The 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships delivered thrilling races, historic performances, and unforgettable moments across Divisions I, II, and III. With BYU sweeping the Division I men’s and women’s team titles, and standout performances like Harvard’s Graham Blanks going back-to-back and Alabama’s Doris Lemngole dominating the women’s race, this year’s championships were one for the record books.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the results and highlights from DI, DII, and DIII competitions.
NCAA Division I: BYU Sweeps Team Titles for the First Time Since 2004
The Division I championships were hosted at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin, a rolling and challenging course that tested the best collegiate runners in the nation.
Men’s Team Champion: BYU
BYU claimed its first team title since 2019 with a commanding performance, placing five runners in the top 50. With Casey Clinger leading the way, BYU became the first program since Colorado in 2004 to sweep both men’s and women’s team titles.
Men’s Team Results:
BYU: 124 points (Top runner: Casey Clinger, 6th place)
Iowa State: 137 points (Top runner: Said Mechaal, 10th place)
Arkansas: 202 points (Top runner: Yaseen Abdalla, 4th place)
Wisconsin: 212 points (Top runner: Bob Liking, 16th place)
Northern Arizona: 237 points (Top runner: David Mullarkey, 18th place)
Men’s Individual Champion: Graham Blanks, Harvard
Time: 28:37.2
Harvard’s Graham Blanks etched his name into the history books, becoming the first back-to-back men’s cross country champion since BYU’s Conner Mantz (2020, 2021). Blanks outpaced New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel, who impressively finished second for the second year in a row, despite running part of the race with just one shoe.
Top 10 Men’s Individual Results
Graham Blanks, Harvard – 28:37.2
Habtom Samuel, New Mexico – 28:38.9
Dylan Schubert, Furman – 28:39.6
Yaseen Abdalla, Arkansas – 28:41.5
Brian Musau, Oklahoma State – 28:44.9
Casey Clinger, BYU – 28:45.1
Parker Wolfe, North Carolina – 28:50.2
Ethan Strand, North Carolina – 28:53.0
Liam Murphy, Villanova – 28:55.7
Said Mechaal, Iowa State – 28:59.8
Women’s Team Champion: BYU
The BYU women’s team made history by clinching their first title since 2020. With Lexy Halladay-Lowry leading the Cougars with a top-15 finish, the team showcased remarkable depth, holding off a strong West Virginia squad.
Women’s Team Results:
BYU: 147 points (Top runner: Lexy Halladay-Lowry, 11th place)
West Virginia: 164 points (Top runner: Ceili McCabe, 6th place)
Providence: 183 points (Top runner: Kimberly May, 10th place)
Northern Arizona: 206 points (Top runner: Aliandrea Upshaw, 17th place)
Oregon: 210 points (Top runner: Silan Ayyildiz, 10th place)
Women’s Individual Champion: Doris Lemngole, Alabama
Time: 19:21.0
Alabama’s Doris Lemngole claimed the women’s individual title in dramatic fashion, surging ahead in the final kilometer to finish in 19:21.0, ahead of New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei. Lemngole’s powerful finishing kick secured her the first NCAA cross country title for Alabama in program history.
Top 10 Women’s Individual Results
Doris Lemngole, Alabama – 19:21.0
Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico – 19:27.8
Hilda Olemomoi, Florida – 19:28.7
Amy Bunnage, Stanford – 19:31.1
Grace Hartman, NC State – 19:39.5
Ceili McCabe, West Virginia – 19:41.2
Paityn Noe, Arkansas – 19:42.3
Hannah Gapes, NC State – 19:42.7
Chloe Thomas, UConn – 19:43.5
Kimberly May, Providence – 19:45.1
NCAA Division II: Colorado School of Mines and Adams State Continue Dominance
The Division II Championships, held at Holloway Park in Lakeland, Florida, saw two familiar powerhouses, Colorado School of Mines and Adams State, take home team titles.
Men’s Team Champion: Colorado School of Mines
Colorado Mines captured their fourth championship since 2015, led by a dominant performance from Dillon Powell, who placed second overall.
Men’s Individual Champion: William Amponsah, West Texas A&M
Time: 29:40.8
Amponsah successfully defended his title, becoming a back-to-back individual champion in Division II men’s cross country.
Women’s Team Champion: Adams State University
The Adams State women’s team claimed their 21st NCAA DII team title, led by individual standout Lauren Kiley, who took home the women’s individual crown.
Women’s Individual Champion: Lauren Kiley, Grand Valley State
Time: 20:28.5
Kiley delivered a strong performance, edging out the field to secure her first individual championship.
NCAA Division III: Wisconsin-La Crosse and MIT Take Titles
The Division III Championships, held at Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan, featured breakthrough wins for Wisconsin-La Crosse and MIT.
Men’s Team Champion: Wisconsin-La Crosse
Led by Christian Patzka, Wisconsin-La Crosse captured their first men’s team title since 2005.
Men’s Individual Champion: Christian Patzka, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Time: 24:01.6
Patzka moved up from his second-place finish in 2023 to claim victory in 2024.
Women’s Team Champion: MIT
MIT’s women secured their first-ever team championship, thanks to strong pack running and a dominant performance by their top finishers.
Women’s Individual Champion: Faith Duncan, Wilmington
Time: 20:16.5
Faith Duncan won her first NCAA DIII title in commanding fashion, finishing over 40 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
Conclusion: A Year of Historic Firsts and Dominant Performances
The 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be remembered for BYU’s incredible sweep in Division I, William Amponsah’s back-to-back wins in Division II, and Faith Duncan’s commanding victory in Division III. From seasoned champions to emerging stars, this year’s event truly celebrated the spirit and excitement of collegiate cross country.
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