NCAA Men 800m Top 50

Mar 21, 2014 by Isaac Wood

As we approach the outdoor season, I thought it would be fun to a do a top 50 list of the best runners in each distance event in the NCAA. Although it would be easy to do this strictly off of PRs, I've taken into account more than just times, but places in big-time competitions, upward or downward progression, etc. I will only be analyzing the eight who I feel will be the scorers at NCAAs in June, but the other forty-two are listed with their PRs.

If I have missed someone that you feel deserves to make the list, let me know (I'm only human).

Top 50 Men's 800m Runners

1. Brandon McBride (Mississippi State) - 1:46.07 PR

After a lackluster first season at Mississippi State, the Canadian star proved to the country that he is the savviest 800m runner in the NCAA. Along with his big frame and big time PR credentials, McBride understands what it takes to win and proved that to us in Albuquerque.

2. Edward Kemboi (Iowa State) - 1:45.98 PR

Possibly the best 800m time trialer in the NCAA, Kemboi is known for having one or two races a year that make you believe he is unbeatable with his kind of talent and ability. Unfortunately, for Kemboi, he has really only had one race where he performed up to par with what we thought him capable --and that was this past weekend in Albuquerque. If he can continue to improve his PR and his race savvy, he will be latched onto McBride all season long and at NCAAs.

3. Brannon Kidder (Penn State) - 1:46.87 PR

Last year's freshman sensation is the nation's top returner from the 800m outdoors in 2013. Many of us "experts' believed he was certainly the one to beat at NCAA Indoors and unfortunately did not get it done. Does that make us believe in him less? No, he's far too talented and looks to be more suited for championship racing outdoors than indoors (although, his coming out party in 2013 was his record breaking indoor season last year).

4. Patrick Rono (Arkansas) - 1:46.49 PR

Rono proved to us that he's ready to be a contender in the 800m and deservedly so. For so long I thought of him as a very quality 1500m talent, and I still think he is, but right now, the 800m is Rono's bread and butter. With a top-notch PR and a 3rd place indoor finish in his belt, this Arkansas stud is a great combination of speed and strength that benefits him in any type of tactical race.

5. Eliud Rutto (Middle Tennessee State) - 1:46.50 (h) PR, 1:47.39 AT

The most enigmatic 800 meter runner in the NCAA is certainly Eliud Rutto. With a hand time as his PR, most people would just go with his 1:47 auto-time PR, but regardless of hand time or not sub-1:47 is in a league above most of the athletes in the NCAA. Regardless of the fact that he is nearly 26 years old, he will be a contender in Eugene with his raw speed and years of experience.

6. Tomas Squella (Arkansas) - 1:46.76 PR

A fourth place finish at NCAA Indoors this season and a sixth place finish in 2013 makes Squella certainly someone to watch out for this upcoming outdoor. The Chilean 800m national record holder has yet to prove himself a real force outdoors and maybe he just likes the banked turns and the different race tactics that indoor provides. With the unreal 800m crew in Fayetteville with Rono, and Ryan Thomas, and company, Squella should redeem himself from his breakdown outdoors in 2013.

7. Samuel Ellison (Villanova) - 1:47.62 PR

Ellison is seemingly another athlete that has had more success indoors than outdoors, but is definitely an athlete that cannot be overlooked this upcoming outdoor. Having finished sixth at NCAA Indoors last week and knowing that his excellent PR came from outdoors, he will be one to watch if he can finally turn the corner this season in Eugene.

8. Boru Guyota (Oregon) - 1:47.42 PR

Unfortunately it feels as if Guyota always has his worst race of the year at the West Regional or at the NCAA Championships. Naturally, he is one of the most talented 800m runners in the country and I wouldn't be surprised to see him dip under the 1:47 mark this upcoming outdoor. I put Guyota at number eight because just like a good shooter in basketball in a deep slump, Boru is due for a good race when it matters. This year should be his year.

9. Mac Fleet- Oregon- 1:46.32 PR

10. Sean Obinwa- Florida- 1:47.22

11. Za'Von Watkins- Penn State- 1:48.11

12. David Mokone- Western Kentucky- 1:47.51

13. A.J. Chavez- UCONN- 1:47.96

14. Charles Grethen- Georgia- 1:47.56

15. Austin Mudd- Wisconsin- 1:47.59

16. Jacopo Lahbi- Alabama- 1:47.52

17. Ryan Schnulle- Florida- 1:48.05

18. Andres Arroyo- Florida- 1:47.79

19. Billy Ledder- Georgetown- 1:47.89

20. Patrick Peterson- Iowa State- 1:48.10

21. Jesse Jorgensen- Washington State- 1:48.84

22. Harry McFann- Columbia- 1:48.14

23. Andrew Smith- UMBC- 1:48.82

24. Anthony Kostelac- Virginia Tech- 1:48.13

25. Ryan Thomas- Arkansas- 1:48.35

26. Brandon Lasater- Georgia Tech- 1:48.34

27. O'Neill Wanliss- North Carolina- 1:48.28

28. Hector Hernandez- Texas A&M- 1:48.42

29. Luke Lefebure- Stanford- 1:48.80

30. Will Weinlandt- Cornell- 1:48.43

31. Brendon Fish- Columbia- 1:48.64

32. Connor Claflin- Columbia- 1:48.68

33. Zack Fanelty- Georgia Tech- 1:48.75

34. Jake Hiltner- Akron- 1:48.85

35. Nick Hartle- UCLA- 1:48.86

36. Derrick Daigre- Washington- 1:49.00

37. Ahmed Bile- Georgetown- 1:49.09

38. Keffri Neal- Kentucky- 1:48.94

39. Ryan Manahan- Georgetown- 1:49.03

40. Josh Hernandez- Texas A&M- 1:49.15

41. Kisean Smith- Georgia- 1:49.80

42- Harry Fisher- Wyoming- 1:49.30

43. Tre'Tez Kinnaird- Indiana- 1:49.31

44. Briton Page- Utah State- 1:49.44

45. Chris Low- Long Beach State- 1:49.43

46. Tanner Sork- BYU- 1:48.74

47. Alex Monisvaiz- Cal St. Northridge- 1:49.20

48. Edwin Herring- New Mexico- 1:49.06

49. Myles Andrews- USC- 1:48.95

50. Bradley Paternostro- Princeton- 1:49.20