10 stellar early-2018 runs by Canadians in the NCAA

The 2018 NCAA indoor track and field season is underway, and the conferences’ Canadian representatives are off to a fast start. Here’s a list of standout performances of Canadian runners living and training south of the border and competing in Division One, the top tier, of the American collegiate system.

Kyra Constantine (USC): 400m, 52.77, Razorback Invitational

A double medallist at the 2017 Pan American U20 Athletics Championships, Constantine’s performances in January make her an early-threat to hop on the podium at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in March.

Mike Tate (Southern Utah): 3,000m, 7:56.43, University of Washington Invitational

The Nova Scotia-native goes under eight minutes and records SUU’s second fastest 3,000m all-time. Tate set a new Nova Scotia 3,000m record bettering Eric Gillis’s mark of 7:59.64

Erinn Stenman-Fahey (Iowa State): 800m, 2:06.33, Razorback Invitational

Correction: Erinn Stenman-Fahey is #7 in program history now in the indoor 800 with her 2:06.33. #6 is Larkin Chapman with her 2:06.18 from earlier today.#cyclONEnation

— Iowa State Track & XC (@CycloneTrackXC) January 27, 2018

Stenman-Fahey has appeared in everything between the 200m and the mile in recent years, and the 800m appears to be her sweet spot.

Justyn Knight (Syracuse): mile, 3:55.82, BU John Thomas Terrier Classic

Yesterday I shook the rust off in Boston running 3:55 in the mile. Stay tuned for what’s up next ?? ?: @justinbritton #cuse #cusenation #trackandfield #TrackNation pic.twitter.com/bpUYNviAXJ

— Justyn Knight (@justyn_knight) January 28, 2018

The reigning NCAA cross-country champion now ranks second only to Illinois’ Jonathan Davis in the mile. In this race, he edged out fellow Canadian and beer mile world record holder Corey Bellemore.

Rory Linkletter (BYU): 3,000m, 7:55.10, Dr. Sander Invitational

https://www.instagram.com/p/BedMs9EgSOy/

The cross-country stud also ran an impressive mile in his team’s DMR, unofficially splitting 4:03.

Charlotte Prouse (New Mexico): mile, 4:41.36, New Mexico Team Invitational

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGqsOC3_9wU

Coming off a cross-country season in which her 12th-place individual finish helped the Lobos win the NCAA national team title, Prouse has demonstrated great range, as she is currently ranked fourth in the NCAA in the mile.

Ben Preisner (Tulsa): 3,000m, 8:10.74, Jayhawk Classic

Since last year, Preisner has slowly been chipping away the 8:00 3,000m and 14:00 5,000m barriers. The Milton, Ont. native might be one race away from a breakthrough.

Alexandra Lucki – 4th year Senior – University of Maryland – Mile – 4:44.01 – Penn State National, University Park, PA

The Maryland senior hopes to qualify for her first NCAA indoor championship. She currently ranks 26th in the mile.

Ehab El-Sandali (Iona): 3,000m, 8:06.07, BU John Thomas Terrier Classic

https://www.instagram.com/p/BehE3CPFxX0/

The former high-school standout and 2016 Canadian cross-country junior champion is already turning heads in his rookie season.

Nicole Hutchinson (Villanova): 3,000m, 9:14.48, Jack Pyrah Invitational

The British Columbia-native has been steadily progressing with the Wildcats, and is coming off a cross-country season in which she was the third runner on the 14th-place Villanova women’s squad at NCAAs.