New Mexico NCAA Champions Habtom Samuel, Pamela Kosgei Lead Deep Distance Fields At Dempsey Indoor

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Ken Martinez Photos

A month out from the NCAA Indoor Championships, the push is on to lock in qualifying spots for the biggest meet of the season. 

The third and final meet at the Dempsey Indoor facility in Seattle this winter, the annual Husky Classic, brings together an array of athletes from all over the country to the University of Washington's oversized and sea-level track.  

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New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei, the NCAA outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters champion, is expected to race for the first time in 2026. She hasn't raced since a Dec. 6 appearance in Boston and is entered in the 3,000 meters. 

Habtom Samuel, the Lobos' NCAA cross country champion, will race for the first time since placing ninth in the Millrose Games 2-mile, where he broke Henry Rono's collegiate record. Samuel is also in 3,000 meters. 

A year ago, Samuel won the 3,000 at the Husky Classic in 7:39.39, which broke the meet record. 

Another Olympian, Stanford's Juliette Whittaker, the 2024 NCAA indoor and outdoor champion in the 800 meters, is expected to enter that event for the first time this winter after racing in a 600, 1,000 and mile. Whittaker used the Husky Classic last year to take the NCAA lead with 1:59.44. 

Friday's invitational sections of the DMR could re-write the current NCAA list. 

So far, seven women's teams have broken the 11-minute barrier in the 4,000-meter relay event. As many as nine could do it this weekend in Seattle. Stanford, Washington, Utah, Oklahoma State, Villanova, Boston College, Penn State, Oregon State and Iowa State all have the capability to compete for NCAA berths. 

The men's DMR doesn't have the same firepower as the women's, but UCLA and Portland are entered. 

Washington's Chloe Foerster, already fifth in the NCAA in the mile, is expected to join Whittaker, Washington State's Rosemary Longisa and Penn State's Hayley Kitching in the 800.  

The women's 3,000 lineup includes Utah's Erin Vringer, Iowa State's Betty Kipkore and Mercy Kibet, New Mexico's Marion Jepngetich, and Washington's Mia Cochran and Julia David-Smith. 

The women's 5,000 features a matchup between Stanford's Sophia Kennedy and Washington's Chloe Thomas. Those two already rank 12th and 15th, respectively, in the 3,000. Iowa State's Mercyline Kirwa is also entered.

Oklahoma State's Billah Jepkurui, Washington's Cochran and Boise State's Kaiya Robertson lead the women's mile entries. 

The men's 3,000, in addition to Samuel, has Iowa State's Robin Kwemoi Bera, Eastern Kentucky's Taha Er Raouy and Washington's Reuben Reina Jr leading a long list of runners with sub-8 credentials.

Louisville's Elsingi Kipruto, Washington State's Evans Kiprui and Solomon Kipchoge, Iowa State's Rogers Kiplimo and Washington's Evan Jenkins are the top names in the men's 5,000. 

New pro Nathan Green (Adidas) paced a race at the Mile City event on Jan. 30 and is expected to race on Friday. Fellow Adidas pro Sam Prakel has pacing duties.

Washington freshmen Owen Powell and Josiah Tostenson and Stanford's Leo Young are all entered. Washington's Thomas Diamond and Tyler Bilyard are also among the top entries.

Sam Ellis of On Running, Prakel, Powell, Tostenson, Bilyard and Northern Arizona's Rheinhardt Harrison are among the top entries in the men's 800. 

Boston College's Anna Sonsini is the top entry in the women's 200 and teammate Sydney Segalla leads the 400. High school Sophia Castaneda from Newberg OR (unattached) is also entered in both events.

Cal Poly's Melody Nwagwu tops the entries in the women's long jump and triple jump. 

Sydney Brewster from Montana State is the top thrower in the meet and is in the shot put and weight throw. 

Former Husky Prestin Artis, the 2024 Pac-12 champion, is the top entry in the men's long jump.