The 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships are this weekend in College Station, Texas, and the men's and women's 3000m events on Saturday evening are the final opportunities for distance runners to capture a title. Here's a look at the favorites and top storylines heading in both races, which get started at 6 PM CT.

Women's 3000m

For the second straight year, a freshman is the fastest entry into the women's NCAA 3000m. The major differences between Boise State's Allie Ostrander and this year's Katie Rainsberger of Oregon is that the latter has showed no signs of injury in 2017. A fourth-place NCAA cross country finisher, Rainsberger comes in with a 9:01 indoor best after splitting 4:30 on the Ducks' NCAA record-setting DMR and closing her season with a 4:35 mile at the MPSF Championships. Rainsberger has the finishing speed, but we don't know if she is as aggressive of a racer as her competitors.

Watch Rainsberger's 9:01 3K here:


Katherine Receveur of Indiana had a monster Big Ten meet: She anchored the Hoosiers' DMR to third place, finished runner-up in the 3K (9:07) just one event later, and won the 5K the next day in 15:28 -- the top mark by any collegian this season. She scratched the 5K and will only have the DMR in her legs heading into this 3K, the same double as Rainsberger.

Related: Hoosiers Moment: Katherine Receveur's Remarkable Climb To NCAA Contention

NCAA XC champ Karissa Schweizer has been undefeated since her come-from-behind victory in Terre Haute, Indiana, but hasn't faced stiff competition in her 4:35/9:06/15:37 performances, though all three are massive improvements for the former 16:32 freshman.

Watch Schweizer's dominating 3K performance here:


If the race is fast from the gun, Receveur and Schweizer will have the upper hand with their 5K strength. After numerous injuries, 2015 NCAA runner-up Elise Cranny, whose 8:58 PB is the fastest in the field, has been trending upward and should be at the front on Saturday evening. Fun fact: Jenny Simpson's collegiate record of 8:42.03 was set on this very track at the 2009 NCAA Championships.

Men's 3000m

The men's 3000m race in College Station will be Edward Cheserek's third individual event of the weekend. If the Oregon senior is going to lose any event, it may be this one.

Cheserek's NCAA Schedule:
Friday, 5:45 PM: Mile Prelim
Friday, 8:20 PM: 5000m Final
Friday, 8:55 PM: DMR*
Saturday, 4:10 PM: Mile Final
Saturday, 6:15 PM: 3000m Final

*Is Cheserek racing the DMR? He's listed on the GoDucks website, but we will likely not know until Friday evening in College Station.

Colby Gilbert (7:45), Cheserek (7:46), Marc Scott (7:47), and Justyn Knight (7:47) are the top entries on paper. While Gilbert has enjoyed solid PBs (3:58/7:45/13:34) this season, his best finish in an NCAA championship is only eighth (2016 3K), and he's coming off a 5K on Friday night. Tulsa's Scott is also doubling in the 3K/5K. He was fifth in the 2015 indoor 5K but only 13th in 2016. Perhaps the 3K will be a better fit for Scott, as this is his first season running under 7:50 and competing in the event at the indoor championship.

Watch Scott unleash his kick at the Iowa State Classic:


The favorite to take down Cheserek? The most recent man to do it in the field, Syracuse's Justyn Knight. The NCAA XC runner-up, Knight was third indoors in 2016 and will be fresh, unlike a majority of this field coming off 5K or mile races. Sure, his 3:59 mile season best is slower than his 2016 season best of 3:56, but his ACC Championship performances (13:50/8:05 FTW) prove his strength. What other college junior can say he's beaten Andrew Wheating AND Galen Rupp in his career?

Watch Knight beat Wheating and Brannon Kidder in the mile: