While the individual NCAA champions and big-point scorers will understandably get much of the attention this weekend at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston, team titles will be decided based on the performances of lesser known contributors -- this is particularly true in the men’s team battle, with the top four projected teams currently within four points of each other.

Every team’s stars will have to show out for their squad to reign supreme, but the performances of the following athletes could be the final cherry on top to complete their NCAA Championship sundae.

Here is each title-contending team’s X-factor for this weekend’s meet in Boston:

Men

No. 1 Texas Tech (45 projected points) - Antoine Andrews (60mH/60m)

The Red Raiders enter Boston as slim favorites, but a total of four points separate them and No. 4 Washington; No. 2 Northern Arizona and No. 3 Arkansas are just one point and two points behind Texas Tech, respectively.

The sophomore hurdler/sprinter Andrews could provide some much needed breathing room if he could score a top five finish in the 60m hurdles. Andrews was sixth at these championships last year as a freshman, and that’s his projected finishing spot this year as well. 

No. 2 Northern Arizona (44 projected points) - Theo Quax (3,000/5,000m)

Quax, a senior from New Zealand, is delivering on the promise he showed as a true freshman way back in 2019 when he ran 3:39 for 1,500m. He’s run 7:39 and 13:16 in 2024, which are huge PBs for the Kiwi and put him in range to score in both events in Boston -- Quax is ranked No. 8 in the 3,000m and No. 6 in the 5,000m.

That being said, this is Quax’s first appearance at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, so he’ll have to overcome some inexperience to help NAU get past Texas Tech, Arkansas and Washington.

No. 3 Arkansas (43 projected points) - Jordan Anthony (60m)

The sophomore sprinter is a big wildcard this weekend. As a true freshman for Kentucky last year, Anthony was runner-up in the NCAA 60m. He subsequently transferred to Texas A&M to play wide receiver this past fall before arriving in Fayetteville in January and posting a season best 6.59 on February 9. 

But Anthony was only fourth at SECs in 6.64 and his projected seventh-place finish is largely buoyed by the success he had in 2023. The Razorback could net a top five finish this weekend just as well as he could miss the final in Boston— a true wildcard if there ever was one. 

No. 4 Washington - Nathan Green (800m/DMR)

Somewhat surprisingly, the reigning NCAA 1,500m outdoor champion has spurned the mile in favor of the 800m at NCAAs -- Green will also run on Washington’s top-ranked DMR squad. This decision came after the redshirt sophomore posted a PB and the No. 2 time in the country this season (1:46.50) on February 24.

It would seem unlikely that Green could get past defending champion Yusuf Bizimana in the 800m (1:45 PB) and even securing second -- his current projected finish -- will be a tall order with nine other competitors besides he and Bizimana having dipped under 1:47 this season. On the other hand, perhaps we haven’t seen Green’s full potential in the 800m yet since he’s only run the distance three times indoors in college. 

Another PB this weekend would go a long way for the Huskies’ title hopes.

Women

(Note: I only included two women’s teams because second-ranked Florida is the only team projected within 20 points of Arkansas)

No. 1 Arkansas (61 projected points) - Shawnti Jackson (60m/200m)

This might be a futile exercise considering how dominant the Lady Razorbacks are expected to be in Boston. Arkansas is so stacked that they could literally win this championship on the point total they’re expected to get in the 200m, 400m and 4x400 (a combined 54 points). But in sticking with the trend of this piece, I’ve identified freshman sensation Shawnti Jackson as the team’s X-factor in Boston.

Jackson isn’t projected to score in either of her events, the 60m or the 200m, but a caveat is needed for the 200m. The freshman only ran one race at that distance this season, a 22.77 back in late January; considering that she’s run 22.35 outdoors, reason suggests she could go faster than 22.7 this weekend.

A big meet from Jackson would give the Razorbacks even more cushion than they’re already expected to have as they pursue a repeat indoor title.

No. 2 Florida (50 projected points) - Flomena Asekol (Mile/3,000m/DMR)

The Gators are the only team, on paper, within shouting distance of competing with Arkansas this weekend. For that to happen, Florida will need Parker Valby to sweep the 3K/5K and they'll also need a big weekend from senior transfer Flomena Asekol.

Asekol is the top returner in the mile after her third place finish in 2023; even so, this event has gotten a lot more competitive in 2024 as three other women besides Asekol have broken 4:28 this season. Among them is prohibitive favorite and NCAA leader Maia Ramsden (4:24.83 PB), who may be vulnerable if only because she’s doubling back from the World Indoor Championships this past weekend in Scotland.

A win in this event from Asekol, plus more points from her in the 3,000m -- she’s seeded 13th, so it’s iffy -- are pivotal for Florida to have any chance. She will likely also need to anchor the DMR for the Gators to score in that event -- Valby can’t run the 5,000m and DMR -- which could limit her effectiveness in Saturday’s finals. 

It’s a tough balance trying to squeeze every bit of scoring potential out of a distance runner at NCAAs while not torching their legs, and Florida will have to ride the line with Asekol as they seek an improbable national title in Boston.