2017 DI NCAA Indoor ChampionshipsMar 7, 2017 by Gordon Mack
NCAA 800m Preview: Kenyans vs. US Finalists | Rogers Going For 4 Straight
NCAA 800m Preview: Kenyans vs. US Finalists | Rogers Going For 4 Straight
Check out the top storylines heading into the men's and women's 800m races at the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, this weekend.
Check out the top storylines heading into the men's and women's 800m races at the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, on Friday and Saturday.
Last year, we saw an exodus of elite 800m men from the NCAA...
- Clayton Murphy (Turned pro early)
- Donavan Brazier (Turned pro early)
- Shaquille Walker (Turned pro early)
- Brandon McBride (Graduated)
- Brannon Kidder (Graduated)
Despite losing five elite athletes, the current NCAA field has managed to maintain its elite status with an influx of new and improved athletes. Here is a breakdown of the 16-man field ranked by each runner's personal best from Jan. 1, 2016, to present:
Eliud Rutto (Middle Tennesse State) | He is the top returner from indoors and has the fastest personal best from 2016-17 with a 1:45.59 mark.
Emmanuel Korir (UTEP) | Broke the 600m world record this year by running 1:14.97 and was eighth at the Kenyan national championships this past summer.
Michael Saruni (UTEP) | Trains with Korir and recently won the 800/mile double at C-USA, defeating Rutto in the 800 and Jonah Koech in the mile.
Craig Engels (Ole Miss) | Opted for the DMR last year over an individual event but showed his ability to race well, making the U.S. Olympic trials final in both the 800m (fourth) and 1500m (fifth).
Isaiah Harris (Penn State) | Broke Korir's 600m time by running 1:14.96 and was sixth at the U.S. Olympic trials as a true freshman last year.
Daniel Kuhn (Indiana) | Is undefeated this year in races 600m and up and has been steadily improving since his 11th-place finish at NCAA outdoors last year.
On the women's side, the top three finishers from both indoors and outdoors return, and the addition of three USA junior finalists makes this year's field very deep. Here is a breakdown of the 16-woman field ranked by each athlete's personal best from Jan. 1, 2016, to present:
Raven Rogers (Oregon) | Rogers will be going for her fourth straight 800m title. She also still has the fastest personal best in the field when you account for the 2016 outdoor season marks.
Jazmine Fray (Texas A&M) | Fray came out of nowhere this year and broke the NCAA 800m record on Feb. 11, coincidentally on the same day Ajee Wilson and Sammy Watson set the U.S. and high school 800m records, respectively, at Millrose. Fray continued her success by winning her first SEC title and hopes to ride that momentum into NCAAs, which will be on her home track.
Olivia Baker (Stanford) | Baker was third indoors and second outdoors in 2016. While Baker's 2017 season started slow, she eventually ran into form at the MPSF Championships, cruising to a 2:03 victory. Baker is a veteran when it comes to NCAA races and should be a big threat in this deep 800m field.
MEN'S 800m
Last year, we saw an exodus of elite 800m men from the NCAA...
- Clayton Murphy (Turned pro early)
- Donavan Brazier (Turned pro early)
- Shaquille Walker (Turned pro early)
- Brandon McBride (Graduated)
- Brannon Kidder (Graduated)
Despite losing five elite athletes, the current NCAA field has managed to maintain its elite status with an influx of new and improved athletes. Here is a breakdown of the 16-man field ranked by each runner's personal best from Jan. 1, 2016, to present:
PB | Athlete | YR | '16 NCAA Finish | Summer |
1:45.59 | Eliud RUTTO | SR | 2nd(i), 7th(o) | 15th KEN Trials |
1:45.76 | Isaiah HARRIS | SO | 12th(i), 4th(o) | 6th USA Trials |
1:45.78 | Andres ARROYO | SR | 15th(i), DNQ(o) | Puerto Rico Olympian |
1:46.03 | Craig ENGELS | SR | DMR(i), 1500(o) | 4th USA Trials |
1:46.15 | Emmanuel KORIR | FR | Freshman | 8th KEN Champs |
1:46.23 | Patrick JOSEPH | JR | DNS(i), 16th(o) | |
1:46.30 | Michael SARUNI | FR | Freshman | |
1:46.42 | Drew PIAZZA | SR | 10th(i), DNQ(o) | |
1:46.42 | Daniel KUHN | JR | DNQ(i), 11th(o) | |
1:46.44 | Joseph WHITE | JR | 11th(i), 10th(o) | 16th USA Trials |
1:46.71 | Robert HEPPENSTALL | SO | 5th(i), 8th(o) | 3rd CAN Trials |
1:46.90 | Abraham ALVARADO | SR | DII Transfer | 12th USA Trials |
1:47.30 | Blair HENDERSON | SR | DNQ(i), DNQ(o) | |
1:47.32 | Carter LILLY | JR | DNQ(i), 20th(o) | |
1:47.32 | Avery BARTLETT | SO | DNQ(i), DNQ(o) | 7th USA Jr. Champs |
1:47.37 | Ryan MANAHAN | SR | DNQ(i), 1500(o) |
THE FAVORITES: The Kenyan Trio
Eliud Rutto (Middle Tennesse State) | He is the top returner from indoors and has the fastest personal best from 2016-17 with a 1:45.59 mark.
Emmanuel Korir (UTEP) | Broke the 600m world record this year by running 1:14.97 and was eighth at the Kenyan national championships this past summer.
Michael Saruni (UTEP) | Trains with Korir and recently won the 800/mile double at C-USA, defeating Rutto in the 800 and Jonah Koech in the mile.
THE CHALLENGERS: The U.S. Trials Finalists
Craig Engels (Ole Miss) | Opted for the DMR last year over an individual event but showed his ability to race well, making the U.S. Olympic trials final in both the 800m (fourth) and 1500m (fifth).
Isaiah Harris (Penn State) | Broke Korir's 600m time by running 1:14.96 and was sixth at the U.S. Olympic trials as a true freshman last year.
THE DARK HORSE: The Hoosier
Daniel Kuhn (Indiana) | Is undefeated this year in races 600m and up and has been steadily improving since his 11th-place finish at NCAA outdoors last year.
WOMEN'S 800m
On the women's side, the top three finishers from both indoors and outdoors return, and the addition of three USA junior finalists makes this year's field very deep. Here is a breakdown of the 16-woman field ranked by each athlete's personal best from Jan. 1, 2016, to present:
PB | Athlete | YR | '16 NCAA Finish | Summer |
2:00.59 | Raevyn ROGERS | JR | 1st(i), 1st(o) | 5th USA Trials |
2:00.69 | Jazmine FRAY | SO | DNQ(i), 21st(o) | 7th USA Jr. Champs |
2:01.02 | Olivia BAKER | JR | 3rd(i), 2nd(o) | 10th USA Trials |
2:01.42 | Shea COLLINSWORTH | SR | 5th(i), 3rd(o) | 33rd USA Trials |
2:01.91 | Hanna GREEN | SR | 2nd(i), 19th(o) | 18th USA Trials |
2:02.29 | Morgan SCHUETZ | SR | 13th(i), 7th(o) | |
2:03.08 | Jasmine STAEBLER | SO | DNQ(i), DNQ(o) | 8th USA Jr. Champs |
2:03.40 | Rachel WEBER | SR | DNQ(i), DNQ(o) | |
2:03.43 | Ruby STAUBER | FR | Freshman | 3rd USA Jr. Champs |
2:04.01 | Sadi HENDERSON | JR | DNQ(i), DNS(o) | |
2:04.24 | Courtney CLAYTON | JR | DNS(i), DNQ(o) | |
2:04.42 | Agnes ABU | JR | DNQ(i), DNQ(o) | |
2:04.45 | Abike EGBENIYI | SO | DNQ(i), DNS(o) | |
2:04.60 | Madeline KOPP | SR | DNQ(i), DNQ(o) | |
2:04.68 | Kaylee DODD | JR | DNS(i), DNQ(o) | |
2:04.79 | Michell HOWELL | JR | DNQ(i), DNQ(o) |
THE FAVORITE: The Duck
Raven Rogers (Oregon) | Rogers will be going for her fourth straight 800m title. She also still has the fastest personal best in the field when you account for the 2016 outdoor season marks.
THE CHALLENGER: Aggie Record-Holder
Jazmine Fray (Texas A&M) | Fray came out of nowhere this year and broke the NCAA 800m record on Feb. 11, coincidentally on the same day Ajee Wilson and Sammy Watson set the U.S. and high school 800m records, respectively, at Millrose. Fray continued her success by winning her first SEC title and hopes to ride that momentum into NCAAs, which will be on her home track.
THE DARK HORSE: The Cardinal
Olivia Baker (Stanford) | Baker was third indoors and second outdoors in 2016. While Baker's 2017 season started slow, she eventually ran into form at the MPSF Championships, cruising to a 2:03 victory. Baker is a veteran when it comes to NCAA races and should be a big threat in this deep 800m field.
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