Poll: Who will win the men's 800 at NCAAs?
Poll: Who will win the men's 800 at NCAAs?
This year’s men’s 800-meter field at NCAAs is one of the deepest ever assembled. The West Preliminary Round qualifiers are looking good, coming off some sizzling semi-final heats where six men ran under 1:47. The East qualifiers were slower at the semi-final races (one guy under 1:48), but their times from the season put them on par with the competition.
UCLA senior Cory Primm could be the favorite, after running 1:44.71 to win the Oxy High Performance meet a couple weeks ago. He beat pros from the Oregon Track Club like Tyler Mulder and Russell Brown, and his time is the best in the nation this year among collegiates and pros (although he was not running in a UCLA jersey). It’s also the fastest 800 any collegiate runner has gone since 1996, although, as mentioned, it isn't legal because of his unattached status at Oxy. Primm’s time was a PR of course, but he’s consistent too. He was fifth last year at NCAAs and went 1:45 last year, 1:47 indoors this year and 1:47.57 to win the PAC 10 championships a month ago. He secured his spot at NCAAs by running 1:46.36, taking second in his heat. We chatted with him a couple days ago – watch the video here.
But Virginia sophomore Robby Andrews is the top returner, last year’s runner-up at NCAAs. He cruised to a 1:47.89 victory at the East Preliminary Round but boasts a PR of 1:45.54, set in last year’s prelims. He also possesses perhaps the most deadly kick, which could come in very handy in a championship race. Check out his thoughts on the outdoor season here.
Also returning from last year’s championships are the fourth-place Ryan Martin (UCSB junior) and eighth-place Fred Samoei (Alabama senior). They’ve run 1:45.19 and 1:45.52 this year. Both placed in the middle of the pack of qualifiers from the regional races, but their championship experience and know-how play in their favor.
There’s always room for newcomers to shake things up. Oregon sophomore Elijah Greer PR’d big and won the west region with a 1:45.98. His momentum from that race could carry him all the way through the finals.
Finally, UC Irvine junior Charles Jock, whose 1:45.19 from Mt. Sac is the fastest “official” time from the West region, will certainly contend. This isn’t really his first NCAA championships either - he missed the finals last year by one spot. You can see his post-race interview from Mt. Sac here.
So, who are your picks? Who is the man to beat? Is is someone we forgot to mention here (Cas Loxsom, Harun Abda or somebody else?) When you’ve voted, tell us why in the comments.
WEST REGION RESULTS
1 Elijah Greer SO Oregon 1:45.98Q
2 Charles Jock JR UC Irvine 1:46.27Q
3 Cory Primm SR UCLA 1:46.36Q
4 Harun Abda SO Minnesota 1:46.81Q
5 Joe Abbott JR Washington St. 1:46.84q
6 Joey Roberts JR Texas A&M 1:46.89Q
7 Edward Kemboi FR Iowa State 1:47.25Q
8 Nathaniel Litwiller SO Sacramento St. 1:48.35q
9 Ryan Martin JR UC Santa Barbara 1:48.70Q
10 Justin Hedin JR BYU 1:48.71q
11 Michael Preble JR Texas A&M 1:48.79Q
12 Erik Sowinski JR Iowa 1:48.88Q
EAST REGION RESULTS
1 Robby Andrews SO Virginia 1:47.89Q
2 Casimir Loxsom SO Penn State 1:48.48Q
3 Felix Kitur SR VMI 1:48.88Q
4 Fred Samoei SR Alabama 1:48.72Q
5 Jack Howard SR Notre Dame 1:49.14Q
6 Michael Rutt SR Connecticut 1:49.15Q
7 Samuel Borchers SR Penn State 1:48.80Q
8 Willie Brown SO Akron 1:49.21Q
9 Sean Obinwa SO Florida 1:49.26Q
10 Russell Dinkins SO Princeton 1:49.05q
11 Sharif Webb SR Kentucky 1:49.28q
12 Brian Hill SR Harvard 1:49.31q
LAST YEAR’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
1 Andrew Wheating SR Oregon 1:45.69 10
2 Robby Andrews FR Virginia 1:46.83 8
3 Aaron Evans SO Georgia 1:46.87 6
4 Ryan Martin JR Santa Barbara 1:47.02 5
5 Cory Primm JR UCLA 1:47.58 4
6 Lance Roller SO Virginia 1:47.64 3
7 Chris Gowell SR Baylor 1:47.67 2
8 Fred Samoei JR Alabama 1:47.84 1