NCAA Outdoor Championship Preview
- West Coast XC
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
NCAA Championships - June 10 - 13
Hayward Field - Eugene, OR
Watch the preview HERE
Watch the meet live HERE
NCAA Outdoor Championships will be competed at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Here are prominent distance athletes competing in Eugene:
Wednesday Final
Habtom Samuel of New Mexico is one of the favorites in the men's 10,000 with a time of 27:30.51 that he ran at the Stanford Invitational in April. Elsingi Kipruto of Louisville has run the fastest 10,000 time of the season with his 27:29.83 at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Other athletes who will challenge include Denis Kipngetich of Oklahoma State, Ernest Cheruiyot of Arkansas and Evans Kurui of Washington.
Thursday Final
The freshman phenom Jane Hedengren of BYU leads will race on Thursday night and has the NCAA record time of 30:46.80 in the 10,000 meters. The defending 10,000 meter champion is Pam Kosgei of New Mexico who is also entered in the race and has faced Hedengren several times this season for epic battles. Caren Kiplagat of Alabama, Mercyline Kirwa of Iowa State and Jadyn Keeler of North Dakota will race to get on the podium.
Friday Finals
Simeon Birnbaum of Oregon set the NCAA record in the 1500 this season in 3:31.60 and is the event leader. Michigan has a duo in Trent McFarland and Brendan Herger that have run well this year. Gary Martin of Virginia is a veteran of 1500 meter finals at the NCAA. Brian Masai of Arkansas has run 3:33.17 this season. Carter Cutting of BYU won the NCAA Indoor mile in March and ran locally at Wilsonville High School.
Geoffrey Kirwa of Louisville ran the second fastest 3000 steeplechase in NCAA history in April at the Bryan Clay Invitational at 8:08.10. Nathan Mountain of Virginia is the closest rival with the season best of 8:11.92. Silas Kiptanui of Tulane ran 8:18.09 at the NCAA East Regional to qualify for Eugene. Titus Kimaru of Texas Tech and Kristian Imroth of Eastern Kentucky are other contenders.
Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor of Arkansas have the fastest 800 meter times of the season with both athletes running 1:44. Colin Sahlman of Northern Arizona won the indoor 3000 in March and hopes for another NCAA track title in the 800. Allon Clay of Penn State and Peter Narumbe of Texas A&M have also run 1:44 this season.
Habtom Samuel of New Mexico set the 5000 meter NCAA record twice this season and has run 12:57.22. Brian Musau of Oklahoma State hopes to defend his 5000 meter title from 2025. Marco Langon of Villanova has an excellent 1500 meter time and dropped the event to focus on the 5000. Simeon Birnbaum is another athlete who can win on Friday and will be doubling back from the 1500. Freshman Tayvon Kitchen of BYU is not afraid of these moments and expect him to challenge in the front of the race. Denis Kipngetich of Oklahoma State, Ernest Cheruiyot of Arkansas and Robin Kwemoi Bera of Iowa State are other top runners in the 5000 meters.
Saturday Finals
Rosemary Longisa of Washington State has run the top time in the 1500 at 4:02.55 and has impressed in both indoor and outdoor season. Salma Elbadra of South Carolina and Sadie Englehardt of North Carolina State have both run 4:03. Teammates Tia Wilson and Claire Stegall of Florida and Wilma Nielson and Silan Ayylidiz of Oregon will also be factors in the 1500.
Doris Lemngole of Alabama will not defend her 3000 meter steeplechase which opens the event for a new champion like Sophie Novak of Notre Dame, Sydney Masciarelli of North Carolina and Cynthia Jemutai of Alabama. Angelina Napoleon of North Carolina State qualified for the US team at last year's World Championships in Tokyo.
Sanu Jallow of Arkansas came with .01 of breaking the NCAA 800 meter record at the NCAA West Regional in a time of 1:57.74. Makayla Paige of North Carolina has the second fastest time 800 time of 1:58.98. Juliette Whittaker of Stanford has the experience of racing in the Olympic final in 2024. Janet Japkemboi of Kentucky, Gladys Chepngetich of Clemson and Hayley Kitching of Penn State can possibly win the 800 meter race.
Pamela Kosgei of New Mexico is the defending 5000 meter champion and Doris Lemngole of Alabama won the NCAA Cross Country Championship last file. Despite all this star power, the favorite is the NCAA 5000 meter record holder is Jane Hedengren of BYU. Betty Kipkore of Iowa State and Judy Chepkoech of Kentucky will try to stay with Pamela, Doris and Jane.
Look for photo galleries after the meet!
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