First-time finalists could grab spotlight

Here's a look at 10 freshmen who could deliver profound performances this week at the NCAA Division 1 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.:

Emmanuel Korir, UTEP

The rising Kenyan star ran the second-fastest time ever by a collegiate performer during the season by clocking 1:43.73 at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge in Berkeley, which is also the No. 2 performance in the world this year. Korir is looking to eclipse the collegiate record of 1:43.55 set in 2016 by former Texas A&M standout Donovan Brazier, the last freshman to win.

Nina Schultz, Kansas State

The Canadian heptathlete became the fourth individual in program history to surpass 6,000 points with her 6,021 performance at the Jim Click Shootout. Schultz, who was third in the indoor pentathlon final in March, will not only look to challenge Akela Jones' school record of 6,371, but battle Georgia's Kendell Williams -- the last freshman to win in 2014 -- and Arkansas' Taliyah Brooks for the title.

Chris Nilsen, South Dakota

After setting the national high school record last year, Nilsen has emerged as the favorite to win the pole vault title after clearing 18 feet, 9.5 inches (5.73m) at the Sioux City Relays in April. Only three times in championship meet history has there been a 19-foot clearance, including none since 1996. The last freshman to capture the championship was Texas' Maston Wallace in 2008.

Anna Cockrell, USC

Not since Virginia Tech's Queen Harrison in 2007 has a freshman made the finals of both the 100- and 400-meter hurdles, but that is the challenge facing Cockrell, who became the only freshman to run sub-8 seconds in both the semifinals and final in the indoor 60-meter hurdles in March. Kentucky's Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the 100 hurdles as a freshman last year and former Texas A&M star Shamier Little won the 400 hurdles title as a freshman in 2014.

Grant Holloway, Florida

Along with fellow freshman Clayton Brown, Holloway will be relied on heavily in the Gators' pursuit of back-to-back team championships. Holloway is looking to follow Oregon's Devon Allen, who won the 110-meter hurdles title as a freshman in 2014 and trying to duplicate the feat of Texas' Marquise Goodwin by securing the crown in his first national final in 2010. Holloway enters the meet with a wind-legal 13.42 in the 110 hurdles and 26-4.5 (8.04m) in the long jump.

Sarah Edwards, Virginia Tech

Since her first collegiate 3,000-meter steeplechase April 29, Edwards has dropped more than 45 seconds to put herself in contention for not only All-America honors, but possibly becoming the first freshman to capture the title since Jenny Simpson (nee Barringer) in 2006. Edwards clocked 9:52.89 at the East regionals, one of only four individuals to break 10 minutes in qualifying for the championship meet.

Gleb Dudarev, Kansas

The Jayhawks have never won a hammer throw title, but the young star from Belarus could be their first champion, entering the competition with a collegiate-leading 243-5 (74.20m). Bill Penny and Egor Agafonov are the only Kansas throwers to place in the hammer final, but neither advanced as a freshman. The last freshman to secure the national title was Virginia Tech's Tomas Kruzliak in 2013.

Katie Rainsberger, Oregon

The fastest freshman in the country in the 1,500 meters at 4:11.53, Rainsberger will try to extend the Ducks' streak to eight consecutive years of placing at least one female athlete in the final, including freshmen Nikki Hiltz -- now at Arkansas -- in 2015 and Jordan Hasay in 2010. Rainsberger and fellow freshman Mackenzie Dunmore will be instrumental in Oregon attempting to win its second title in three years and third overall. The only freshman to win a 1,500 championship is Wisconsin's Suzy Favor Hamilton in 1987.

Nathon Allen, Auburn

One of three dynamic freshmen who could make the 400-meter final, along with teammate Akeem Bloomfield and USC's Michael Norman, Allen is second nationally this year at 44.52, trailing only collegiate record holder Fred Kerley of Texas A&M at 43.70. The Tigers haven't had a male athlete make the 400 championship race since 2003 and Sanjay Ayre was the last freshman to advance in 2000. The last freshman to secure the title was Alabama's Kirani James in 2010.

Fiona O'Keeffe, Stanford

One of three first-time finalists in the women's 5,000 meters who has broken 16 minutes, O'Keeffe could not only be battling Arkansas' Taylor Werner for top freshman status, but possible All-America honors. O'Keeffe is trying to become Stanford's first freshman to place in the top 10 since Kathy Kroeger in 2010, with Christina Aragon also trying to make the 1,500 final for the Cardinal. No freshman female has ever won a women's 5,000 title.