Don't be deceived; this is not the same list from last week highlighting the five distance men from D2 that you should already know about. No, this is the top 10 LOCKS to win their individual event at the National Championships this weekend.

Now I know that many of these were talked about before and some of these could lose, but I would actually bet the ranch (and yes I checked to see if they were entered) on all ten of these individuals and teams at the NCAA meet. 

 

1. Kevin Batt- Adams State- 5000m

- Especially with Micah Chelimo not running (thanks for all of the lovely fans reminding me of that), Batt is above and away the best 5000m runner in NCAA D2. Batt is never afraid to take on a big challenge and has been successful in doing so. Having run in some very top notch competition this year and after losing indoors to Chelimo for 3k, he's certainly motivated and Batt is a good Bet to win the 5000m.

 

2. Drew Windle- Ashland- 800m

- One of the best 800 meter runners in the history of Division 2 should not be challenged within even three seconds this weekend. He is that good. If you want to talk about the next non-Division I distance stud who becomes the Nick Symmonds, Scott Bauhs or Will Leer's of the world, Windle is that guy. 

 

3. Tabor Stevens- Adams State- 3k Steeple

- Another guy that will be totally unmatched is Tabor Stevens. Granted I do like Alex McGuirk of Chico State and if it comes down to a kick, McGuirk might have a shot. A 12-second differential between the seed marks of Stevens and McGuirk is enough to solidify Stevens as a lock to win this bad boy. 

 

4. Alicia Nelson- Adams State- 5000m

- One of two races that Nelson has all but wrapped up, the 5000m isn't necessarily Nelson's forte (I would say she is a pure steepler). Regardless, she also has a massive 16-second gap between seed times between her and Samantha Rivard of Minnesota Duluth in the 5000m. Nelson is very tough and she'll love the drop in altitude as they head to Michigan for the National Championships. 

 

5. Alicia Nelson- Adams State- 3k Steeple

- You might as well start calling Adams State Steeple U. as Tabor Stevens and Alicia Nelson are the two top dogs in the 3k Steeplechase in Division II. They're both very capable to contend at the D1 level as well. Nelson is very nice over the barriers and her future as a steepler on the professional scene after this season will be interesting. She is a dark horse Olympic Trials type for 2016.

 

6. Courtney Anderson- Cal State Stanislaus- 1500m

- I really like Courtney Anderson in the 1500m this weekend. I know that she is not above and away the best talent in D2, but I liked her toughness when I watched her compete at Mt. SAC. Coming off of a second place finish in the 3k Indoors, Anderson is one of many that are glad that Alicia Nelson doesn't ran the 1500m. With her strength and her solid speed, Anderson is the perfect fit to lock up the 1500m crown. 

 

7. Roxroy Cato- St. Augustine's- 400mH

- This guy is unreal. Currently Cato has the second fastest 400m hurdle mark in the world and held the world leader for three weeks before Michael Tinsley (a pro, formerly of Jackson State) took it from him. Cato is so much better than everyone else in the field that I'd bet he wins by at least 2.5-seconds, if not more. Cato, a Jamaican, is another athlete that I wouldn't be surprised to see representing his country at the Rio Olympics in a few years. He's that good. 

 

8. Ada Udaya- New Haven- 100m

- I have a hard time ever calling anyone a lock in the sprints because there are so many little things that can and will go wrong in the short span of 100-meters. A poor start, running too tight in the middle of the race, a poor lean, or anything else could keep a favorite from winning. To go and show you how confident I am in Udaya winning this, I would say that even if she has a terrible start, eases up at the line, or loses a shoe in the race, I still believe Udaya will win this race. She has a massive time differential (relatively speaking) between her and the no. 2 runner that's listed in in the 100m. 

 

9. Aaron Dinzeo- California (Pa.)

- When I was calling his race, the 10000m, at Stanford a month ago, I had no idea who Dinzeo was (my fault for not realizing he ran 13:58 at Raleigh Relays last year) and didn't realize his capabilities. Now that I'm not-so-ignorant and have seen him race, Dinzeo is certainly one of my locks to win the 10000m at NCAAs. I do like Isaac Chavez of Chico State, but Dinzeo's resume is too good for me not to believe he is going to win the 10000m this weekend. 

 

10. St. Augustine's Men's 4X400

- If you have forgotten how good St. Augustine's really is, please re-read my Penn Relays preview here. As a refresher in how they will dominate this D2 4x400 this weekend--barring a catastrophe--here is the list of the PRs of the four men that are listed to compete for St. Augustine's this weekend.  

Joshua Edmonds (46.71)

James Quarles (46.06)

Roxroy Cato (46.97)

Kevaughn Hewitt (47.42)

You should watch them compete in the best 4X400 in the NCAA from Florida Relays earlier in the year here:

If that isn't good enough to convince you of how good they are, you don't know running.