2017 DI NCAA Indoor ChampionshipsMar 8, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
NCAA DMR Preview: Oregon Leads Field After Breaking Collegiate Record
NCAA DMR Preview: Oregon Leads Field After Breaking Collegiate Record
After breaking the collegiate record earlier this season, the women of Oregon lead a stellar group of distance medley relay talent heading into the NCAA Indoor Championships.
After breaking the collegiate record earlier this season, the women of Oregon are poised to lead a stellar group of distance medley relay talent at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Check out the storylines heading into the women's and men's DMR races this weekend in College Station, Texas.
Women's DMR
After an eight-year reign over the record books, Tennessee's distance medley relay record fell when Oregon unleashed a stunning performance at the Columbia East-West Challenge. The foursome of Lilli Burdon, Ashante Horsley, Raeyvn Rogers, and Katie Rainsberger ran a solo effort of 10:48.77 in January, breaking the previous record by two seconds. Freshman Lilli Burdon led off with a 1200m split of 3:20 and handed off to senior Ashante Horsley, who ran 53 seconds for her 400m leg. Horsley gave the baton to NCAA champion Raevyn Rogers, who split 2:03 for 800m, and finally handed off to freshman Katie Rainsberger. The returning cross country All-American threw down a 4:30 1600m to bring the record home for the Ducks. Luckily for track fans, Oregon is scheduled to run the same lineup this Friday in College Station.
Although the Ducks' season-best mark is seven seconds faster than No. 2-ranked Indiana, the championship also marks the first time that Oregon will face close competition, which could make things interesting.
Indiana heads into the meet with a 10:55 team best after beating BYU, LSU, Arkansas, and Michigan at the Alex Wilson Invitational. The Hoosiers' team of Brenna Calder, Taylor Williams, Olivia Hippensteel, and Katherine Receveur beat BYU by one second on the final stretch, thanks in part to Receveur's 4:33 mile speed. Her performance is especially remarkable given the fact that two years ago, Receveur could barely muster a 5:55 mile.
READ: Katherine Receveur's Remarkable Climb To NCAA Contention
The BYU squad of Ashleigh Warner, Brenna Porter, Shea Collinsworth, and Erica Birk will also be a force. Warner ran a mile personal best of 4:39 this season, which should translate well at 1200m. A hurdler during the outdoor season, Porter boasts 55-second 400m speed. Collinsworth, a seasoned All-American, just notched an indoor personal best of 2:01 at the Iowa State Classic, and Birk will be returning after setting a 13-second mile PR of 4:38 at the Iowa State Classic.
As custom for NCAA DMR lineups, most teams have serious strength on their anchor legs. Between Penn State freshman Danae Rivers (also competing in the individual mile with a 4:32 seed time), Stanford's NCAA 1500m runner-up Elise Cranny, and Colorado's Dani Jones, who threw down a 4:33 split to beat Cranny at MPSF Championships, the race will surely come down to a battle over 1600m.
Watch Jones' unbelievable kick at the MPSF Championships:
Oregon may have the collegiate record heading into the meet, but anything can happen in a championship situation. It will be exciting to see which teams step up to compete with the record-holders.
Men's DMR
The men of Ole Miss lead the NCAA this year after posting a stunning flat-track-converted time of 9:26 at the UCS Invitational. The team of Ryan Manahan, Nick DeRay, Craig Engels, and Sean Tobin beat Arkansas and Villanova. So far this season, Manahan has notched a season best of 1:47 in the 800m. DeRay holds 48-second 400m speed, and Engels is returning from a 2016 that included top five performances in the 800m and 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Trials. And Tobin has notched a season best of 4:00 in the mile this year.
They will be challenged by the talented squads that threw down at the Alex Wilson Invitational. Indiana, Stanford, and Oklahoma State showed their competitive fire at Notre Dame. Indiana and Stanford finished less than a second apart in 9:28.14 and 9:28.72, respectively, with hard-closing anchor legs from Kyle Mau and Jack Keelan. Oklahoma State finished third overall at the meet when the team won section two in 9:28.83. The Cowboys boast two sub-four milers on the front and back end of their squad, with Craig Nowak on the 1200m and Josh Thompson on the 1600m leg.
Another team to keep an eye on will be the UTEP squad of Michael Saruni, Asa Guevara, Emmanuel Korir, and Jonah Koech. Saruni notched a sizable 800m PR of 1:46 at altitude in early February. Guevara has 46-second 400m speed and just notched an indoor PR. Before throwing down a 1:46 800m at altitude, Korir broke the then-world record in the 600m with a stunning 1:14.97 at altitude. And to top it off, Koech will provide altitude-converted 3:57 mile speed on the anchor.
WATCH: UTEP Workout Wednesday:
A big question among track fans is whether or not Oregon coaches plan to run 15-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek on the DMR. He is entered with the team lineup that notched a season best of 9:30 at the Columbia East-West Challenge. Cheserek running the DMR is unlikely, because he is also entered in the mile, 5K, and 3K at the championship. It would be a heavy lift for the Ducks senior to compete in three races on Friday and two on Saturday, but it would also be an incredible contribution to the team title chase.
Women's DMR
After an eight-year reign over the record books, Tennessee's distance medley relay record fell when Oregon unleashed a stunning performance at the Columbia East-West Challenge. The foursome of Lilli Burdon, Ashante Horsley, Raeyvn Rogers, and Katie Rainsberger ran a solo effort of 10:48.77 in January, breaking the previous record by two seconds. Freshman Lilli Burdon led off with a 1200m split of 3:20 and handed off to senior Ashante Horsley, who ran 53 seconds for her 400m leg. Horsley gave the baton to NCAA champion Raevyn Rogers, who split 2:03 for 800m, and finally handed off to freshman Katie Rainsberger. The returning cross country All-American threw down a 4:30 1600m to bring the record home for the Ducks. Luckily for track fans, Oregon is scheduled to run the same lineup this Friday in College Station. Although the Ducks' season-best mark is seven seconds faster than No. 2-ranked Indiana, the championship also marks the first time that Oregon will face close competition, which could make things interesting.
Indiana heads into the meet with a 10:55 team best after beating BYU, LSU, Arkansas, and Michigan at the Alex Wilson Invitational. The Hoosiers' team of Brenna Calder, Taylor Williams, Olivia Hippensteel, and Katherine Receveur beat BYU by one second on the final stretch, thanks in part to Receveur's 4:33 mile speed. Her performance is especially remarkable given the fact that two years ago, Receveur could barely muster a 5:55 mile.
READ: Katherine Receveur's Remarkable Climb To NCAA Contention
The BYU squad of Ashleigh Warner, Brenna Porter, Shea Collinsworth, and Erica Birk will also be a force. Warner ran a mile personal best of 4:39 this season, which should translate well at 1200m. A hurdler during the outdoor season, Porter boasts 55-second 400m speed. Collinsworth, a seasoned All-American, just notched an indoor personal best of 2:01 at the Iowa State Classic, and Birk will be returning after setting a 13-second mile PR of 4:38 at the Iowa State Classic.
As custom for NCAA DMR lineups, most teams have serious strength on their anchor legs. Between Penn State freshman Danae Rivers (also competing in the individual mile with a 4:32 seed time), Stanford's NCAA 1500m runner-up Elise Cranny, and Colorado's Dani Jones, who threw down a 4:33 split to beat Cranny at MPSF Championships, the race will surely come down to a battle over 1600m.
Watch Jones' unbelievable kick at the MPSF Championships:
Oregon may have the collegiate record heading into the meet, but anything can happen in a championship situation. It will be exciting to see which teams step up to compete with the record-holders.
Men's DMR
The men of Ole Miss lead the NCAA this year after posting a stunning flat-track-converted time of 9:26 at the UCS Invitational. The team of Ryan Manahan, Nick DeRay, Craig Engels, and Sean Tobin beat Arkansas and Villanova. So far this season, Manahan has notched a season best of 1:47 in the 800m. DeRay holds 48-second 400m speed, and Engels is returning from a 2016 that included top five performances in the 800m and 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Trials. And Tobin has notched a season best of 4:00 in the mile this year.
They will be challenged by the talented squads that threw down at the Alex Wilson Invitational. Indiana, Stanford, and Oklahoma State showed their competitive fire at Notre Dame. Indiana and Stanford finished less than a second apart in 9:28.14 and 9:28.72, respectively, with hard-closing anchor legs from Kyle Mau and Jack Keelan. Oklahoma State finished third overall at the meet when the team won section two in 9:28.83. The Cowboys boast two sub-four milers on the front and back end of their squad, with Craig Nowak on the 1200m and Josh Thompson on the 1600m leg. Another team to keep an eye on will be the UTEP squad of Michael Saruni, Asa Guevara, Emmanuel Korir, and Jonah Koech. Saruni notched a sizable 800m PR of 1:46 at altitude in early February. Guevara has 46-second 400m speed and just notched an indoor PR. Before throwing down a 1:46 800m at altitude, Korir broke the then-world record in the 600m with a stunning 1:14.97 at altitude. And to top it off, Koech will provide altitude-converted 3:57 mile speed on the anchor.
WATCH: UTEP Workout Wednesday:
A big question among track fans is whether or not Oregon coaches plan to run 15-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek on the DMR. He is entered with the team lineup that notched a season best of 9:30 at the Columbia East-West Challenge. Cheserek running the DMR is unlikely, because he is also entered in the mile, 5K, and 3K at the championship. It would be a heavy lift for the Ducks senior to compete in three races on Friday and two on Saturday, but it would also be an incredible contribution to the team title chase.