The men’s 3,000m is shaping up to be one of the deepest distance events in collegiate history.

FloTrack's 2024 NCAA Rankings - Week 4

Six of the top 10 fastest performers in NCAA history are slated to compete in the event this weekend at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, including 3,000m collegiate record-holder Drew Bosley of Northern Arizona (7:36.42) and his teammate Nico Young, the newly-crowned 5,000m NCAA record holder (12:57.14).

It’s incredible to currently have 3 NCAA Collegiate records from 3 different athletes who all competed together

Abdihamid Nur - Outdoor 5k - 13:06.32

Nico Young - Indoor 5k - 12:57.14

Drew Bosley - Indoor 3k - 7:36.42

Team and Culture matter.

Mike Smith is special. pic.twitter.com/zY9NSoJRsI

— Jarred Cornfield (@JarredCornfield) January 27, 2024

Athletes with spots on the top 10 all-time list this weekend are: 1. Drew Bosley (NAU - 7:36.42), 3. Parker Wolfe (UNC - 7:37.41), 4. Nico Young (NAU - 7:37.73), 5. Brian Musau (Oklahoma State - 7:38.04), 8. Ryan Schoppe (Oklahoma State - 7:38.80) and 9. Anass Essayi (South Carolina - 7:39.11).

Still, these athletes don’t give a full picture of the incredible depth this event can boast.

Defending champion and 3:35 1,500m man Fouad Messaoudi of Oklahoma State -- who was top 10 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November -- has arguably the best kick of anyone in the field and his skillset is perfectly suited for this distance.

Speaking of cross country, Harvard’s Graham Blanks, the reigning NCAA cross country champion, should also factor into this hotly-contested event. Blanks' only indoor race this season was his 13:03.78 5,000m back in December, which was the NCAA record until Young broke it on January 26.

Not to be forgotten, either, is 2023 NCAA outdoor 5,000m and 10,000m champion Ky Robinson of Stanford. Robinson was only 10th in this race last year, but he’s since won two NCAA titles, finished third at NCAA XC and ran 13:06.42 for 5,000m, which was No. 3 all-time behind Young and Blanks.

Messaoudi hasn’t finished a race this season, so his spot at the top is anything but secure, and the same goes for the collegiate record holder Bosley, who hasn’t raced since December.

But if I had to make a pick today, Nico Young would be the choice. Not only did he become the first collegiate to break 13 minutes for the 5,000m two weeks ago, but the junior has shown much-improved speed in 2024— his 3:57.33 mile in Flagstaff on January 19 converts to 3:48.71 to account for the nearly 7,000 ft elevation (the NCAA record is 3:50.39). It was the first sub-4:00 mile at that elevation in NCAA history.

And yet, a winner out of any of the aforementioned names would not be a surprise considering each of their elite places among the very best to ever compete collegiately over 3,000m.