2015 NCAA Women's 3K Preview

2015 NCAA Women's 3K Preview

Jan 2, 2015 by Lincoln Shryack
2015 NCAA Women's 3K Preview





Kate Avery, Iona
(PB 8:56.20)
Last Year: 9th Indoors, 8th 5k Outdoors
The Iona junior finished fourth at the Commonwealth Games 10k in July and dominated the NCAA XC Championships on November 22nd, winning by more than 8 seconds. Most recently, Avery finished a close second to Gemma Steel at the European XC Championships on December 14th. Although she was only ninth last year, Avery is undoubtably the favorite in the 3k considering the tear she is on. Her 8:56.20 PB from 2014 is the ninth fastest in NCAA history. 

Dominique Scott, Arkansas (PB 9:02.05*)
Last Year: 2nd Indoors, 6th 5k Oudoors
Scott is the reigning NCAA runner-up in the 3k. The Arkansas senior enters her 2015 campaign after finishing 6th in both the NCAA Outdoor 5k and NCAA XC Championships in 2014, the highest finishes of her career. The South Africa native has a 9:02.33 PB which she set at the Husky Classic last February. 

Rachel Johnson, Baylor (PB 9:06.23*)
Last Year: 8th Indoors, 3rd 3kST Outdoors
Johnson proved that she was a force on the national scene in 2014 by finishing third in the 3k steeple outdoors after placing 8th in the 3k indoors.  She carried that momentum into cross country, where the Baylor senior placed 5th, a massive improvement from her 107th place finish a year prior. Johnson kicked off her indoor season in December by running a 15:40 5k, currently the fourth fastest time in the NCAA. 



Rachele Schulist, Michigan State
(PB 9:06.85)
Last Year: 15th Indoors, 9th 5k Outdoors
Perhaps no one was more impressive during the 2014 cross country season than Schulist. The sophomore led the national champion Spartans with her fourth place finish in Terre Haute, a year after she was 50th at the same meet. Schulist foreshadowed her breakout XC season by finishing 15th in the NCAA 3k as a freshman, as well as clocking a 9:06.85 PB. Her massive jump in 2014 makes her a threat to take down the three favorites listed above her. 

Katrina Coogan, Georgetown (PB 9:03.38*)
Last Year: 5th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
After Dominique Scott, Katrina Coogan is the next highest returner from 2014. Coogan placed 5th in Albuquerque last March, and just completed a successful cross country season by finishing 16th at NCAAs. The Georgetown junior has a 9:04.85 PB that ranks her as the second fastest Hoya in school history. Coogan will be hungry to prove herself after missing NCAA outdoors last spring. 

Emily Sisson, Providence (PB 9:00.76)
Last Year: 8th 5k Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Sisson opted for the 5k at NCAA indoor 2014, but she has plenty of ability in the 3k. The Providence senior ran 9:00.76 last season, and has already shown excellent form this season by running a 15:21.84 5k just a few weeks ago, #4 all-time in NCAA history. Sisson didn’t have cross country eligibility this fall, so she will be eager to prove herself indoors. 



Sarah Disanza, Wisconsin
(PB 9:34.11)
Last Year: N/A Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Disanza meets the definition of “dark horse” simply because this is her first NCAA indoor season. Disanza finished a surprising second at the NCAA XC Championships in November, and proved that was no fluke by running a 15:20.57 5k in December, #3 all-time in the NCAA. There’s no guarantee that Disanza will run the 3k at NCAAs, but based off her ridiculous time in the 5k, we had to put her on this watch-list. After cutting more than a minute off her 5k PR, we expect big things from Disanza on the track this season.