COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, November 22 — Laurie Henes’ NC State Wolfpack and Diljeet Taylor’s BYU Cougars match up against each other year after year at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. For the last 5 editions, either NC State (’21, ’22, ’23) or BYU (’20, ’24) had captured the crown.
2025 was shaping up for more of the same, with the Wolfpack and the Cougars lining up at Missouri’s Gans Creek Cross Country Course ranked No. 1 and No.2 in the USTFCCCA coaches’ poll.
“Yeah there’s a rivalry,” said Coach Taylor during the premeet press conference. “I wouldn’t say it’s a negative thing. They make us better. Hopefully we push them to also be better. We’re pretty open about what we’re trying to do: be two female coaches that are kicking trash in the NCAA and having strong women to do it.”
The individual race also shaped up to be memorable.
Defending champion Doris Lemngole (Alabama) dominated the collegiate ranks over the past year with a win in the NCAA Indoor 5000 and a Collegiate Record 8:58.15 win in the steeplechase outdoors. In September, she then finished 5th in the WC steeple in Tokyo.
Challenging her was BYU frosh Jane Hedengren, who had racked up an undefeated fall harrier season after a storied prep career that included T&FN High School Girls Athlete of the Year and Gatorade National honors as well as HS Records at the mile, 3000, 2M and 5000.
Hedengren and Lemngole quickly found each other at the front of the pack, with a large group of runners dipping just under 3:00 at 1K.
Lemngole and Hedengren were joined by Washington State’s Rosemary Longisa at the front as they began to edge away around 3K, which the trio passed in 9:13.
Shortly after 3K, Lemngole began to push the pace and she and Hedengren started to pull away matching strides over the wet grass. By 4K (12:20), the pair had opened up a 9-second gap over their pursuers.
Over the next kilometer Lemngole kept on the pressure, occasionally opening up a few strides over Hedengren before the frosh dug down and pulled even again.
The duo passed 5K together in 15:24, 15 seconds ahead of the chase pack.
Lemngole surged again with about a half-mile to go and rapidly opened up a lead over Hedengren, which the Alabama junior was able to maintain into the finish to defend her crown in a swift 18:25.9.
“I just went out there today and raced as hard as I could,” said the winner. “I trusted my coach’s race plan and I’m proud of my effort. All the competitors did well today and it was an honor getting to run with them.”
Lemngole’s back-to-back wins are the first since Villanova’s Sheila Reid accomplished a repeat in 2010–11.
Hedengren held on for runner-up honors, crossing the line in 18:38.9.
“I was hoping with putting my best self out there today that I would have a chance at the win,” she said. “Today, for me, I felt like that meant going out, setting the pace and trying to pull myself and others through a fast race. It was an awesome fight with Doris today.”
Florida’s Hilda Olemomoi closed best to claim 3rd, finishing in 18:46.4.
Both the Wolfpack and the Cougars established themselves at the front of the field from the start, with NC State (136 points) in 2nd and BYU (202) in 3rd at the 1K split behind a fast-starting Oregon team (113).
NC State (114) moved into the lead at 3K ahead of the Ducks (144) and BYU (161) with Grace Hartman (6th) and Hannah Gapes (17th) leading the way for the Wolfpack, while Hedengren (3rd) and Riley Chamberlin (12th) led the Cougars.
NC State continued to improve over next 2 kilometers, improving its score to 92 points at 5K. BYU (140) also lowered its team total and moved into 2nd ahead of Oregon (153).
Over the final kilometer however, NC State’s Angelina Napoleon —19th at 5K — fell back 21 spots to finish 40th.
Meanwhile BYU’s Nelah Roberts and Taylor Lovell moved up 7 and 12 places over the last kilometer.
The Wolfpack’s lead was enough at the finish to hold on for the win over the Cougars, 114–130 — the two teams’ third 1–2 finish in 6 years.
“They were supposed to be a bit conservative on the first loop, and I think Grace, Hannah and Sadie [Engelhardt] did it pretty well,” said Henes. “We were coming apart a little bit at the end but it worked out. I think it’s just been a long season for Angelina [and she has] been a little under the weather for the last week or so.”
Behind them, Oregon finished 3rd with 153 points while New Mexico claimed the final podium spot with 216.
NCAA XC WOMEN’S RESULTS
Columbia, Missouri, November 22 —
Teams
(adjusted places)
| 1. NC State | (5-6-24-35-44) | 114 |
| 2. BYU | (2-4-36-41-47) | 130 |
| 3. Oregon | (9-26-31-34-53) | 153 |
| 4. New Mexico | (16-38-42-59-61) | 216 |
| 5. Florida | (3-15-19-72-116) | 225 |
6. Stanford 268; 7. Notre Dame 278; 8. Northern Arizona 279; 9. West Virginia 280; 10. Penn State 406; 11. North Carolina 413; 12. Oklahoma State 432; 13. Colorado 434; 14. Georgetown 454; 15. South Carolina 456; 16. Alabama 460; 17. Utah 465;
18. Northwestern 469; 19. Washington 472; 20. Iowa State 491; 21. Wake Forest 514; 22. Boise State 527; 23. LSU 530; 24. Virginia 558; 25. Villanova 574; 26. Wisconsin 600; 27. Washington State 602; 28. Missouri 632; 29. Boston College 647; 30. Tennessee 650; 31. Texas A&M 654; 32. Providence 793.
Individuals
(6K/3.73M; 262 started, 261 finished)
| 1. *Doris Lemngole’ | (Al-Ken) | 18:25.4 |
| 2. ***Jane Hedengren | (BYU) | 18:38.9 |
| 3. Hilda Olemomoi’ | (Fl-Ken) | 18:46.4 |
| 4. *Riley Chamberlain | (BYU) | 18:47.0 |
| 5. *Hannah Gapes’ | (NCSt-NZ) | 18:51.3 |
| 6. *Grace Hartman | (NCSt) | 18:52.6 |
| 7. ***Isca Chelangat’ | (OkSt-Ken) | 18:56.1 |
| 8. Vera Sjöberg’ | (NC-Swe) | 18:56.5 |
| 9. Şilan Ayyıldız’ | (Or-Tur) | 18:57.9 |
| 10. **Mary Bonner Dalton | (NDm) | 18:58.0 |
11. ***Caren Kiplagat’ (Al-Ken) 18:58.8; 12. **Joy Naukot’ (WV-Ken) 18:59.6; 13. †Sydney Vaught (Ar) 18:59.6; 14. Florence Caron’ (PennSt-Can) 19:00.6; 15. ***Betty Kipkore’ (IaSt-Ken) 19:01.4; 16. **Judy Chepkoech’ (Fl-Ken) 19:01.8; 17. **Pamela Kosgei’ (NM-Ken) 19:02.8; 18. †**Silvia Jelego’ (Clem-Ken) 19:03.7; 19. ***Cynthia Jemutai’ (Al-Ken) 19:05.6; 20. ***Mercy Kibet’ (IaSt-Ken) 19:05.7;
21. †**Allie Zealand (Lib) 19:06.8; 22. Tia Wilson’ (Fl-GB) 19:07.2; 23. †Morgan Nokes (UtV) 19:10.4; 24. ***Mary Ogwoka’ (Tn-Ken) 19:11.8; 25. ***Amaya Aramini (NDm) 19:12.8; 26. †Jadyn Keeler’ (ND-Can) 19:13.5; 27. ***Rosemary Longisa’ (WaSt-Ken) 19:14.6; 28. ***Salma Elbadra’ (SC-Mor) 19:14.7; 29. **Bethany Michalak (NCSt) 19:14.9; 30. *Amy Bunnage’ (Stan-Aus) 19:15.0;
31. ***Diana Cherotich’ (Or-Ken) 19:15.2; 32. *Hayley Burns (NnAz) 19:15.4; 33. *Angelina Perez (WF) 19:16.1; 34. *Sophia Kennedy (Stan) 19:16.7; 35. ***Monica Wanjiku’ (Mo-Ken) 19:17.4; 36. *Dalia Frias (Or) 19:18.8; 37. **Ava Mitchell (NnAz) 19:18.8; 38. Agnes McTighe’ (NnAz-Swi) 19:19.8; 39. *Juliet Cherubet’ (Or-Ken) 19:22.2; 40. **Angelina Napoleon (NCSt) 19:22.7;
41. **Nelah Roberts (BYU) 19:22.9; 42. ***Maureen Rutoh’ (OkSt-Ken) 19:26.7; 43. ***Marion Jepngetich’ (NM-Ken) 19:27.6; 44. Mena Scatchard’ (Stan-GB) 19:28.2; 45. **Mercy Kinyanjui’ (WV-Ken) 19:29.1; 46. †**Elizabeth Khatevi’ (TxAM-Ken) 19:29.4; 47. Taylor Rohatinsky (BYU) 19:29.8; 48. †**Rachel Forsyth’ (MiSt-Can) 19:30.5; 49. ***Judy Rono’ (NM-Ken) 19:31.5; 50. Melissa Riggins (Gtn) 19:32.0;
51. ***Sadie Engelhardt (NCSt) 19:32.4; 52. Siona Chisholm’ (NDm-Can) 19:32.8; 53. **Kaiya Robertson’ (Boise-Can) 19:33.0; 54. †*Stephanie Moss’ (Duke-GB) 19:35.4; 55. *Taylor Lovell (BYU) 19:35.4; 56. ***Naomi Kemboi’ (WV-Ken) 19:36.0; 57. *Keira Moore’ (NnAz-Aus) 19:36.6; 58. *Mia Cochran (Wa) 19:38.0; 59. *Erin Vringer’ (Ut-Can) 19:38.2; 60. †**Leah Jeruto’ (Ok-Ken) 19:38.6;
61. **Tatum David (Va) 19:38.9; 62. †***Rose Mburu’ (SMU-Ken) 19:39.3; 63. †***Edna Chelulei’ (EnKy-Ken) 19:39.8; 64. Mia Barnett’ (Or-Swe) 19:40.6; 65. Chloe Foerster (Wa) 19:40.8; 66. **Zenah Cheptoo’ (WaSt-Ken) 19:41.5; 67. †*Anna McNatt (Prin) 19:41.6; 68. Anika Thompson’ (Or-Ire) 19:42.3; 69. *Jessie Secor (Co) 19:42.4; 70. *Gillian Bushee (Va) 19:42.8;
71. *Alice Seguin’ (NM-Fra) 19:43.0; 72. **Logan St. John-Kletter (NC) 19:43.5; 73. Nicola Jansen’ (NM-SA) 19:43.6; 74. Jasmine Wood’ (NM-GB) 19:43.7; 75. Carmen Alder’ (BYU-Ecu) 19:44.0; 76. **Abbey Nechanicky (Co) 19:44.8; 77. **Joyce Kemboi’ (TxAM-Ken) 19:44.9; 78. *Tilly O’Connor (Vill) 19:45.6; 79. †***Ann Lemirisho’ (Cinc-Ken) 19:47.4; 80. ***Abigael Chemnagei’ (LSU-Ken) 19:48.5;
81. †**Emmaculate Jemutai’ (Ks-Ken) 19:49.1; 82. ***Zariel Macchia (BYU) 19:50.3; 83. ***Debora Cherono’ (TxAM-Ken) 19:50.4; 84. *Skye Ellis’ (NWn-Aus) 19:50.9; 85. *Billah Jepkirui’ (OkSt-Ken) 19:51.9; 86. †*Aniya Mosley (OhSt) 19:52.4; 87. Bethan Morley’ (Fl-GB) 19:53.5; 88. *Annastasia Peters (Ut) 19:54.3; 89. Maelle Porcher’ (IaSt-Fra) 19:54.3; 90. Imogen Gardiner’ (BC-Aus) 19:54.5;
91. **Ava Criniti (NWn) 19:54.8; 92. *Brooke Wilson (WF) 19:55.1; 93. Charlotte Costich (PennSt) 19:55.2; 94. †**Logan Hofstee (Gonz) 19:55.3; 95. *Alexis Lamb (WV) 19:55.6; 96. ***Abby DeVeau (Wa) 19:56.0; 97. †**Selma Anderson’ (Syr-Ger) 19:56.3; 98. **Ciara O’Shea (NC) 19:56.6; 99. ***Mia Larochelle’ (Co-Can) 19:57.3; 100. Kylie Finger (Wi) 19:57.4;
101. Anna Hightower’ (NWn-Neth) 19:57.6; 102. ***Hanne Thomsen (Stan) 19:57.6; 103. *Barrett Justema (Gtn) 19:57.7; 104. ***Edna Chepkemoi’ (LSU-Ken) 19:57.9; 105. Charlotte Tomkinson (Gtn) 19:58.0; 106. **Yuya Sawada’ (LSU-Jpn) 19:58.7; 107. Riley Stewart (Stan) 19:59.1; 108. †**Blezzin Kimutai’ (Tul-Ken) 19:59.2; 109. **Teresa Cherotich’ (SC-Ken) 19:59.8; 110. *Millie Wilcox (Ut) 20:00.1;
111. †*Rose Coats (Md) 20:00.2; 112. †**Ruth Kimeli’ (Bay-Ken) 20:00.3; 113. **Stella Kermes (Va) 20:00.9; 114. Sophie Novak (NDm) 20:01.1; 115. †**Evyn Humphrey (Tuls) 20:01.8; 116. **Ada Rand’ (PennSt-Aus) 20:01.8; 117. Brooke Rauber (NCSt) 20:02.3; 118. †***Anna Buettner’ (USF-Ger) 20:02.4; 119. *Claire Daniels (PennSt) 20:02.7; 120. †***Rylee Blade (FlSt) 20:02.9;
121. †India Jones (AF) 20:04.3; 122. Almi Nerurkar’ (Gtn-GB) 20:04.3; 123. **Anna Gardiner’ (Prov-GB) 20:04.6; 124. Tilly Simpson’ (NM-GB) 20:04.9; 125. †*Ella Johnson (AF) 20:05.1; 126. Emily Bryce’ (WV-Can) 20:05.4; 127. †***Nelly Jemeli’ (MsSt-Ken) 20:05.9; 128. Nicole Vanasse (Vill) 20:06.2; 129. **Abigail White (SC) 20:07.1; 130. **Hannah Prosser’ (Co-NZ) 20:07.3;
131. †***Mercy Jebitok’ (Akr-Ken) 20:07.6; 132. *Bianca Boehnke’ (Boise-Ger) 20:07.7; 133. ***Micaela Villarreal (LSU) 20:08.4; 134. Maddy Whitman’ (NWn-GB) 20:08.5; 135. *Gretchen Farley (NDm) 20:08.9; 136. †***Dorcas Jepkosgei’ (UTA-Ken) 20:08.9; 137. *Abir Reffas’ (SC-Alg) 20:09.3; 138. *Amit Koma’ (Boise-Isr) 20:10.0; 139. *Anastasia Chepkorir’ (WV-Ken) 20:10.5; 140. *Ella Fadil (BC) 20:10.7;
141. Leane Willemse (Wi) 20:10.8; 142. Margaret Carroll (Vill) 20:10.9; 143. Kyra Holland (BC) 20:10.9; 144. †*Bieke Schipperen’ (FlSt-Neth) 20:11.5; 145. **Reagan Gilmore (Fl) 20:11.6; 146. †Molly Malague (Harv) 20:11.9; 147. †**Meg Madison (Prin) 20:12.1; 148. †*Jessica Frydenlund (Gonz) 20:12.4; 149. *Elizabeth Whaley (WF) 20:13.3; 150. ***Emily Junginger’ (Ut-Ger) 20:13.8.
