By David Melly
June 12, 2024
We’re not sure if the overused university-marketing quip “what starts here changes the world” is something actually said about Eugene, or the University of Oregon, and we don’t intend to look it up. But we’ll paraphrase it in the context of elite level track & field: “Collegiate performances that pop at Hayward tend to lead to pro careers that are at least noticed by the world.”
And this being an Olympic year – have you heard??? – the focus on NCAAs as a springboard is especially pointed. It was one last chance for the top dogs of the collegiate ranks to signal to their pro peers that they are coming to elbow them out for one of those coveted Olympic berths.
When it comes to NCAA champions, it’s a safe bet they’re all names to keep at least vague tabs on. But after last week, who among their ranks has cemented themselves as likely Paris-bound stars who demand our immediate, breathless attention?
Here are a handful of the youngsters we’re expecting to shake up their events’ pecking orders domestically or in some cases, internationally:
McKenzie Long – We’ll get into Long’s inspiring story more later in the newsletter, but for now, let’s just focus on the fact that she pulled off the 100m/200m/4x100m triple. That not only makes her an intriguing prospect for Team USA across any of those events, it puts the short sprint world on notice. When Long won the 200m – her third NCAA title in a span of less than two hours – it was in the fastest wind-legal time in the world this year!
Nickisha Pryce – Pryce won the individual 400m crown in a new collegiate record of 48.89, then ran the third leg for the Arkansas 4 x 400m, splitting 49.20. That squad set a new collegiate record as well, going 3:17.96 and if Fayetteville were to become a sovereign city-state, its women’s 4 x 400m would basically be a lock for a medal in Paris. Instead, Pryce should bolster Jamaica’s odds at returning to the podium in the 4 x 400m and is a legitimate medal contender in a talented but closely-matched 400m field.
Shane Cohen and Sam Whitmarsh – Bryce Hoppel is a good bet to make his second Olympic team for the U.S. in the men’s 800m, but the other two spots feel wide open right now in this highly-variable event. Six men have run between 1:44 and 1:45 this season, and that crew doesn’t yet include Clayton Murphy, who always seems to get it done when it counts. Two of those guys just went 1-2 at NCAAs thanks to some boisterous kicking – can they mix it up with the big boys when they head back to Eugene in a few weeks?
Nico Young and Habtom Samuel – Two collegians have run under the daunting 27:00 Olympic qualifying mark for 10,000 meters this year. One of them, NCAA champ Habtom Samuel, will almost certainly have the chance to measure his mettle against the world’s best in Paris as he’s the only Eritrean with the mark currently. The other, 21-year-old Nico Young, left NCAAs without an outdoor title but looks well-favored for Team USA. He’s one of only three Americans with the standard alongside Grant Fisher and Woody Kincaid. Paul Chelimo and Joe Klecker are also in the World Rankings quota, but Klecker is out with an injury, so unless Trials goes crazy fast (it won’t!), Young really only needs to beat one of those three guys to make his first Olympic team.
Jaida Ross – The NCAA shot put record holder has been on fire all season, as the Oregon Duck defended her home turf well with a 19.57m victory, nearly a full meter up on second place. Her 20.01m season’s best places her #5 on the world list this year, but making the U.S. team will be no easy feat. Ross will have to take down at least one athlete in the formidable trio of veteran Americans that includes World champ Chase Jackson, 2x U.S. champ Maggie Ewen, and Olympic silver medalist Raven Saunders.
Leo Neugebauer – The German multi-event star for Texas is no stranger to international competition, as the 5th placer at 2023 Worlds, but he’s yet to make his Olympic debut. Neugebauer improved his lifetime best and NCAA record to 8,961 points this weekend, a total that beats every Olympic-winning mark except Damian Warner’s Olympic record in Tokyo, but staying healthy and sharp in ten different disciplines at once for the next two months is quite the challenge.
David Melly
David began contributing to CITIUS in 2018, and quickly cemented himself as an integral part of the team thanks to his quick wit, hot takes, undying love for the sport and willingness to get yelled at online.
