The holidays are over and the NCAA indoor track and field season is about to get into full swing. But before the new year hits, let’s recap the first month of the season and some moments you may have missed.
A women’s 5K collegiate record, plus other all-time marks
The first women’s collegiate record of the season was set by Alabama’s Doris Lemngole at the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Lemngole finished in 14:52.57 to break Parker Valby’s record. Both set the mark in her indoor opener after winning a cross country individual title.
In the same race, Florida’s Hilda Olemomoi ran the third-fastest mark all-time, finishing in 14:52.84. If that wasn’t enough, New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei ran 15:00.36 — in the same race. Before Dec. 7, that would’ve been the No. 3 all-time mark.
An all-time 3K collegiate race
North Carolina’s Ethan Strand set a collegiate record of his own in the men’s 3000 meters at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Strand ran the race in 7:30.15, a time that made him the No. 4 all-conditions all-time American and the No. 2 indoor American in the event.
Strand alone isn’t what made that race so special. His teammate Parker Wolfe finished in 7:30.23, Arkansas’ Yaseen Abdalla finished in 7:34.17 and Virginia’s Gary Martin finished in 7:36.09. All four finished below the previous collegiate record of 7:36.42.
RECORD-BREAKING: Tracking every track and field record broken in the 2025 season
Leaving with a bang
Elite college distance runner Graham Blanks recently announced that he was turning professional, but it wasn’t without stepping on the track during the indoor season. Blanks ran the 5000 meters at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in his final collegiate race for Harvard. He ran the No. 2 all-time time, finishing in 12:59.89 in a 10-second win.
An impressive women’s high jump opener
Nebraska’s Jenna Rogers set a personal-best in the high jump in her season opener, clearing 1.91 meters at the 2024 Husker Holiday Open. The mark currently leads the NCAA and she’s the only one to clear six feet thus far.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The top indoor track and field meets to watch in 2025
A freshman bursts on the scene
Penn State freshman sprinter Ajani Dwyer burst on to the NCAA track and field scene at the Bison opener. Dwyer ran 6.55 seconds across 60 meters after running 6.60 in the prelims. Dwyer’s 6.55 is the fastest time in the nation this year and his 6.60 is the third-fastest time. It’s an impressive start for the 2024’s recruiting class’ No. 1 55m sprinter.
CHAMPS: Top challengers for all 11 returning NCAA indoor track and field champions
The champ is back
Ole Miss' Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan showed no signs of slowing down in his season opener after sweeping the shot put titles in 2024. The defending champion opened with a 20.30 meter throw at the 2024 Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker in a series where he landed three throws over 20 meters. Robinson-O’Hagan’s throw is the best throw before January since 2008.
AWARDS: Way-too-early Bowerman candidates for the 2025 track and field season
A pair of 300 meter openers
The 300 meters isn’t an event run at NCAA championships, but when the event is run, it typically produces some fast times every year. To open this season, two athletes climbed the all-time charts.
First, we saw Virginia Tech’s Judson Lincoln IV at the Clemson Opener. Lincoln finished with the fourth-fastest all-time 300 meters in 32.37 seconds. A week later, Purdue’s Cameron Miller ran the sixth-fastest all-time mark in the event at the 2024 Blue Demon Holiday Invite, finishing in 32.43 seconds.
🧠 WHAT TO KNOW: Wind and scoring explained | Greatest venues | Best uniforms | The difference between indoor and outdoor seasons
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.
