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Women's 5k will be lightning quick, everyone racing is capable of a national qualifying time and the pacers are running 15:15 pace. Whitni Orton should grab the win, my guess is around 15:10. Courtney Wayment is back after missing this XC season (used up eligibility), but she will push Orton to the line. Wayment has run 15:17 and is the defending 3k indoor champ, but her steeplechase efforts at the OLY trials could make her the favorite coming in. Lauren Ryan is definitely better at track than XC, and just had her strongest XC season, so watch out for her (15:22 pb). Curious to see what Delay can do after getting tenth at NCAA XC. Has no 5k on her tfrrs, but does have a 9:15 3k and is a much stronger runner now. Denner of Notre Dame runs gutsy and came on strong at end of XC (9th), so expect her to try to grind with the pace up front. Hannah Steelman looks to rebound after slightly disappointing XC finish (24th) although she is a gamer and has run in the 15:30s. Fegans Clairmonte and Oneil looking to rebound after subpar performances. Heckel is unknown at the moment, 18th at XC so should run something solid. Cohen has DNFD in lots of 5ks, but clearly at her best she is a force, but she hasn't been at her best in a while. My guess for Kimeli is 15:40 range. Hays should smash her pr, her strongest XC season by far (22 vs. 84th in the past). Chmiel is a far improved runner, although she can't quite seem to run a 5k pr yet indicative of her XC fitness (only 15:56 pr but 6th at NCAAs) but she is always in the mix. Katie Izzo is the lone pro, fitting since she ran 15:11 or close to that previously at this meet.
1. Orton
2. Wayment
3. Ryan
4. Izzo
5. Oneil
then battle between Chmiel, Delay, Denner, Steelman, Kimeli, Hays