Just like that, conference championship weekend has arrived at the Division I level. No matter which conference you are tuned into, dozens of storylines are unfolding across the country.

One of the most striking trends this indoor season has been the dominance of this year’s freshman class. From breaking collegiate records to rewriting their program’s record books, these six standouts have already asserted themselves at the highest level, and this is only the beginning.

Here are six of the top freshmen poised to shine at their conference championships this weekend.

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Jonathan Simms, Georgia

Throughout his prep career at Allen High School in Texas, Simms was largely untouchable. He owns the Texas state sophomore, senior, and overall records in the 400m, and at just 19 years old, ranks as the seventh-fastest high school quarter-miler of all time.

His first year in Athens has gone about as well as possible. Simms currently sits as the top-ranked collegian in the 400m by more than three-tenths of a second, and his Georgia debut produced one of the fastest indoor races ever recorded. Running 44.62, he clocked the fifth-fastest time in world indoor history and became just the 21st athlete to break 45 seconds indoors.

While the World U20 record holder is officially entered only in the open 400, one of the fastest available legs on Georgia’s eighth-ranked 4x400m suggests he will likely factor into the final race of the meet as well.

Sadie Engelhardt, NC State

One of the greatest high school runners of all time is acclimating quickly to life in Raleigh, already earning the title of “national champion” after playing a role in NC State’s fourth cross country title in five years.

Just four races into her first collegiate indoor season, Engelhardt has already etched her name into the NCAA record books. She is now the fifth-fastest collegian of all time and the new NC State record holder. At the ASICS Sound Running Invite, Engelhardt finished runner-up in 4:23.84, surpassing four-time national champion Katelyn Tuohy’s program record of 4:24.76.

Now in snow-covered Boston, Engelhardt is entered in both the mile and the 3000m at the 2026 ACC Indoor Championships. After anchoring the Wolfpack’s distance medley relay to a 10:46 performance, No. 11 all-time, and with head coach Laurie Henes never hesitant to show her hand, do not be surprised if Engelhardt is carrying the baton again on Thursday.

Alan Hanna, Kansas State

Perhaps not as well known from his high school career compared to some of the others on this list, Hanna has been elite for quite some time. A two-time winner at the Kansas State High School Championships, Hanna cleared 7-0 five times as a senior, then capped his prep career by clearing 7-3.5 in his final competition.

Tied for the ninth-best mark ever achieved by a high schooler, it should come as little surprise that he is already making waves at Kansas State. A key component of the Wildcats’ championship-contending lineup, Hanna has already added an inch to his previous best, clearing 7-4.5 at the Thane Baker Invitational in Manhattan.

Hanna currently sits tied for the No. 1 mark in the NCAA, leading the rest of the country by three-quarters of an inch. Although entries have not yet been posted for this weekend’s championships, expect the phenom to be in the field.

If he manages to take down a field featuring some of the nation’s best jumpers, Hanna would become the sixth Wildcat since 2000 to win a Big 12 high jump title, joining Tejaswin Shankar (2019–2021), Bryan Christoff (2016–2017), Erik Kynard (2011–2013), Scott Sellers (2008), and Kyle Lancaster (2003).

Jane Hedengren, BYU

If this name does not ring a bell, then I truly do not know what to tell you. Undoubtedly the greatest high school distance runner of all time and arguably one of the greatest high school athletes ever, Hedengren appears poised to enter unprecedented territory this weekend.

Already an All-American after finishing runner-up at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships, the true freshman has her sights set on more hardware and potentially a national team title with the Cougars next month.

Since the start of her indoor campaign, Hedengren has shattered the NCAA record in the 5000m, running 14:44.79, a mark that also stands as the 10th-fastest indoor time in American history. Over the last month alone, she has clocked 8:34.98 for 3000m, No. 2 all time in NCAA history, and 4:22.22 in the mile, No. 3 all time. Both performances came in races where she dipped under the previous collegiate records.

As she heads to Lubbock this weekend, it remains unclear which events she will contest, as conference entries have yet to be released. Still, it would not be surprising to see Hedengren take on multiple distances across Friday and Saturday.

Adaejah Hodge, Georgia

After redshirting her first year at Georgia, Hodge has not wasted a second in 2026. In just two meets, the Razorback Invitational and the Tiger Paw Invitational, she has already claimed the No. 1 and No. 2 spots nationally in the 60m and 200m. Both marks came at the Tiger Paw Invitational, where Hodge clocked 7.13 and 22.51, an incredibly impressive showing given that the meet featured one of the fastest collegiate sprint fields of all time.

Currently the 16th-fastest performer in the 60m and the world leader in the 200m this winter, Hodge enters SEC Championship weekend with significant momentum.

Set to compete in both the 60m and 200m, Hodge has the opportunity to become the first SEC woman to sweep the sprint titles at the conference championships since LSU’s Kimberlyn Duncan accomplished the feat in 2013.

Tayvon Kitchen, BYU

You may remember Kitchen from November's NCAA Cross Country Championships, where he led the field for much of the first 5000m before finishing 32nd overall and earning All-American status. 

In the few months since, the freshman has notched lifetime bests of 7:36.23 and 13:19.17 in the 3000m and 5000m, both coming on the historically quick track at Boston University. 

In the shorter of the two, Kitchen became the eighth-fastest collegian in history, as well as the new program record holder, running 7:36.23. Over 5000m, Kitchen became the second Cougar to ever break 13:20 at the distance, and is No. 2 all-time behind the great Casey Clinger (13:13).

The 19-year-old is the sixth and fifth-best performer in World U20 history in both events, respectively, and is the top American on both lists as well. 

Kitchen also ran a leg on the Cougar DMR at the Colorado Last Chance Indoor Invitational, where they put up a season best of 9:28.60 at 5400 feet of elevation. That converts to 9:18.97 after an altitude conversion. 

Entries aren't official as of Wednesday, but Kitchen will more than likely be in a combination of the 3k, 5k, DMR, and maybe even the mile if he's feeling quick. 

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