentum should be enough to give her the win...right? However, Emma Tavella could absolutely win this race. She has run three personal bests in her last four races and the one race where she didn't PR was a 9:53 steeplechase mark that was less than one second off of her personal best.

The BIG East doesn't always get the respect it deserves when we talk about the top athletic conferences in the NCAA. Sure, the conference isn't nearly the same caliber as the SEC, ACC, BIG 12 or BIG 10, but it among the headliners of the next-best tier. This year's BIG East Outdoor Championships will, once again, hold plenty of excellent results as well as a matchups that we could also see on the national stage. Here's how TSR veteran Maura Beattie sees the distance events unfolding at this meet... *Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back). Men’s 800 Meters Tinoda Matsatsa (Georgetown) - 1:46 William Cuthbertson (Butler) - 1:47 Sean Dolan (Villanova) - 1:47 Matthew Payamps (Georgetown) - 1:48 Mahamed Sharif (Connecticut) - 1:48 Analysis: Man, is this race going to be close. Freshman stud Tinoda Matsatsa (Georgetown) is primed to win his first BIG East title after being denied by Sean Dolan (Villanova) at the indoor edition of this meet. Be sure to also keep an eye on Butler's William Cuthbertson who may be able to upset Dolan for silver. Cuthbertson has momentum on his side after running 1:47 (800) to secure a win at Indiana University one week ago. And while Dolan has not at all run poorly in recent weeks, he has also given us very little to review in terms of results. Yes, I'm going out on a limb here, but I don't think it's out of the correction. Women’s 800 Meters Madison Martinez (Villanova) - 2:04 Nora Haugen (St. John’s) - 2:04 Micah Trusty (Villanova) - 2:05 Maeve O’Neill (Providence) - 2:05 Katy-Ann McDonald (Georgetown) - 2:06 Analysis: Villanova’s Madison Martinez is a veteran of the sport, especially over 800 meters at the BIG East Championships. That's why it's only fair that the senior stands atop the podium this weekend. Martinez’s teammate Micah Trusty might have the fastest seasonal best time in the field, but there are other underclassmen who have been just as good over the last few months. That contingent of younger challengers includes St. John’s Nora Haugen (who has run 2:05 for 800 meters) and Providence Maeve O'Neill (who was really solid at the Penn Relays on her team's 4x800-meter squad). Men’s 1500 Meters Liam Murphy (Villanova) - 3:42 Charlie O’Donovan (Villanova) - 3:43 Abel Teffra (Georgetown) - 3:43 Sean Donoghue (Villanova) - 3:45 Jesse Hamlin (Butler)* - 3:46 Analysis: Liam Murphy of Villanova is the obvious pre-race favorite, but Abel Teffra of Georgetown and Jesse Hamlin of Butler are going to make the Wildcat star work for the win. Murphy’s incredible range from the 1500 meters up to 5000 meters is unmatched, as is his incredible kick. If someone wants to pull off the upset, then we may see some team tactics. The only problem for Murphy's challengers is that the Wildcats have also loaded up the metric mile, meaning that Villanova will be able to employ some team tactics of their own. Women’s 1500 Meters Melissa Riggins (Georgetown) - 4:07 Shannon Flockhart (Providence) - 4:07 Cara Laverty (Providence) - 4:15 Chloe Thomas (Connecticut) - 4:16 Chloe Gonzalez (Georgetown) - 4:18 Analysis: It’s going to be Melissa Riggins (Georgetown) vs Shannon Flockhart (Providence) in the women’s 1500 meters. These two women are mostly interchangeable athletes, excelling in a variety of distances, showcasing great race savvy and thriving as top-tier names in the mile. Riggins has the advantage over Flockhart though thanks to her 2:01 (800) speed and in my eyes, that's what’s going to land the Georgetown star atop the podium. However, let's not forget that these two women have both run well under 4:10 this season and in a race where they'll push each other, the final results could be much faster than some may expect. Men’s 5000 Meters Marco Langon (Villanova) - 13:38 Florian LePallec (Butler)* - 13:40 Jesse Hamlin (Butler)* - 13:40 Devon Comber (Butler) - 13:49 Lucas Guerra (Georgetown) - 13:52 Analysis: Many of the favorites in the men’s 5k will either be doubling back from the 1500 meters or the 10,000 meters. However, someone who is expected to come in with fresh legs is Marco Langon (Villanova). The redshirt freshman is coming in with extra confidence after helping Villanova win a wheel in the 4xMile relay at Penn Relays. Langon’s 13:28 (5k) PR is sandwiched between Butler’s Jesse Hamlin (who is doubling back from the 1500 meters) and Florian LePallec, two men who have been consistent all season long and thrive at this distance arguably more than Langon does. Women’s 5000 Meters Kimberley May (Providence) - 15:50 Lily Tuck (Providence) - 15:54 Sadie Sigfstead (Villanova) - 15:55 Maggie Donahue (Georgetown) - 15:58 Emma McGill (Villanova) - 16:09 Analysis: Jumping up in distance to the 5k from her marquee 1500-meter event is Providence’s Kimberley May. The Friar front-runner is expected to run sub-16:00 over this distance given her resume and she will surely carry teammate Lily Tuck along with her. Villanova’s Sadie Sigfstead could break up the May-Tuck duo after the strong season that she's been having, but that’s going to take some extra speed from the long distance specialist if this comes down to a fast finish. Men’s 10,000 Meters Florian LePallec (Butler)* - 28:45 Abdel Laadjel (Providence) - 28:53 Will Minnette (Butler) - 29:12 Jack McMahon (Butler)* - 29:12 Jack Fredian (Villanova) - 29:16 Analysis: Of the 16 men entered in this 10k field, Florian LePallec (Butler) and Abdel Laadjel (Providence) are expected to be up at the front, outdistancing themselves from the chase pack early-on in the race. And in my eyes, these two men won’t need to do anything special to secure a top finish. However, arguably the bigger development to monitor is how many points a team can in this race. This is a huge opportunity for Butler to rack up some serious points. Women’s 10,000 Meters Chloe Scrimgeour (Georgetown)* - 33:06 Laura Mooney (Providence) - 33:14 Kelsey Swenson (Georgetown) - 33:29 Elizabeth Vaughn (Villanova)* - 34:47 Abby Olson (Butler) - 34:54 Analysis: Distance ace Chloe Scrimgeour will be making her 10k debut at the BIG East Championships. Scrimgeour’s 15:21 (5k) PR leads us to believe that her potential to post a strong time in the 10k is in the cards. Laura Mooney of Providence, who is an underrated talent when she's firing on all cylinders, has the best shot of staying close to the Georgetown runner. Even so, the raw fitness of Scrimgeour will likely be too much to overcome. Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Patrick Thygesen (Providence) - 8:41 Peter Herold (Georgetown) - 8:43 Martin Kovacech (Butler) - 8:44 Kevin Cawley (Connecticut) - 8:54 Dan Weizeorick (Marquette) - 8:59 Analysis: It’s going to be a battle up front with Providence’s Patrick Thygesen, Georgetown’s Peter Herold and Butler’s Martin Kovacech. Of those three men, Thygesen has the most experience and the fastest steeplechase PR of 8:33. Don’t expect that fast of a time this week as the Friar will be doing just enough to safely cross barriers as well as out-sprint Herold and Kovacech in the latter-half of this race. Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Mary Hennelly (Georgetown) - 10:12 Wiktoria Klebowska (Butler) - 10:23 Sophie Coughlin (Connecticut) - 10:25 Rachel Woodruff (Connecticut) - 10:26 Amy Prugh (Xavier (OH)) - 10:35 Analysis: There’s not much to focus on here in the steeplechase. Georgetown’s Mary Hennelly comes in as the heavy favorite after posting a 10:08 (steeple) PR earlier this season. Instead, this race will instead be for 2nd place as Wiktoria Klebowska (Butler), Sophie Coughlin (Connecticut) and Rachel Woodruff (Connecticut) enter with PRs separated by only three seconds. The nod has to go to Klebowska who has momentum after running a 1500-meter PR of 4:24, speed that will come in handy at the end of this steeplechase bout.

When people think of the BIG Sky Conference, they usually think of Northern Arizona (and understandably so). However, as the Lumberjacks have risen in the all-time ranks, some of their conference opponents have found great success as well. Montana State has evolved into a steeplechase powerhouse and the Bobcats have also become legitimate, national-caliber threats on the grass as well. Weber State has produced a handful of excellent individuals and the conference in general has been very strong in the steeplechase. Below, we gave you our predictions and brief thoughts on what the BIG Sky Outdoor Championships may hold this weekend. *Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back). Times that are listed below are NOT converted from altitude. Men’s 800 Meters Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)* - 1:49 Nico Young (Northern Arizona)* - 1:49 Zac Bright (Idaho) - 1:50 Jesse Hayward (Northern Colorado) - 1:50 Lorenz Herrmann (Idaho) - 1:51 Analysis: Colin Sahlman and Nico Young are favored in this race simply because they are the most fit men in this field (by a large margin). However, both Zac Bright and Jesse Hayward have been very consistent this season and have given us way more things to like about them than not. Also, if Lorenz Herrmann is firing on all cylinders, then he's capable of capturing bronze. Women’s 800 Meters Maggi Congdon (Northern Arizona)* - 2:06 Regina Mpigachai (Northern Colorado)* - 2:08 Annika Reiss (Northern Arizona)* - 2:09 Nikita Moore (Northern Arizona)* - 2:10 Keira Moore (Northern Arizona)* - 2:10 Analysis: Maggi Congdon is the best middle distance runner in this field, specifically over 800 meters. Regina Mpigachai is no pushover, but outside of her, the raw fitness of the NAU women should allow them to glide through this field. Men’s 1500 Meters Nico Young (Northern Arizona)* - 3:46 Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona)* - 3:46 Harvey Cramb (Montana State)* - 3:48 Aaron Las Heras (Northern Arizona)* - 3:50 Sam Ells (Montana State)* - 3:51 Analysis: I really like Harvey Cramb over 1500 meters. No, I don't see him beating Nico Young or Colin Sahlman, but he's had a quietly great season. Don't expect him to falter too much when NAU's top duo makes their move. But truthfully, after the top-three, this order seems to be pretty up in the air. There are a somewhat large handful of names who could very realistically crack the top-five of the 1500-meter finals. Women’s 1500 Meters Annika Reiss (Northern Arizona)* - 4:21 Maggi Congdon (Northern Arizona)* - 4:21 Karrie Baloga (Northern Arizona)* - 4:23 Regina Mpigachai (Northern Colorado)* - 4:23 Kyla Christopher-Moody (Montana State)* - 4:24 Analysis: I really like Regina Mpigachai and Kyla Christopher-Moody going into this weekend. They are two of the few women who I think are capable of breaking up NAU's dominance. But on paper, Reiss, Congdon and Baloga are just flat-out better right now. Men’s 5000 Meters Nico Young (Northern Arizona)* - 14:03 Aaron Las Heras (Northern Arizona)* - 14:07 Ben Perrin (Montana State)* - 14:09 Brodey Hasty (Northern Arizona)* - 14:11 Matthew Richtman (Montana State)* - 14:17 Analysis: I have no idea how fast this race is going to be. It's certainly not going to be an all-out affair, but at what point do the NAU men begin to ramp up the pace? How does the altitude play into this 5k final? And will Nico Young even contest this event after the 1500-meter finals and 800-meter finals? This group is entirely aerobic-centric, so I imagine that it will remain somewhat honest as their endurance-based strength is put to the test. Women’s 5000 Meters Gracelyn Larkin (Northern Arizona)* - 16:18 Ali Upshaw (Northern Arizona) - 16:20 Annika Reiss (Northern Arizona)* - 16:20 Bryn Morley (Northern Arizona)* - 16:22 Kyla Christopher-Moody (Montana State) - 16:25 Analysis: There is a very, very, very real possibility that Northern Arizona sweeps the top-five spots in this race. In fact, their sweep could go potential six or seven women deep! Kyla Christopher-Moody is probably too good to miss the top-eight entirely, but the Lumberjacks seemingly brought out the full arsenal for this event. Men’s 10,000 Meters Ben Perrin (Montana State)* - 29:53 Matthew Richtman (Montana State)* - 29:54 Cael Grotenhuis (Northern Arizona)* - 29:59 Owen Smith (Montana State)* - 30:11 Erik Le Roux (Northern Arizona)* - 30:17 Analysis: Ben Perrin and Matthew Richtman will probably go 1-2 in this race. They are both experienced veterans, have thrived over the longer distances, easily hold the fastest personal bests in this field and are always great at altitude. However, NAU's Cael Grotenhuis ran 13:38 (5k) earlier this spring and has a 28:45 (10k) PR from last year. If he's at the top of his game, then the Lumberjack junior is capable of pulling off a fairly decent upset. Women’s 10,000 Meters Ruby Smee (Northern Arizona)* - 34:54 Anna Fenske (Northern Arizona)* - 34:59 Alex Moore (Montana State)* - 35:25 Hannah Perrin (Montana State)* - 35:48 Cassandra Vasquez (Idaho State)* - 36:00 Analysis: I would be VERY surprised if Ruby Smee doesn't win this race. She is the most accomplished runner in this field...and it's not even close. Anna Fenske also deserves a lot of respect in this race -- I could see the 10k being a big breakthrough opportunity for her. Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Rob McManus (Montana State)* - 8:43 Levi Taylor (Montana State)* - 8:44 Bronson Winter (Weber State)* - 8:48 Peter Visser (Weber State)* - 8:55 Owen Smith (Montana State)* - 8:57 Analysis: I sincerely believe that this could be the best race of the entire conference weekend, at least on the men's side. Both Montana State and Weber State have small armies of top-tier steeplechasers, many of whom are on absolute fire right now. Someone in the field is going to make this race fast and given how well these guys have run at altitude, I think you're going to see massive conversions that headline the national leaderboard. Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Karrie Baloga (Northern Arizona)* - 10:33 Katja Pattis (Idaho)* - 10:38 Sage Hagelin (Weber State)* - 10:40 Hannah Perrin (Montana State)* - 10:44 Grace Gilbreth (Montana State)* - 10:44 Analysis: Karrie Baloga is simply the better overall runner and Katja Pattis has shown us that her peak level of fitness can make her a contender in this field. Other than that, this isn't a race that is going to garner major headlines.