The men’s 1500m has been one of the most exciting events to watch this track season, starting with the dramatic events of indoor and the unveiling of some dangerous runners in the distance outdoors. From the NCAA indoor events that saw new kid on the block-turned national contender in Cristian Soratos, to an emergence of a “king [Cheserek] slayer” in Jordy Williamsz, the men’s 1500m has had drama at every turn. 

 

These events of the 2015 season have earned some nicknames for several athletes who have stood out from the rest of the pack. 
 

The Maverick

The men’s 1500m field received a dose of harsh reality with the arrival of Montana State’s Cristian Soratos:

 

- The runner who split a 53-second 400m in the middle of the NCAA Indoor final. 

- The runner who is willing to take the race out hard no matter the stakes or the depth of the field. 

- The runner who has redemption written all over him. 

 

Soratos may have missed out on an NCAA Indoor title in March, but the senior’s independent and fearless racing tactics have kept competitors on their toes all season long, and they will be ready for him. 
 

The X-Factor

One runner who has the real potential to answer Soratos’ racing tactics is Oklahoma State’s Chad Noelle. The Cowboy has shown time and time again that he can react to any race situation. Whether it’s a slow sit and kick, or fast from the gun, Noelle has the tools to make any race his own, and his race at Payton Jordan proved just that. 

 

In a race that included several national contenders, Noelle sat in perfect position three runners back from the leader until the final 200m when he unleashed a furious kick that left everyone in the dust and earned him an NCAA lead of 3:38. Near-perfect tactical execution and poise give Noelle that X-factor. 
 

The Lethal Kicks

Two runners that have have executed stand-out performances all season long are Jordy Williamsz and Thomas Joyce, two athletes with that lethal extra gear in high pressure situations. 

 

Jordy Williamsz threw down a kick heard around the world when he became the first runner to beat Edward Cheserek at his own sit-and-kick game. In the Penn Relays 4xMile, Williamsz blazed past Cheserek in the final 100 meters after the Oregon NCAA Champion slowed the pace down significantly early on. Williamsz’s kick proved that he has the ability to out-kick almost anyone on a big stage, making Hayward Field the perfect scene-setter for the Villanova All American. 

 

In the past two years, Cal has seen the emergence of a versatile, dangerous kicker in Thomas Joyce. The junior has shown time and time again that he has the ability to kick hard not only in his premier event, but also in longer distances as seen from his Payton Jordan 5K. In just his second 5K ever, Joyce kicked his way to a win in 13:34 against a stacked field of NCAA talent, proving his impressive range and guts regardless of the distance. 

 

With countless talented runners entered, the men’s 1500m could prove to be one of the most memorable races of the weekend. And if the trend of emergence continues, you can bet that the starting line at Hayward Field will bring a few surprises as well.