Edward Cheserek, Oregon (PB 7:47.20)
Last Year: 1st Indoors, 2nd 5k Outdoors, 1st 10k Outdoors
He has ruled the NCAA since the day he arrived at Oregon, and has shown no signs of slowing down. Edward Cheserek swept indoor titles in 2014 in both the 3k and 5k, and went on to win the outdoor 10k title as well as the cross country title this fall. He has a burst that no one seems to be able to match, and when he makes that move the race is all but over. Beating Ches requires someone to take the pace out hard a la Lawi Lalang, but with his rival no longer in college, Cheserek is in a class of his own. 

Eric Jenkins, Oregon (PB 7:50.44)
Last Year: N/A Indoors, 4th 5k Outdoors
While his 3k PB is officially 7:50.44, Eric Jenkins ran 7:46.21 at the 2013 NCAA indoor championships, but was disqualified for grabbing Kirubel Erassa’s jersey. That mark was thrown out, but if not for the DQ Jenkins would have been the ninth fastest in NCAA history. That’s a long way to say that the Oregon senior is the favorite to finish behind his Ducks’ teammate in this event. They went 1-2 in cross country and there’s no reason to believe they won’t do it again indoors. 

Ben Saarel, Colorado (PB 7:52.61)
Last Year: 3rd Indoors, 16th 1500 Outdoors
Ben Saarel is Colorado’s best all-around runner. The sophomore secured his second consecutive top ten finish at the NCAA XC Championships, and enters his 2015 indoor campaign as the next highest returner in the 3k after Cheserek. Saarel has outstanding miler speed (3:41 1500m) that makes him incredibly dangerous when the pace lags in championship races.

Brian Shrader, Northern Arizona (PB 7:51.48*)
Last Year: 8th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Shrader on paper seems to not have an overly impressive 3k PB (8:00.14), but that time was ran at 7,000ft which converts to 7:51.48. The NAU senior did not have XC eligibility this fall, so he took his talents to the roads, where he beat a loaded field at the .US 12k Championships. His time of 34:11 was an American record, and forced Shrader to turn down $20k in prize money. He chose to keep running for the Lumberjacks, and his 13:40 5k from December is currently the fastest in the NCAA in 2015.

Erik Olson, Stanford (PB 7:50.81)
Last Year: 7th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Olson is another guy like Shrader who didn’t have cross country eligibility, but should be extremely fit during indoors. The 5th year senior was 7th in the 3k in 2014, and finished 3rd in the loaded MPSF 3k while running a PB of 7:50.81. Olson just missed qualifying for the 5k outdoors, so he will be eager to prove himself in 2015.  

Parker Stinson, Oregon (PB 7:51.06)
Last Year: 11th Indoors, 14th 5k Outdoors, 8th 10k Outdoors
Make it three guys in this group who didn’t run XC this fall. Stinson was a solid contributor for the Ducks' NCAA title squads in indoor and outdoor, most notably with his third place finish in the indoor 5k. The 5th year senior has impressive PBs of 7:51.06 and 13:31.7, and like Shrader and Olson, should be fit after an uninterrupted fall of training. Stinson gives Oregon another weapon in the distance events to help bring home that coveted trophy.



Kemoy Campbell, Arkansas (PB 7:46.95)
Last Year: N/A Indoors, N/A Outdoors
It’s been nearly a year since Kemoy Campbell last raced in a Hogs uniform, but we can’t ignore the Jamaican’s talent. Campbell finished 2nd in the 3k in 2013, clocking a ridiculous 7:46.95 in a lightning fast final. If Campbell is healthy and firing on all cylinders, he has the speed to finish top 2 in this event.