The news of Wisconsin’s Sarah Disanza and Providence’s Emily Sisson recording blazing fast indoor 5k times (15:20 and 15:21, #4 and #5 collegiate all-time) got us thinking about those athletes who extend their season a few extra weeks to test their luck on the track. Barring any tragedies, Disanza and Sisson secured their places on the starting line in Fayetteville, Ark. for the NCAA Indoor Championships in March. Boston College’s Liv Westphal (third in 15:31) and Portland’s Tansey Lystad (fourth in 15:51) will more than likely join them, as the slowest qualifying time last season was 16:03. If you’re healthy and the fitness is there, why not go for that elusive top-16 mark? Last year’s top indoor time came from Abbey D’Agostino (15:40) at a mid-December competition.

Now it’s the men’s turn. Some of the NCAA’s best will assemble in Bloomington, Ind., on Friday for an evening of speed. The Hoosier Open is one of those pre-2015 events that typically generates some fast men’s 5k marks. Last year, New Mexico’s Adam Bitchell secured his place at NCAAs with a 13:44. In 2012, Ryan Hill threw down a 13:43, and in 2011, Diego Estrada ran one the fastest times of the season with his 13:39 from Indiana.

So who’s running and what will they run? Northern Arizona’s Brian Shrader is fresh off of a U.S. national 12k victory, setting a national record in the process with his time of 34:10. He’s ready for indoor and will make his track debut in Bloomington. Weston Strum, formerly of Loyola Marymount but now with NAU, is also in the mix. Louisville’s Edwin Kibichiy (23rd at NCAA XC), and Texas’ Craig Lutz highlight the group. Lutz’ PR of 14:00.53 comes from 2013, and after his fall at NCAA XC that left him finishing 51st, there’s no doubt he’s shooting for a bit of redemption.

Alejandro Arroyo-Yamin, formerly of Princeton but now with NAU, and Butler’s Erik Peterson are also in the field, which, according to NAU Head Coach Eric Heins, will shoot for 13:45 on the track. Heins says the guys are “optimistic” about hitting their goal time, and much of their fall training has been designed for this race. Strum finished fifth in the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot in November with a time of 13:56.

The women’s 5k could be interesting. Butler’s Mara Olson, New Mexico’s Calli Thackery, UMKC’s Courtney Frerichs and Boise State’s Marisa Howard will toe the line in Indiana to try and run something special. Olson’s indoor PR is 16:03, but she ran 15:47 last outdoor season. Her 31st place finish at the Great Lakes Region, however, is alarming. Although the entire Butler team endured a roller coaster of a season, perhaps her absence from the NCAA XC race will benefit her in this early indoor action. Frerichs and Howard are steeplechase and XC All Americans who had excellent fall seasons, as well.

The standards have been set by Disanza and Sisson. Considering four ladies broke the coveted 16:00 mark last weekend, it’ll take similar results from this group if they want to solidify an NCAA qualifying berth. The meet record is only 16:37, so this should go down as the fastest girl’s race this track has seen.

2014 Hoosier Open 5k Entries