800m
1. Charlie Hunter
2. Brandon Miller
3. Isaiah Jewett
4. Finley Mclear
IMO, Hunter ran soft at Pac-12's as he ran a negative split 800m so if he just runs with the front pack, I think he should win. I like that he has that 3:53 miler strength that no one else in the field has. He just has to execute better and put himself out there and he should come away with the win. I'm assuming Devin Dixon makes the final and I know he likes to front run and make it honest. Brandon Miller is on fire along with Jewett so it's going to be a very close race. Mclear hasn't ran the fast times but I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls out for the win as he is a competitor and just races to win. I think it will take a sub 1:45 to win this race.
1500m
1. Cole Hocker
2. Yared Nuguse
3. Eluid Kipsang
4. Waleed Sulliman
I like Hocker in this race. What he did at the NCAA mile was special, leading the mile wire to wire and being able to close in a 25 second last lap. I think it's going to be a quick from the start with Kipsang, Nuguse, and Hocker separating from the field early. At the Oregon Twilight, Hocker did not position himself well and with 200m to go he found himself in 6th place behind 3:38 guys which at that point he had already lost the race . Luckily with Hocker he won't have to worry about positioning with Kipsang taking it out hard. With Nuguse, I don't think his kick is all that as he only beat Teare by .01. If Hocker was in Teare's position with 100m to go at Twilight, I don't think Nuguse beats him. Hocker has similar 800/5k pr's to Josh Kerr so I think Hocker is ready to run very hard and make a statement. I'm not saying he's going to run 3:31 but I believe with Kipsang taking it out in a 1:53 or faster, the winning time will be faster than the collegiate record.
5000m
1. Cooper Teare
2. Cole Hocker
3. Luis Grijalva
4. Wesley Kiptoo
There is no doubt Kiptoo will take it out very hard. The field will let him run his 2:31 first K and put like a 8-10 second gap. With how he races, there is no way he's going to close faster than he opens in his first K. Prime Lawi Lalang wouldn't even get out in a pace as stupid as that. Teare will probably lead the chase pack with Hocker and Grijalva to follow. Not sure when they will catch Kiptoo but when they do he won't be able to respond. I say Grijalva will make a move with 400m to go, and with 100m to go the crowd will go wild as Teare and Hocker pass him at the very end.
10,000m
1. Edwin Kurgat
2. Wesley Kiptoo
3. Adriaan Wildschut
4. Connor Mantz
I think Kurgat is very underrated. He's won a XC title against a fully stacked field. He is a very smart racer and has a very underrated kick. He actually closed faster than Teare at Oregon relays and was just .24 from beating him. Kiptoo may have finished 3rd but he is a low 27:30 10k runner on the track. He won't have to worry about hills or the adverse condition of XC. He is going to do his thing and make it honest. Kurgat trains with him with everyday so he probably has a good plan to take him down. I like Mantz but I feel he is little bit overrated as the guys who finished 2nd and 3rd place weren't fresh going into the XC championships. Wildschut is very underrated too, He is consistent and he ran solo efforts when he ran his 5k and 10k pbs in April. All I know is this 10k is going to be very fast and it's going to take guts to win it. Should be a great race!