WEST ENTRIES | EAST ENTRIES | WOMEN'S ANALYSIS

The entries for NCAA DI prelims were released yesterday, so we’re taking a look at some of most intriguing storylines that jump off the page heading to next weekend’s two regional meets. With the new NCAA schedule in 2015 (men compete on Wednesday and Friday), coaches and athletes are having to strategize a bit differently than they did in years past, and surprises were found as I scanned the list, with several men choosing to skip events in which they were among the best in the country. With the tight turnaround affecting the ability to double, many are choosing quality over quantity at the NCAA Championships. Remember, 12 athletes qualify on to NCAAs in individual events at regionals.

 

West Prelims

9.99 man Bryce Robinson only entered in the 200

Tulsa’s Bryce Robinson was one of eight men to run under 10 seconds in the 100, in all conditions, yet he’s elected to just compete in the 200, an event in which he is lower on the descending order list. 

Tulsa's Bryce Robinson will only run the 200 at NCAA West prelims

Scheduling and competition were clearly the determining factors in his decision, as the new schedule places the 100m and 200m finals at NCAAs just 45 minutes apart. Focusing on the 200 allows Robinson to rest while guys like Bromell, De Grasse, and Hester compete in the semis/finals of the 100, which will certainly make them fatigued. With the new schedule putting a disadvantage on those competing in multiple events, Robinson has likely made a very wise decision. 

 

Oregon has seven in the 1500 and 5K; how many will get through to Eugene?

In an effort to combat the powerful Florida Gators, the Ducks are playing to their strength and trying to get as many distance guys through to NCAAs as possible, thus a combined 14 men from Oregon will compete in the 1,500m and 5,000m. It’s very unlikely that guys like Trent Warren (30th ranked in the 1500), and Travis Neuman (31st ranked in the 5K) get past regionals, but if the defending champs can get eight between both events on to NCAAs, they will at least have a shot against the SEC champs in Eugene. 

 

Cheserek, Jenkins, Geoghegan, Winn, and Gregorek are all expected to get through to NCAAs, but Oregon really needs freshmen Blake Haney, Niki Franzmair, and Jake Leingang to step up and qualify in order for the Ducks to have any shot of defending their title. Without 2014 NCAA champs Devon Allen (injured) and Mac Fleet (graduated), Robert Johnson’s group is scrambling to find points wherever they can. 

 

Kirubel Erassa just entered in the 5K

This was to be expected, but Oklahoma State All-American Kirubel Erassa certainly had options, as his 3:39.05 1500m ranks him 3rd in the country, and his 28:50.41 10K puts him 12th. Erassa must like his chances against Ches and Jenkins in the 5K since they’ll both be coming off the 10K. The Cowboy ran his 13:27 PB in 2014. 

 

It still sucks to be a 10K runner in the West

The 12th fastest time in the is West region is 28:53, compared to 29:16 in the East. Oh, and that’s not counting Oregon’s Edward Cheserek and Eric Jenkins, who jogged to 29:04 seed times. Those two are pretty much locks to qualify through to Eugene, leaving just 10 spots available amongst 14 men who have run under 29:00 in the West. 

 

Don’t forget about conference champs Ammar Moussa (Colorado) and Malachy Schrobilgen (Wisconsin) either, who haven’t run top 12 times, but both finished top 10 at NCAA XC this past fall. They haven’t run under 29:00, but will definitely be in the mix in Austin. 

Event 8  Men NCAA West 10000 Meter Run Prelims
===================================================================
     Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===================================================================
  1  Jason Witt                    SR BYU                27:54.25 
  2  Marc Scott                    SO Tulsa              28:30.33 
  3  Craig Lutz                    SR Texas              28:33.48 
  4  Futsum Zienasellassie         JR No. Arizona        28:35.76 
  5  Matt McElroy                  SR No. Arizona        28:36.53 
  6  Nate Jewkes                   SR Southern Utah      28:43.18 
  7  Kemoy Campbell                SR Arkansas           28:45.84 
  8  Scott Fauble                  SR Portland           28:50.44 
  9  Garrett Sweatt                SO Stanford           28:51.56 
 10  Tim Rackers                   JR Tulsa              28:52.57 
 11  Pierce Murphy                 JR Colorado           28:52.70 
 12  Hayden Hawks                  JR Southern Utah      28:53.12 
 13  Tyler King                    JR Washington         28:59.37 
 14  Kevin Lewis                   SR Iowa               28:59.62 
 15  Edward Cheserek               SO Oregon             29:04.06 
 16  Eric Jenkins                  SR Oregon             29:04.08

For 10K runners trying to get through to NCAAs, the path through Jacksonville is much easier than the one through Austin.
 

Maksim Korolev’s Stanford career is over

Although his 29:47 10K from PAC-12s would’ve gotten him into prelims, Maksim Korolev has scratched, thus ending his collegiate career. The 5th year senior was banged up after World XC in late March, and he was never able to fully recover in time to salvage a track season this spring. 

 

It’s crazy to think that a guy who finished 3rd and 4th in consecutive years at NCAA XC was never an All-American in track, but Korolev never really performed up to expectation on the oval. Part of that was due to injury, but it’s a shame that Korolev didn’t get to run a fast 10k in college, as he certainly is built for the distance. 

 

It will be interesting to see who he signs with for his pro career, since he doesn’t have the track pedigree that most teams/shoe companies look for. 

 

East Prelims

Justin Knight in the 5K, skips 1500 after winning ACCs

Knight made national headlines last week after he won the ACC 1500 without his right shoe, yet the freshman has surprisingly elected to just run the 5K at regionals, which seemingly gives him a much smaller chance of winning an NCAA title. Yes, Knight ran a Canadian national junior record of 13:34 at Payton Jordan, but he’ll face Edward Cheserek, Eric Jenkins, and Kemoy Campbell in the NCAA 5K, who all have PBs of 13:20 or faster.

 

If Knight (or the Syracuse coach) made his decision based on which event gave him the best shot to win, one would’ve thought it would be the 1500. His 3:39.66 ranked eighth in the country in 2015, just behind Cristian Soratos’ 3:39.65. Soratos, of course, was 2nd in the 2015 NCAA indoor mile. 

 

Villanova has 5 in the top 15 of the men’s 1500

Everybody knows about Jordy Williamsz, but outside of their superstar Aussie, the Wildcats have got themselves some serious miler depth. Williamsz is joined by Rob Denault, Josh Lampron, Dusty Solis, and Sam McEntee in the men’s East 1500, and all 5 have a legitimate shot to make it to Eugene. 

 

Senior Sam McEntee’s 3:43.50 entry time is the slowest of the bunch, and he finished 3rd in the NCAA 1500 just two years ago. 

 

The NCAA Prelims start next Thursday in Austin, Texas (West region) and Jacksonville, Florida (East region), and run through Saturday.