Before I get into my predictions, let me apologize for my absence from
coverage over the past couple of weeks, as I have been travelling and did not
have time for my usual efforts. Unfortunately, I’m once again pressed for time,
and my explanations will be brief. Lucky for you readers, you get to avoid my
long-winded and poorly-humored write-up which we’ve all become so accustomed
to. With this in mind, let’s dive in!
800
- Brandon McBride (Miss. State)
- Shaq Walker (BYU)
- Hector Hernandez (Texas A&M)
- Eliud Rutto (Mid. Tenn. State)
- Donovan Brazier (Texas A&M)
- Jesse Garn (Binghamton)
- Isaiah Harris (Penn State)
- Christian Sanders (La Salle)
I think McBride makes
this a fast one, and based on his near NCAA record this season, I don’t think
anyone keeps up with him over the final 200. The fast pace will favor guys like
Rutto, Walker, and Hernandez following McBride. This will also hopefully serve
as a nice measuring stick on the national stage for young guns like Brazier and
Harris, who missed the final indoors.
1500
- Izaic Yorks (Washington)
- Henry Wynne (UVA)
- Brannon Kidder (Penn State)
- Craig Engels (Mississippi)
- Clayton Murphy (Akron)
- Blake Haney (Oregon)
- Jordy Williamsz (Villanova)
- James Gowans (Cornell)
Much like the 800, I
believe Yorks pushes the pace of the final in the 1500 which plays greatly to
his advantage. Yorks has got great strength and speed, and cannot let it come
down to a final straight away with guys like Wynne, Kidder, Murphy, and
Williamsz in this field. My inclusion of Gowans is from the heart, and maybe
not from the brain. Go Big Red!
3000 Steeple
- Mason Ferlic (Michigan)
- Caleb Hoover (NAU)
- Edwin Kibichy (Louisville)
- Zak Seddon (Florida State)
- Aaron Nelson (Washington)
- MJ Erb (Mississippi)
- Bernard Keter (Texas Tech)
- Bailey Roth (Arizona)
Barring a fall, this
is Ferlic’s race. His sub 8:30 is dominant. The only guy I’ve seen in this
field with a fighting chance is Hoover, who has an excellent close, but I don’t
think it’s a close enough race for him to pull the victory. I give Kibichy the
edge over Seddon, who hasn’t looked great this year when I’ve watched him. I
hope this race is when Bailey Roth starts to fulfill the promise he showed in
high school.
5000
- Edward Cheserek (Oregon)
- Sean McGorty (Stanford)
- Thomas Curtin (Virginia Tech)
- Thomas Awad (Penn)
- Justyn Knight (Syracuse)
- Patrick Tiernan (Villanova)
- Grant Fisher (Stanford)
- William Kincaid (Portland)
Another stacked field,
another Ches victory. I think this could play out like the indoor 3k, with the
main man from Oregon pulling away from the field mid race, making it a fight
for silver. I like McGorty’s and Awad’s kick, but Curtin is in better 5k shape
than Awad at this point for me. Fisher proved his chops at PJ, and will just
continue getting better.
10000
- Futsum Zienasellassie (NAU)
- Edward Cheserek (Oregon)
- Luis Vargas (NC State)
- Pierce Murphy (Colorado)
- Jacob Thomson (Kentucky)
- Colin Bennie (Syracuse)
- Reid Buchanan (Portland)
- Erik Peterson (Butler)
Futsum is just in
better 10k shape. He ran sub 28 to send a message: no one is keeping up with me
at nationals. Him and Ches pull away from the field with a little over a mile
to go, and Futsum ends the race with 1k left. Ches holds on for second. Vargas
has been one of the most underrated runners this year between indoor and
outdoor, and I remember watching Thompson run well somewhere this year. The
rest of the picks are sorta gut reactions with my fingers crossed.
You’re going down this year Garrett.
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