COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, November 22 — There’s nothing like winning to quickly erase memories of things gone awry in a previous championship.
Oklahoma State’s men and New Mexico junior Habtom Samuel made that point — emphatically — in capping their seasons with NCAA cross titles over a damp but not muddy 10K route under cloudy skies on a chilly day in central Missouri.
Their raison d’être may have been the same — redemption for last year’s losses — but they arrived at the top of the podium via two different methods.
The bottom line, of course, is all that matters, and it showed Coach Dave Smith’s Cowboys with 57 points to runner-up New Mexico’s 82, and Samuel with a 28:33.9 win over Wake Forest’s Rocky Hansen (28:38.0).
It’s the sixth NCAA win in OSU history and the fifth under Smith’s direction. It’s also the lowest point total since Wisconsin’s 37 in ’05 — other than OSU’s 49 in winning in ’23. Samuel’s win was the first by a New Mexico runner and he’ll be back next year in an attempt to repeat. It was also the best team finish ever by a Lobo squad.
How’d they get there? Well, biding their time for too long and waiting to see how things played out wasn’t necessarily in the OSU race plan but a ginormous pack that showed no urgency at splitting up kept everybody together.
Until the 3K mark, OSU was content to hang in with that gang of hundreds. But then ever so subtly and slightly, its forward movement began, as enroute team scores reflected. Not even among the top 5 teams early on, the Cowboys trailed Iowa State at 3K, 113–138. At 4K, the Lobos had moved ahead of OSU, 113-123, with the Cyclones falling back to 4th at 218 due to a fallen runner. But by the hallway post, OK State showed a 99–128 margin over the eventual runners-up and the team race was effectively over, though Smith said post-race he wasn’t really sure.
But 3 in the top 6 will do it for you almost every time unless your fourth and fifth guys blow up big-time, which they didn’t at all. Oklahoma State’s 57 points came off a real 4-5-6-12-34 (4-5-6-12-30 adjusted) finish with its eventual top 3 runners — Brian Musau, Fouad Messaoudi and Denis Kipngetich — never out of the top 20–25 after 6K. Eventual 12th-placer Adisu Guadia started out way back in the 140s but moved up steadily and settled in the top 20 while fifth man Ryan Schoppe improved his place every kilometer en route to 34th.
The desire — no, the need — for redemption was simple: make up for last year. Favored Oklahoma State finished an uncharacteristic 8th in ’24 while Samuel, who lost a shoe during that race at Wisconsin, ended up 2nd for the second straight year.
So, that need for redemption met opportunity Saturday morning and both the Cowboys and Samuel made the most of it. Samuel had no need to lead wire-to-wire but bided his time early on, content to amble in the pack, but never out of the top 20, during the middle part of the race. Then, a half-tick back, ostensibly in 13th, at 8K, in 23:11, he surged hard with 1500 to go and had built a 3-second lead over Hansen by 9K, their splits 25:49 and 25:52. Samuel glanced back more than a couple of times at the fast-closing Hansen but it was a bit too late for him to be caught.
Samuel was clearly relieved and happy and credited running an “efficient” race as a key.
“It was amazing,” he said. “I’m so happy. This really means a lot to me. After two years of finishing as the runner-up, I just kept working hard at it. I tried all day to be efficient and then make a big move. I told my coach, ‘I’m going to surprise you, I’m not going to go to the front,’ because I felt really confident. The pace at the front was good; the guys were running great and I didn’t need to go up there. And then I made the big move.”
Samuel said he wasn’t thinking of the shoe mishap of last year but stayed focused. “When I went to the front, I just thought, finish the race.”
“I’m just proud of this family, this group of guys,” Smith said. “They didn’t point fingers. I screwed up. They were cool with that. They said, tell us what to do this year. We put last year behind us and came after it. I’m usually OK at 5K but New Mexico made a late move and I got a little nervous, so I wasn’t confident until I saw Schoppe flying down the homestretch. He finished really well and picked up 20 or 30 places and that saved us.”
Solomon Kipchoge of Washington State was 3rd in 28:40.1, followed by the Oklahoma State triple threat in 4-5-6. Virginia’s Gary Martin was 7th (28:44.3), New Mexico’s Collins Kiprotich 8th (28:45.7), Oregon’s Abdel Laadjel 9th (28:46.2) and Virginia Tech’s George Couttie 10th (28:47.4).
Formcharts more or less held with No. 2 Iowa State 3rd with 158 behind the top 2, which were rated 1-3 coming into the meet. Ditto for the remainder of the top 10: Syracuse (212), Oregon (239), Alabama (253), Virginia (303), Northern Arizona (303), Eastern Kentucky (316) and Colorado (318), with only EKU not ranked in the premeet top 10 in the USTFCCCA coaches’ poll. Defending champ BYU was 11th with 336 points and was paced by frosh Tayvon Kitchen, who fearlessly ran among the leaders and eventually took 32nd.
NCAA XC MEN’S RESULTS
Columbia, Missouri, November 22 —
Teams
(adjusted places)
| 1. Oklahoma State | (4-5-6-12-30) | 57 |
| 2. New Mexico | (1-8-13-18-42) | 82 |
| 3. Iowa State | (14-20-21-31-72) | 158 |
| 4. Syracuse | (27-32-39-54-60) | 212 |
| 5. Oregon | (9-22-29-55-124) | 239 |
6. Alabama 253; 7. Virginia 303; 8. Northern Arizona 303; 9. Eastern Kentucky 316; 10. Colorado 318; 11. BYU 336; 12. Wake Forest 407; 13. Notre Dame 459; 14. Virginia Tech 472; 15. Oklahoma 480; 16. Butler 484; 17. Washington State 491; 18. Arkansas 498;
19. Wisconsin 514; 20. Air Force 529; 21. Tulane 536; 22. Ole Miss 538; 23. Michigan State 547; 24. Georgia 562; 25. Cal Baptist 577; 26. Louisville 584; 27. Princeton 598; 28. North Carolina 603; 29. Harvard 656; 30. Georgetown 663; 31. Michigan 664; 32. Iona 728.
Individuals
†=not in team scoring
10,000m (261 started, 259 finished)
| 1. *Habtom Samuel’ | (NM-Eri) | 28:33.9 |
| 2. *Rocky Hansen | (WF) | 28:38.0 |
| 3. **Solomon Kipchoge’ | (WaSt-Ken) | 28:40.1 |
| 4. *Brian Musau’ | (OkSt-Ken) | 28:41.2 |
| 5. Fouad Messaoudi’ | (OkSt-Mor) | 28:42.8 |
| 6. **Denis Kipngetich’ | (OkSt-Ken) | 28:44.3 |
| 7. Gary Martin | (Va) | 28:44.3 |
| 8. **Collins Kiprotich’ | (NM-Ken) | 28:45.7 |
| 9. Abdel Laadjel’ | (Or-Ire) | 28:46.2 |
| 10. *George Couttie’ | (VaT-GB) | 28:47.4 |
11. **Dismus Lokira’ (Al-Ken) 28:48.5; 12. *Adisu Guadia’ (OkSt-Isr) 28:49.7; 13. *Evans Kiplagat’ (NM-Ken) 28:50.7; 14. †***Kelvin Cheruiyot’ (Fl-Ken) 28:51.1; 15. **Robin Kwemoi Bera’ (IaSt-Ken) 28:51.5; 16. Colin Sahlman (NnAz) 28:51.6; 17. **Evans Kurui’ (WaSt-Ken) 28:51.9; 18. †**Nickson Kogei’ (Cinc-Ken) 28:52.2; 19. *Timothy Chesondin’ (Ar-Ken) 28:52.6; 20. **Vincent Chirchir’ (NM-Ken) 28:52.8;
21. ***Brian Kimutai’ (EnKy-Ken) 28:53.6; 22. ***Meshack Kimutai’ (IaSt-Ken) 28:54.4; 23. *Rodgers Kiplimo’ (IaSt-Ken) 28:56.5; 24. †**Elkana Kipruto’ (Wich-Ken) 28:57.0; 25. *Aiden Smith (Or) 28:57.3; 26. **Dennis Kipruto’ (Al-Ken) 28:57.4; 27. †*Meshack Kuyo’ (Boise-Ken) 28:58.0; 28. *Ethan Coleman (NDm) 28:58.8; 29. **Bernard Cheruiyot’ (Tul-Ken) 28:59.3; 30. *Taha Er Raouy’ (EnKy-Mor) 29:00.5;
31. Sam Lawler (Syr) 29:00.6; 32. ***Tayvon Kitchen (BYU) 29:01.5; 33. **Simeon Birnbaum (Or) 29:01.6; 34. Ryan Schoppe (OkSt) 29:01.7; 35. † Peter Visser (Web) 29:02.3; 36. **Joash Ruto’ (IaSt-Ken) 29:02.9; 37. Peter Walsdorf (Syr) 29:03.9; 38. †***Fredrick Kipkosgei’ (Hof-Ken) 29:04.9; 39. ***Elsingi Kipruto’ (Louisv-Ken) 29:06.6; 40. †***Titus Kimaru’ (TxT-Ken) 29:07.2;
41. †**Nickson Chebii’ (Aub-Ken) 29:07.8; 42. Colton Sands (NC) 29:07.9; 43. **Noah Jenkins (BYU) 29:08.5; 44. †***Evans Tanui’ (Az-Ken) 29:10.3; 45. Myles Hogan (Prin) 29:10.3; 46. *Kidus Misgina (Ms) 29:11.4; 47. ***Silas Kiptanui’ (Tul-Ken) 29:11.6; 48. Assaf Harari’ (Syr-Isr) 29:12.2; 49. ***Ronald Ngetich’ (Ok-Ken) 29:12.4; 50. Jayden Nats (AF) 29:13.0;
51. ***Mathew Kosgei’ (NM-Ken) 29:13.8; 52. Matias Reynaga’ (Ga-Arg) 29:15.8; 53. *Birhanu Harriman (Gtn) 29:16.2; 54. ***Nelson Pariken’ (Al-Ken) 29:16.6; 55. *Charlie Sprott’ (WF-Aus) 29:16.9; 56. ***Evans Biwott’ (Ok-Ken) 29:17.2; 57. **Jacob Nenow (Prin) 29:17.9; 58. **Dominic Serem’ (Co-Ken) 29:18.0; 59. ***Thomas Westphal (MiSt) 29:19.0; 60. Nathan Mountain (Va) 29:19.5;
61. Iker Sanchez Lopez’ (NM-Mex) 29:20.1; 62. Cael Grotenhuis (NnAz) 29:20.2; 63. **Benne Anderson’ (Syr-Ger) 29:20.3; 64. Michael Mireles (Or) 29:20.9; 65. † Jonas Price (Port) 29:21.1; 66. *William Zegarski (But) 29:22.0; 67. Will Aitken’ (Ga-GB) 29:22.6; 68. ***Jake Liebert (Co) 29:23.1; 69. †***Victor Kipkoech’ (TxT-Ken) 29:24.7; 70. † Jan Wouter Van Den Akker’ (UMLowell-Neth) 29:25.0;
71. Tomer Tarragano’ (NC-GB) 29:25.8; 72. †*Leo Young (Stan) 29:27.0; 73. *Matthew Neill’ (Syr-Ire) 29:27.3; 74. James Overberg (Co) 29:27.8; 75. Ian Kibiwot’ (Louisv-Ken) 29:28.0; 76. **Liam Newhart (Wi) 29:28.5; 77. *Brian Masai’ (Ar-Ken) 29:28.9; 78. †**Zouhair Redouane’ (Tn-Mor) 29:29.9; 79. **Justine Kipkoech’ (EnKy-Ken) 29:30.1; 80. *Sam Burgess (Harv) 29:30.1;
81. Brett Gardner (Va) 29:30.1; 82. *Daniel Winter (WF) 29:30.3; 83. Austin Gabay (But) 29:30.3; 84. *Izaiah Steury (NDm) 29:30.7; 85. *Justin Keyes (NnAz) 29:30.9; 86. Sanele Masondo’ (IaSt-SA) 29:31.0; 87. †*Jayde Rosslee’ (Brad-SA) 29:31.3; 88. *Isaiah Givens (Co) 29:31.5; 89. *Miguel Baidal’ (EnKy-Spa) 29:31.6; 90. *Duncan Robinson’ (Iona-GB) 29:32.0;
91. ***Ezekiel Pitireng’ (Al-Ken) 29:32.2; 92. *Dean Casey’ (Co-Ire) 29:32.6; 93. †**Thomas McMahon (Pitt) 29:33.0; 94. *James Corrigan (BYU) 29:33.2; 95. *Ethan Godsey (NnAz) 29:33.7; 96. Toby Gillen’ (Ms-Aus) 29:34.0; 97. ***Shadrack Kiptoo’ (Ok-Ken) 29:34.2; 98. † Cody Larson (SDSt) 29:34.2; 99. Davin Thompson (BYU) 29:34.2; 100. ***Ben Gabelman (Syr) 29:34.9;
101. †*Edward Bird’ (Ky-GB) 29:35.0; 102. *Nathan Lopez (Mi) 29:36.3; 103. **Manny Perez (NnAz) 29:37.4; 104. †**Joad Martinho’ (Tol-Fra) 29:37.5; 105. Will Muirhead (OkSt) 29:37.8; 106. Nicholas Bendtsen (Va) 29:39.0; 107. *Devan Kipyego (IaSt) 29:39.3; 108. *Valentin Soca’ (CalB-Uru) 29:39.5; 109. Ben Shearer (Ar) 29:40.4; 110. Justin Wachtel (Va) 29:42.4;
111. **Matan Ivri’ (Wi-Isr) 29:43.2; 112. **Kevin Sanchez (NDm) 29:43.3; 113. **Ford Washburn (NnAz) 29:43.6; 114. **Nicholas Kipchirchir’ (VaT-Ken) 29:43.6; 115. †*Kgaogelo Moloisi’ (LaMonroe-SA) 29:43.8; 116. Jesse Hamlin (But) 29:44.2; 117. †*Johnson Lagat’ (TCU-Ken) 29:44.4; 118. Zachary Ayers (AF) 29:44.6; 119. Carson Burian (Al) 29:45.0; 120. †***Charlie Moore’ (Vill-Aus) 29:45.8;
121. *Brett Rushman’ (CalB-GB) 29:46.2; 122. *Charlie Ortmans (Harv) 29:46.3; 123. *Erik Le Roux (NnAz) 29:46.7; 124. MacCallum Rowe’ (Gtn-NZ) 29:46.7; 125. Will Daley (Va) 29:47.0; 126. †**CJ Sullivan (Vill) 29:47.1; 127. †*Abraham Chelangam’ (OR-Uga) 29:47.2; 128. *Lukas Kiprop’ (NM-Ken) 29:47.3; 129. Declan Rymer (VaT) 29:48.2; 130. **Christian de Vaal’ (Wi-NZ) 29:48.7;
131. ***Linus Chepkochei’ (VaT-Ken) 29:49.0; 132. †**Nick Sloff (PennSt) 29:49.2; 133. †**Paul Kiprotich’ (SFA-Ken) 29:49.4; 134. *Riley Hough (MiSt) 29:49.9; 135. †***Sila Kiplakat’ (UtV-Ken) 29:51.1; 136. †*Jack Johnston (TxAM) 29:51.2; 137. Evan Thornton-Sherman (Ms) 29:51.6; 138. *Pedro Marin’ (CalB-Col) 29:52.2; 139. Andrew Jones (Va) 29:52.5; 140. *Ryan Olree (Ga) 29:53.2;
141. **Max Davis (BYU) 29:53.8; 142. Luke Venhuizen (Mi) 29:53.9; 143. ***Jasper Cane (MiSt) 29:54.0; 144. **Thobias Cheruiyot’ (Ok-Ken) 29:54.1; 145. **Archie Noakes’ (Wi-Aus) 29:55.0; 146. **Terrance Allen (AF) 29:55.0; 147. ***James Sankei’ (Ar-Ken) 29:55.7; 148. *Tanner Newkirk (Co) 29:56.6; 149. **Geoffrey Kirwa’ (Louisv-Ken) 29:56.6; 150. ***Cameron Todd (NDm) 29:57.0.
