Track and field is a sport where individuals compete as a part of a team, and with that comes breakthrough individual stars. Here's a look at some of the best returning talent to NCAA track and field this year.
50 returning stars for the 2024 collegiate track season
Men's sprinters
The men's sprint field is loaded in 2024. Below you'll have athletes that have won titles in the indoor and outdoor seasons, including 2023's champions Chris Robinson, Philip Lemonious and Terrence Jones. Expect some thrilling, fast races on the men's side this year.
- Tarsis Orogot | Alabama | Sprints
- Chris Robinson | Alabama | Sprints
- Philip Lemonious | Arkansas | Sprints/Hurdles
- Favour Ashe | Auburn | Sprints
- Robert Gregory | Florida | Sprints
- Sean 'Squirrel' Burrell | LSU | Sprints/Hurdles
- Godson Oghenebrume | LSU | Sprints
- Shaun Maswanganyi | Houston | Sprints
- Micah Williams | Oregon | Sprints
- Caleb Dean | Texas Tech | Sprints/Hurdles
- Terrence Jones | Texas Tech | Sprints/Hurdles
Women's sprinters
The women's sprint field will look to replace 2023's Bowerman winner Julien Alfred, but there's plenty of stars that can do so. While no one from this group won an individual title last year, sprinters/hurdlers Grace Stark and Alia Armstrong did win titles in 2022. Any of these women could emerge as the premier women's collegiate sprinter in 2024.
- Grace Stark | Florida | Sprints/Hurdles
- Kaila Jackson | Georgia | Sprints
- Alia Armstrong | LSU | Sprints/Hurdles
- McKenzie Long | Ole Miss | Sprints
- Jadyn Mays | Oregon | Sprints
- Jacious Sears | Tennessee | Sprints
- Kevona Davis | Texas | Sprints
- Ziyah Holman | Texas | Sprints
- Rosemary Chukwuma | Texas Tech | Sprints
RECORDS: Every collegiate track and field record broken in 2024
Men's mid-distance/distance runners
The men's mid-distance and distance group has top-level talent in every event. Some of the athletes are coming off an exciting cross country season like 2023 DI champion Graham Blanks. These athletes should carry over their battles in the fall into the winter and spring.
- Graham Blanks | Harvard | Distance
- Nico Young | Northern Arizona | Distance
- Drew Bosley | Northern Arizona | Distance
- Fouad Messaoudi | Oklahoma State | Mid-Distance/Distance
- Yusuf Bizimana | Texas | Mid-Distance
- Ky Robinson | Stanford | Distance
- Nathan Green | Washington | Mid-Distance/Distance
- Joe Waskom | Washington | Mid-Distance/Distance
MUST-WATCH: The top indoor track and field meets to watch in 2024
Women's mid-distance/distance runners
Florida's Parker Valby is the biggest star among the women's mid-distance/distance group as she comes of a DI cross country title. However, Valby's not the only NCAA champion below. Michaela Rose, Maia Ramsden, Olivia Markezich, Roisin Willis and Olivia Howell all won titles in 2023.
- Parker Valby | Florida | Distance
- Michaela Rose | LSU | Mid-Distance
- Maia Ramsden | Harvard | Distance
- Olivia Markezich | Notre Dame | Distance
- Juliette Whittaker | Stanford | Mid-Distance
- Roisin Willis | Stanford | Mid-Distance
- Olivia Howell | Texas | Mid-Distance
PORTAL: Tracking the top NCAA track and field transfers
Men's field athletes
Reigning Bowerman winner Jaydon Hibbert returns as the second men's Bowerman winner with a chance to go back-to-back, joining Deon Lendore in 2015. Joining Hibbert in the men's field athlete group are fellow collegiate record holder Mykolas Alekna and Leo Neugebauer and plenty of past NCAA Champions.
- Romaine Beckford | Arkansas | High Jump
- Jaydon Hibbert | Arkansas | Jumps
- Mykolas Alekna | California | Throws
- Marc Minichello | Georgia | Throws
- Tzuriel Pedigo | LSU | Throws
- Claudio Romero | LSU | Throws
- Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan | Ole Miss | Throws
- Leo Neugebauer | Texas | Combined Events
THE BOWERMAN:
Women's field athletes
The women's field athlete group gives a glimpse at the head-to-head battles we could see in 2024. That includes the last three outdoor high jump champions in Charity Griffith (2023), Lamara Distin (2022) and Rachel Glenn (2021).
- Rachel Glenn | Arkansas | High Jump
- Charity Griffith | Kentucky | High Jump
- Jalani Davis | Ole Miss | Throws
- Jasmine Mitchell | Ole Miss | Throws
- Alyssa Jones | Stanford | Jumps/Sprints
- Ackelia Smith | Texas | Jumps
- Lamara Distin | Texas A&M | High Jump
SPRING TIME: Here's when the 2024 outdoor track and field season starts
Who's up next
While the stars above are already established at the Division I, there are some freshmen that could breakthrough as stars in 2024. Here's a handful of freshmen that could be next up.
- Shawnti Jackson | Arkansas | Women's sprints
- Brody Buffington | Georgia | Men's sprints
- Leo Young | Stanford | Men's distance
- Lex Young | Stanford | Men's distance
- JaMeesia Ford | South Carolina | Women's sprints
- Myla Green | Tennessee | Women's sprints/hurdles
- Lauren Lewis | Texas | Women's sprints
: Arkansas, Texas Tech win 2024 indoor titles | Florida, Arkansas win 2024 outdoor titles | How the outdoor championships work
💥HISTORY: Programs with the most titles | Men's champ history | Women's champ history | Bowerman history
🧠 WHAT TO KNOW: Wind and scoring explained | Greatest venues | Best uniforms | The difference between indoor and outdoor seasons
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