NCAA Cross Country Preview — Women’s Top 10 Teams

BYU AND NC STATE have had a stranglehold on the NCAA Women’s XC Championships the past 5 years, sharing the half-decade’s 5 titles. Will it be the same story in ’25, when teams converge on Gans Creek XC Course on November 22? Or will largely Kenyan-led rising (or rising again) powers from Oregon, New Mexico, Florida or Alabama break through and top the podium?

The Cougars got their campaign started off well with a triumph at the Cowboy Jamboree, tallying 34 points — even without legendary prep recruit Jane Hedengren and Jenna Hutchins. Riley Chamberlain and Taylor Rohatinsky, in 2nd and 4th, led the charge.

Meanwhile, many teams took an early opportunity to run at Gans (September 26), with Florida prevailing with 102 points, led by Judy Chepkoech in 7th. In 6th, Oregon debuted — without Kenyan recruit Diana Cherotich and veteran mid-distance star Şilan Ayyıldız. Texas Tech transfer Juliet Cherubet led their effort in 5th, a solid XC debut after she ran for the Ducks in the spring.

Some exciting openers, but a lot still to learn in the two months ahead.

1. Oregon

Coach Shalane Flanagan may have found a solution in setting up the Ducks for a chance at nailing the top spot on the podium for the first time since ’16. Or two solutions, in the above-mentioned Cherubet and Cherotich. The former already has 11th- and 18th-place NCAA finishes, plus 15:25 and 32:02 track PRs. Cherotich is even faster on the track at 15:01 and 31:45, but unproven in NCAA XC. Add them to Ayyıldız, in 13th the Ducks’ best as they finished 9th in Madison last fall, and Anika Thompson (32nd), Mia Barnett (44th in ’22) and Ali Ince and the makings are there for an NCAA championship team.

2. BYU

Coach Diljeet Taylor’s Cougars will feature the best women’s prep distance recruit of all time in Hedengren. Among her many records and victories were the Nike Cross Nationals crown and a 14:57.93 5000 HSR that is just over five ticks off the CR. But BYU will need all of its depth to repeat and that starts with Chamberlain (31st) and continues with returnees Taylor Rohatinsky (43rd), Jenna Hutchins, Jacy Farmer, Lexi Goff, Nelah Roberts (83rd), Taylor Lovell (88th) and frosh Zariel Macchia. Chamberlain improved her 1500 to 4:02.03 over the summer.

3. NC State

The Wolfpack, which finished 8th last fall after three straight titles, return their entire squad in its hopes of getting back to the podium. They are led by Grace Hartman and Hannah Gapes, who surprised many by ascending all the way to 5th and 8th. Hartman went on to run 31:20 on the track and Gapes, after suffering a stress fracture in track, is already showing a great return to form. Angelina Napoleon, coming off making the Tokyo steeple final, and frosh Sadie Engelhardt lead a great group behind them for Coach Laurie Henes.

4. Stanford

Whether Stanford can approach the podium this fall may have a lot to do with whether it can get a low stick again from Amy Bunnage, whose stunning 4th was followed by a checkered track season plagued by injury. The Cardinal, however, also have five other returnees from their 6th-place nationals squad, including Sophia Kennedy (33rd, plus 3rd in NCAA outdoor 5000), Riley Stewart (58th), Julia Flynn (119th) and Nicola Hogg (199th). Stellar California prep Hanne Thomsen leads Coach J.J. Clark’s frosh class.

5. New Mexico

As do their male counterparts in Albuquerque, the Lobos have an ultra-low-stick leader who is already an NCAA all-time great. Pamela Kosgei followed her runner-up finish as a frosh last fall with NCAA 5000 and 10,000 titles outdoors, plus No. 2 all-time marks in each. Coach Darren Gauson’s squad lost three seniors from its 7th-place squad, but Mercy Kirarei (35th) leads the rest of the returnees and Marion Jepngetich is the promising newcomer. Arriving last winter, she was 4th in the Outdoor 5000 and opened last weekend with a 3rd at the Cowboy Jamboree.

6. Florida

With Hilda Olemomoi and new Arizona State transfer Judy Chepkoech, the Gators have a 1-2 punch that can match almost anyone. Olemomoi trailed only Alabama’s Doris Lemngole and New Mexico’s Kosgei at NCAAs last fall (her 3rd top 6 finish) and is coming back from some injury issues in track. In Florida’s Gans victory, the duo ran in a pack with teammates Tia Wilson (No. 2 returnee from NCAAs in 63rd) and frosh Desma Chepkoech. Coach Will Palmer also has frosh Claire Stegall and Isobelle Jones.

7. Oklahoma State

With frosh Isca Chelangat and Maureen Rutoh bolstering a squad that was 27th in Madison in ’24, the Cowgirls suddenly look like a top 10 contender — not far off the podium squads of ’22 and ’23. Chelangat was victorious in the home opener, the Cowboy Stampede, beating some of powerhouse BYU and New Mexico’s better runners (even if the likes of Kosgei and Hedengren sat out). The return of Billah Jepkirui (7th in ’23) and Victoria Langat (72nd last year) will help move Coach Dave Smith’s squad back up as well.

8. Northern Arizona

The Lumberjacks sport four returnees from their 4th-place group from Madison: Keira Moore (60th), Alex Carlson (84th), Nikita Moore (95th) and Karrie Baloga (97th). But Baloga, a 9:37 steepler with numerous excellent track creds, could be the leader. Or it could be Florida State transfer Agnes McTighe (7th in Outdoor 5000). First-year coach Jarred Cornfield also has rising star Ava Mitchell and Ohio State transfer and former 2x Big 10 champ Addie Engel.

9. Washington

The Huskies lost three strong seniors from the middle of last year’s NCAA 13th-place finishers, but will welcome back three returnees with All-American potential in Maeve Stiles (59th), Julia David-Smith (73rd) and Chloe Foerster (183rd, after a very good season). Coach Maurica Powell also brings in transfer Mia Cochran from Arkansas (41st in ’24). If Washington can develop some of its depth, with names like Josephine Welin and Samantha Tran, the top 10 is possible.

10. Alabama

Doris Lemngole was already on her way to becoming an all-timer when she won in Madison last fall. She cemented her legacy with her historic first collegiate sub-9 steeple last June. She’s backed up by Brenda Tuwei (29th, 8th in NCAA 10,000) and newcomers Caren Kiplagat and Cynthia Jemuta. The latter two were sorely needed as the Tide suffered some transfer losses that would have thinned out Coach Nick Stenuf’s crew.

Others To Watch:

Colorado, Georgetown, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State, Providence, Virginia. ◻︎