Two standout rivalries have defined the 2026 Indoor season, breaking records and delivering exciting races: BYU's Jane Hendregren vs. Alabama's Doris Lemngole, and Villanova's Marco Langon vs. New Mexico's Habtom Samuel. Both pairs are set to clash in the 3000m and 5000m at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships next weekend, March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

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Freshman Jane Hendegren has been a force since her collegiate debut in cross country. The little fish made a big splash in her rookie season, breaking the BIG 12 6k record en route to a dominant 45-second victory, earning 2025 Big 12 Women's Cross Country Runner and Rookie of the Year honors. A clear standout from the gun Hendegren ultimately fell short against Doris Lemngole at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

The two will square off on even footing, but Lemngole carries the edge in NCAA championship experience. This championship meet marks the junior's third year attempting the ambitious 3k/5k double, while this will be Hendegren's first time taking on the double on the National stage.Lemngole debuted the double at the 2024 Indoor Championships, finishing third in the 3k and fourth in the 5k. She returned the following year to win the 5k and place runner-up in the 3k. Based on that progression, the Alabama standout appears poised to contend for both titles, though Hendegren will be sure to put up a fight in each race.

Though their cross country 6k battle was close, the indoor track season presents a different dynamic. Known primarily for her strength over distance, Hendegren has emphasized a focus on her speed this winter, racing two miles throughout the season. Her mile time would place her fourth in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships, highlighting her range. That speed could prove especially valuable, even setting an advantage over Lemngole in the 3k. With Hendegren's speed and Lemngole's undefeated record in the 3k this season, the event is shaping up to be a fierce battle.

While Lemngole may appear to be the favorite in the 5k, let's not forget about Hendegren's performance in the event back in December. Right off a cross country season, she broke Parker Valby's NCAA record, clocking a blistering 14:44.79. She has not raced the 5k since her record-breaking performance, leaving plenty of intrigue around what she might produce in the event on the championship stage. 

The duo will split the top seeds for the event: Lemngole is seeded No. 1 in the 3000m with Hendengren at No. 2, while Hendengren takes the top spot in the 5000m and Lemngole is seeded second.

The two have only faced off twice during this past academic year, with Lemngole winning both matchups.

2025 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 6k

1st. Doris Lemngole - 18:25.4

2nd. Jane Hendegren - 18:38.9

118th Millrose Games - 3000m

1st. Doris Lemngole - 8:31.39

2nd. Jane Hendegren - 8:34.98

An even more seasoned showdown is brewing in the men's 3k and 5k, with juniors Marco Langon and Habtom Samuel. 

A quick glance at personal bests gives Samuel a slight edge in both events; however, only 4 seconds in the 3k and less than half a second in the 5k separates the two phenoms. Langon's 5k PR comes from a head-to-head matchup against Samuel from December at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, where Langon dove at the line, missing the win by mere milliseconds. 

The pair first shared a starting line at the 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Charlottesville. While the two were on the line together, Langon was not a thought in Samuel's mind with his second-place finish to Langon's 146. Samuel took victory in the 2025 Cross Country Championships, with Langon taking the season off. 

Samuel claimed victory in five straight matches over Langon until the tide began to change at the 2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships. Samuel took runner-up in the first matchup over the championship weekend - for the second year in a row - with Langon taking 6th place, just three seconds behind. The following day, they came back in the 3k where Langon rewrote the rivalry, taking 7th over Samuel's 9th. A razor-thin 0.17 seconds separated the two.

That meet marked the true beginning of their heated rivalry. 

Langon enters this year's championship as the No. 1 seed in the 3k, with Samuel in the sixth spot. This difference in ranking is a testimony to the speed of Langon. Though he has primarily focused on longer distances this Indoor season, Langon has a history of middle-distance credentials, including a No. 3 All-Time Collegiate mark in the 1500m. Altneratively Samuel claims the No. 1 spot in the 5k, with Langon second, posting the same time. 

While Langon brings the speed, Samuel counters with strength. He owns the No. 2 All-Time Collegiate mark in the 10,000m outdoor, and ranks No.3 in the 5,000m outdoor. 

Even with their respective accolades in outdoor, the pair sits at No. 3 and No. 4 on the All-Time collegiate list in the indoor 5k. With Langon's ferocious kick and Samuel's deep endurance, the stage is set to bring an exciting chapter to the rivalry.

2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 10k

1st. Habtom Samuel - 28:40.7

146th. Marco Langon - 30:58.9

2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships 3000m

7th. Habtom Samuel - 7:46.86

14th. Marco Langon - 8:00.83

2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships 5000m

6th. Habtom Samuel - 13:58.83

21st. Marco Langon - 14:10.41

2024 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships 10k

2nd. Habtom Samuel - 28:38.9

15th. Marco Langon - 29:08.8

2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships 

3000m: 

7th. Marco Langon - 7:54.25

9th. Habtom Samuel - 7:54.42

5000m:

2nd. Habtom Samuel - 13:11.78

6th. Marco Langon - 13:14.16

2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships 5000m

2nd. Habtom Samuel - 13:20.89

3rd. Marco Langon - 13:21.17

2025 BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener

1st. Habtom Samuel - 13:05.21

2nd. Marco Langon - 13:05.21

Samuel goes into the Championship with 7/8 wins over Langon, but with tactical racing and two national titles on the line, both have a chance for National glory. Not only will they have to battle each other, but their competition includes Colton Sands, Simeon Birnbaum, Colin Sahlman, Tayvon Kitchen in the 3k, and Denis Cheruiyot, Kelvin Cheruiyot, Elsingi Kipruto and Ernest Cheruiyot in the 5k, all ready to push this rivalry back in the rankings. 

Both Hendregren and Langon are also listed as potential legs on Friday night’s DMR, which begins at 7:15 p.m. ET. With the team championship on the line, BYU could lean on Hedengren's 4:22 mile strength in pursuit of DMR gold. Langon and his Villanova teammates also have a chance of gold after running the US #3 time just two weeks ago at the Philadelphia Metro meet. If Hendregren and Langon opt to prioritize the relay, Lemngole and Samuel could gain an advantage in the 3,000m race — though those decisions have yet to be finalized.

Lemngole and Hedengren will race first at 8:05 pm in the 5k, with the Langon, Samuel matchup to follow at 8:25 pm, followed by the 3k on Saturday at 6:10 pm and 6:25 pm EST. 

Take a look at the rest of the entries in the respective events:

Men's Entries

Women's Entries

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