Talented Freshmen Habtom Samuel, Lex and Leo Young, Amy Bunnage Part Of Exceptional Distance Fields At Dempsey

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Phil Yearian and Micah Thornton (Habtom Samuel)

Host Washington, Oregon and Stanford are all set to unveil their 2024 indoor track teams Saturday at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle. 

Those three programs, plus a host of others, and a smattering of pros will compete at the Washington Indoor Preview. A weeklong forecast of snow in Seattle seems to have diminished as a potential disruptor. 

The distance races, in particular, are loaded.  

New Mexico freshman Habtom Samuel, the NCAA cross country runner-up, will race the 3,000 meters. He already opened in the 5,000 meters Dec. 2 when he ran 13:14.85 at the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. 

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Samuel will be in a field with pros Duncan Hamilton of the Nike Bowerman Track Club, Waleed Suliman and Dillon Maggard of the Brooks Beasts, Sam Prakel of adidas, Kieran Lumb of On Athletics and Washington's Luke Houser, the reigning NCAA indoor mile champion. 

In the women's race, Stanford freshman Amy Bunnage, winner of the final Pac-12 cross country title, will face Allie Buchalski and Kayley DeLay of the Brooks Beasts, Rebecca Mehra and Briana Scott, and Washington's Chloe Foerster, Haley Herberg and Tori Herman, a transfer from Kentucky. 

The women's mile includes pros Gabriela DeBues Stafford (Nike/Canada), Nia Akins and Julia Heymach of Brooks Beasts, Carley Thomas of Washington and four members of the Oregon contingent: Maddy Elmore, Klaudia Kazmierska and transfers Mia Barnett and Dalia Frias. 

The men's mile is filled with potential storylines for Stanford. Freshmen Lex and Leo Young, high school stars in the Newbury Park dynasty, could add sub-four miler to their long list of credentials. Both have run the equivalent in 1,500 meters races, but not in a full mile. 

The Youngs will be in the fast section with Stanford teammates Ky Robinson and Cole Sprout. Portland's Matt Strangio and Isaiah Harris of the Brooks Beasts are also entered. 

Stanford sophomore Juliette Whittaker, the NCAA indoor runner-up last year in the 800 meters, will get her season started in that event. Arizona's Sorcha Shiu, Barnett, Elmore and Frias of Oregon, and Addy Townsend of Canada are entered. 

Stanford's other super sophomore, Roisin Willis, is entered in the 400 meters. 

Portland's Laura Pellicoro, Oregon's Ella Nelson and post-collegian Christina Aragon are all entered in the women's 1,000. 

Nike's Craig Engels, Sam Ellis of On Athletics, Davis Bove of Cal Poly and Brandon Miller of Brooks Beasts are all listed in the men's 1,000. 

Oregon's sprint group, led by Jadyn Mays, Lily Jones and Shaniya Hall, will get their first work of the season in the 60 meters and 200. 

NCAA runner-up in the women's pole vault, Washington's Nastassja Campbell, will get her season started. Highly touted freshman and teammate Amanda Moll will make her Huskies debut.