Three Americans made the final as Donavan Brazier cruised, Clayton Murphy made it in on time and in the final heat Bryce Hoppel who was running XC races a year ago auto qualified.

Once the action got under way, all of the top seeds advanced with all of the top 14 seeds advancing to tomorrow’s semifinals. All four Americans made it safely through as well.

Can Donavan Brazier end America's 47 year gold medal drought in the men's 800?

*MB: Make your picks for the 1500 at USAs: BB, Engels, Kidder or WCAP? Quigley, Houlihan, Grace, McGee, Osika or Schneider?

The US Champs take place in 5 weeks and hardly any Americans have the world standard. Normally that's the name of the game at Oxy, but this year's meet, which will cost you $69.99 to watch, also serves as Matthew Centrowitz's first 1500 since Rio and Mo Farah's first outdoor track race since Rio. *MB: Official 2017 Oxy Live Discussion Thread.

The men's 1k is loaded as it included Murphy, Andrews, Wheating and Kidder.

Distance highlights included Justyn Knight taking down Andrew Wheating and Brannon Kidder in the mile with a 3:59.54, Brie Felnagle running 4:27.27 to beat out Alexa Efraimson (4:30.49), a 2:02.29 win for Kate Grace in the 800 over Justine Fredronic, Colby Gilbert getting a 7:45.71 win in the 3000, and Andrea Seccafien winning the 3000 in 9:11.39 over Christina Aragon (9:12.58).  

*Walker Talks About The Decision To Forgo His Final Year In The NCAA

Full day 1 (non Cheserek recap).

Friday Highlights: In a deep men’s 800 field, Nike pro Wesley Vazquez ran 1:44.75 in the 800 to beat out Florida’s Andres Arroyo (1:45.78) and Penn State’s Isaiah Harris and Brannon Kidder. Chanelle Price won the women’s 800 in 2:01.72 over Cory McGee (2:02.73). Virginia’s NCAA indoor mile champion Henry Wynne kept the momentum rolling in the 1500 here as he got the win in 3:38.35 over Mississippi’s Craig Engels (3:38.82). Ashley Higginson won the women’s race in 4:12.81. *MB: 3:38 1500 at Florida Relays! *MB: Insanely fast 800 at Florida Relays

Seven men under 1:47. Two true freshman phenoms. World Championship semifinalist Clayton Murphy, 1:45 man Donavan Brazier and so many more. The men's 800 may be the race of the meet at NCAA Indoors.

We feel very confident in predicting one thing about the 800s. Ajee Wilson and Boris Berian are going to Worlds. After that, it's going to be a lot of fun seeing what happens.

Both the 800 (1:49.26) and 1,500 (3:54.96) had incredibly slow winning times due to wind on the backstretch, but that made for thrilling theater as everyone was still in contention with 200 to go in each race. As it did last year, the steeple came down to Rotich vs. Stanley Kebenei and Rotich once again prevailed by a narrow .38 margin.

We recap the action and have a quote from Cristian Soratos that would make Steve Prefontaine proud.

We're not sure if there will be drama in the 5 an 10ks but these races should more than make it up for it. The 800, where NCAA champs Brandon McBride and Edward Kemboi lead the way, is the deepest 800 in years at the NCAA level. Cristian Soratos vs. Jordan Williamsz is must-watch drama in the 1500 as is the Stanely Kebenei vs. Anthony Rotich battle in the steeple.

Alabama's Alex Amankwah won the 800 in 1:45.91 over Ryan Schnulle (1:46.89). Rhianwedd Price took the 1500 in 4:11.67.

Oregon's Mac Fleet is looking to become the first NCAA 1,500 repeat champ since Seneca Lassiter in 1998 but last year's 10,000 champ Lawi Lalang wants to end his storied NCAA career with yet a 1,500 crown. In the steeple and 800, Anthony Rotich and Brandon McBride want to continue winning.