1. Katelyn Tuohy (NC State)
After a perfectly timed come-from-behind victory last year (after taking 15th in ’21), capping an undefeated harrier season, Tuohy went on to win the NCAA Indoor 3000 and 5000. Her outdoor championships were a letdown (7th in the 1500 followed by a scratch from the 5000), but she rebounded to place 7th in the USA Outdoor 5K, a positive endpoint to a season that saw CRs in the mile (4:24.26i) and 3000 (8:35.20i) and a move to No. 2 collegian all-time in the 5000 (15:03.12). She also made her debut at 10,000, winning the ACC title comfortably in 32:56.75.
2. Parker Valby (Florida)
Valby valiantly led last year’s title race until the final stages, finishing 2nd to Tuohy in just her third race of the season. Indeed, she struggled with a leg injury for most of the year and raced only once indoors (a swift 8:49.71 last December) before producing a dominant win in the outdoor 5000 off about 20 miles a week of running (and lots of cross-training). She has yet to show her cards this fall, but has demonstrated the potential to perform well off minimal racing, and should be in the mix again.
3. Doris Lemngole (Alabama)
New ’Bama distance coach Nick Stenuf may have hit the jackpot with Lemngole, who helps the squad fill in holes from graduation and the transfer portal. The 21-year-old frosh from Kenya was a convincing winner over a strong field at the Piane Invite at Notre Dame in late September. She has previously run 9:35.85 in the steeplechase and 14:40 for 5K on the roads and has the potential to be a major factor on the U.S. collegiate scene.
4. Kelsey Chmiel (NC State)
On just about any other team in the country, Chmiel would be the No. 1 runner. But the tenacious New Yorker has taken a supporting role in Raleigh behind Tuohy — and thrived. Like Tuohy, she closed well over the final kilometer at last year’s championships and finished 3rd overall to help secure the team title. She kept the momentum going during the track season, taking 4th in the indoor 5000 (and 7th in the 3000) then 8th in the outdoor 10K. Her PRs rank among the best in the nation in the 3000 (8:59.25i), 5000 (15:27.36i) and 10,000 (32:45.83).
5. Elise Stearns (Northern Arizona)
Stearns was 4th in Stillwater a year ago, then lowered her 5000 best to 15:33.74 in December. She was soon derailed by injury, however, finishing 11th at the NCAA Indoor and missing the entire outdoor season. But the Montana native showed promising form this September by…
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