40 freshmen — 18 women and 22 men — will be participating in the 2025 DI indoor track and field championships. Here’s a look at some of the top freshmen to keep on your radar.
Near the top nationally
Arkansas’ Scottie Vines leads the nation with his 2.29-meter high jump and Auburn’s Israel Okon leads the nation with his 6.51 second 60 meters; they are the only freshman with nation-leading marks.
Some other freshmen men to watch out for include Villanova’s Dan Watcke (800m), Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum (Mile), Texas Tech’s Sean Gribble (Pole vault) and Georgia’s Jayden Keys (Long jump)
Tarleton State women Victoria Cameron and Prestina Ochonogor have the eighth and sixth best entries in the 60-meter and long jump, respectively.
QUALIFIERS: Click or tap here to see every qualifier for the 2025 indoor championships
The doublers
A pair of women’s freshman sprinters will attempt to win a title as TCU’s Indya Mayberry and East Carolina’s Kelly Ufodiama compete in the 60 meters and 200 meters. On the men’s side, Ajani Dwyer is the lone male sprinter running the 60 meters and 200 meters.
A trio of distance runners will be competing for 3000-meter and 5000-meter titles in Arkansas’ Paityn Noe and New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei and Ishmael Kipkurui. While NC State’s Hannah Gapes isn’t taking on the double, she’ll still be participating in two events, taking on the 3000 meters and the DMR.
BACK-TO-BACK: Every potential repeat champion at the DI indoor track and field championships
Combined event specialists
Five freshmen sit within the top five of combined events entering the championships. The men’s ACC champion Kenneth Byrd (Louisville), women’s Big Ten champion Pauline Bikembo (Iowa) and SEC runner-up Sofia Yakushina (Texas A&M) will all be participating. Other freshmen within the top five are Iowa’s Abraham Vogelsang and Illinois’ Lucie Kienast.
