With a few days until the 2024 BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, the FloTrack crew made some official picks in excitement for the STACKED 3,000m and 5,000m fields.

Our content team made selections for individual winners and winning times ahead of these two events. We also added additional context for contenders in these marquee events.

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BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener Predictions 2024 Predictions

Men's 5K and 3K Predictions

Women's 5K and 3K Predictions

Graham Blanks, coming off of his second-straight NCAA XC Championship title, is the FloTrack favorite in the men's 5,000m. He has said that he's targeting the world standard, which is 13:01 in the 5,000m. We think that he can go a lot faster.

After starting his cross country season later than usual, he has been able to limit the wear on his legs. He has a personal best of 13:03 over 5,000m, but he is better than he was a year-ago. The NCAA record of 12:57.14 (set by Nico Young in 2024) is officially on watch.

On the women's side, we have a rematch between Doris Lemngole (Alabama), Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico) and Hilda Olemomoi (Florida). The three finished in that order at the NCAA XC Championships and they'll all be racing in the 5,000m at BU. 

Also in the mix is Emily Venters. Venters, a Nike athlete, just finished second at the USA 5K Road Running Championships in 15:25.

In the 3,000m fields, it is anyone's race. On the men's side, the duo from North Carolina seems to be the favorites. Parker Wolfe finished seventh at the NCAA XC Championships while teammate Ethan Strand finished eighth. Wolfe also finished second to Nico Young at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships.

I prefer Yaseen Abdalla (Arkansas), who finished fourth at the NCAA XC Championship. He has finished 12th at the NCAA Indoor Championship in the 3,000m in each of the last two years. His personal best of 7:42.23 is one of the faster PRs in the field.

Gary Martin finished 13th at the NCAA XC Championships, which was an impressive run for the miler. Now, transitioning down to the 3,000m may be perfect for him. He has a 3:37 1,500m personal best.

Also keep an eye on Nathan Green (Washington), Justine Kipkoech (EKU) and Joe Waskom (adidas).

On the women's side, Ceili McCabe seems to be the popular pick. After all, she did finish sixth at the NCAA XC Championships. At the 3,000m distance however, there are plenty of women who can find their way into the mix.

BYU's Riley Chamberlain finished sixth at the NCAA Indoor Championships last indoor season in the 3,000m. Silan Ayyildiz was 11th in the mile last indoor season. Shannon Flockhart is also a miler, and finished 10th at last year's NCAA Championship.

Can the milers perform after successful cross country seasons?

BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener Running Events Schedule 2024 (EDT):

• 10:25am    Men’s 60H Trials  
• 10:30am    Women’s Mile
• 10:55am    Men’s Mile
• 11:15am    Women’s 400m
• 11:30am    Men’s 400m
• 11:45am    Women’s 60m Trials 
• 11:55am    Men’s 60m Trials 
• 12:05pm    Women’s 800m 
• 12:15pm    Men’s 800m 
• 12:35pm    Women’s 60H Finals 
• 12:40pm    Men’s 60H Finals   
•   12:42pm    Women’s 600m 
• 12:50pm     Men’s 600m 
• 12:56pm    Women’s 60m Final 
• 12:59pm    Men’s 60m Final   
• 1:00pm     Women’s 200m  
• 1:15pm    Men’s 200m 
• 1:25pm    Women’s 300m 
• 1:40pm    Men’s 300m  
• 1:55pm    Women’s 1000m  
• 2:05pm    Men’s 1000m 
• 2:15pm    Women’s 4x400m
• 2:25pm    Men’s 4x400m
• 2:35pm    Women’s 3000m 
• 3:45pm    Men’s 3000m 
• 4:45pm    Women’s 5000m 
• 6:45pm    Men’s 5000m 

Field Events Schedule (Women followed by Men)

• 11:00am High Jump
• 11:00am Shot Put 
• 11:00am Pole Vault 
• 11:00am Long Jump    
• Weight Throw (Following men’s shot put)
• Triple Jump (Following men’s long jump)

Will The Running Events Have Pacers?

The top heats of the Mile, 3,000m, and 5,000m will be rabbited with the intent of producting NCAA Qualifying Marks. Currently, six heats of the men's 5,000m will be paced, five heats of the women's 5,000m, four heats of the men's and women's 3,000m, three heats of the men's and women's mile and one heat of the men's and women's 800m will be paced.

How Can I Watch The 2024 BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener?

The 2024 BU Sharon Colyear-Danville season opener will be streamed live on FloTrack.

STREAMING: Watch the 2024 Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on FloTrack. SIGN UP HERE.

FloTrack Archived Footage

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

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