It's officially the beginning of the NCAA indoor track and field season. 

Excluding a few early season meets in December and a few more during the first week of the new year, the bulk of NCAA programs have or will open up their seasons in some capacity over the next weeks. 

This weekend, however, offered quite a bit of juice. 

Now, with many of the NCAA's elite set for their winter plans, we thought it would be a great time to illuminate on the top athletes to watch over the winter. 

Below are are 10 of the top returning women's stars in the NCAA. They are among the most compelling athletes in indoor track over the 2024 season. 

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10. Charity Hufnagel, Kentucky (Multis/Jumps)

Hufnagel won five MAC titles across the high jump and pentathlon at Ball State. At the national level, Hufnagel has qualified for the last four championship meets, competing in both the high jump and pentathlon during the indoor edition. She also has two fifth-place finishes in the high jump, but her best performance came when it mattered most. Hufnagel set a new lifetime best of 6-4 to win her first NCAA title last June and will look for an indoor gold to compliment it.

9. Lamara Distin, Texas A&M (Jumps):

One of the most accomplished high jumpers in collegiate history, the Aggie legend is running it back one final time, already with three NCAA titles and a pair of runner-up finishes to her name. As the two-time defending indoor champion, Distin has a very good shot at going back-to-back-to-back.

8. Stephanie Ratcliffe, Georgia (Throws):

During her time Harvard, Ratcliffe compiled an impressive list of achievements across the weight throw and hammer throw. She lost just twice during the indoor season and threw a personal best of 71-9.5 in the weight. Her outdoor campaign saw her go a perfect 9-0 in the hammer, concluding with her first national title in the event that was accompanied by a huge 241-7 PR. She is No. 5 in collegiate history and has solidified herself as the top dog.

7. Olivia Markezich, Notre Dame (Distance):

The NCAA's Queen of the Steeple has been on an absolute tear as of late. After winning the NCAA crown in the 3,000m steeplechase in June, Markezvich put together five top 10 performances this cross country season, capped off with a Great Lakes Region title and third-place finish at NCAAs. While she was still riding her fitness into the indoor campaign, the Notre Dame star dropped an 8:40.42 at Boston University, which was the second-fastest 3,000m time in NCAA history. 

6. Ackelia Smith, Texas (Jumps):

Whether it's the triple or long jump, this Longhorn can execute on the runway. In 2023, Smith leapt to personal bests in each event, jumping 47-8.5 in the triple and 23-2.75 in the long jump. Those marks rang No. 3 and No. 1 on the year. Smith finished second and third in the long and triple jump at the indoor championships last season, then she was first and second at both events over the outdoor championships. This year may be the first when see a Smith sweep.

5. Alia Armstrong, LSU (Hurdles):

The two-time defending 100mH champion is back for a shot at making it a three-peat; she has the tools and list of accolades to take care of business. The Tiger owns the third-fastest time in NCAA history (12.40) and sits just four-hundredths of a second away from the collegiate record. Armstrong didn't race the 60mH during her last indoor season, but has a PR of 7.81, meaning an indoor title isn't out of the question.

4. Axelina Johnasson, Nebraska (Throws):

The best shot putter in the nation is back for 2024 and she's prepared to finish what she started. Last year, just six and a half inches separated Johansson from the indoor crown. After coming that close to a title indoors, the Cornhusker didn't risk anything the next time around, winning by over two and a half feet in an outdoor ring. All of that combined with her recent World Championship berth, she's a woman to watch.

3. Michaela Rose, LSU (Mid-Distance):

In 2022, Rose was 10-3 in the 800m; naturally, it was her trademark event. She won a pair of SEC titles and finished third at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Her outdoor season was one for the ages, though, starting with her lifetime best of 1:59.08 that she clocked at Bryan Clay. The culmination of her outdoor season came in Austin last June when she won the NCAA outdoor title in 2:00.31.

2. Kaila Jackson, Georgia (Sprints):

As a freshman, Jackson wasted little time getting acquainted with her sprint competition, walking away with four All-American honors over the indoor and outdoor seasons in the 60m, 200m, 100m and 4x100m. The young Bulldog is clearly one of the best and is navigating the nation's toughest sprint conference.

1. Parker Valby, Florida (Distance):

Since the beginning of the outdoor season, the distance phenom has just a single loss on her résumé, sporting an 8-1 record. Aside from her third-place finish at the East Prelims  in May, Valby has been invincible. She's claimed two NCAA titles, winning gold in the outdoor 5,000m and the 6K on the grass. She's also coming off of a record-shattering performance at Boston University, where Valby clocked 14:56.11, the first-ever sub-15 performance during the NCAA season.