COLUMBIA, Mo. — The NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships showcased stellar performances as the Oklahoma State men and NC State women clinched team titles, while Alabama junior Doris Lemngole successfully defended her championship and New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel claimed the men’s individual title on Saturday.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys concluded an undefeated season with a remarkable achievement, placing four runners in the top 12 to secure their second national title in three years, marking the fifth in the team’s history. The Cowboys finished with a total of 57 points, outpacing New Mexico, which garnered 82 points, and Iowa State, which finished with 158 points. Key contributors to Oklahoma State’s triumph included Brian Musau, Fouad Messaoudi, and Denis Kipngetich, who finished fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
On the women’s side, the NC State Wolfpack continued their dominance by winning their fourth championship in five years, accumulating 114 points. They managed to surpass BYU, which finished with 130 points, and Oregon, which ended with 153 points. NC State’s strong showing featured two runners in the top 10, with Hannah Gapes finishing fifth and Grace Hartman in sixth place.
After BYU swept both titles last year—an accomplishment not seen since Colorado achieved it in 2004—the competition this year was fierce. Individually, Habtom Samuel, a two-time runner-up, triumphed in the men’s 10,000-meter race, clocking in at 28 minutes, 33.9 seconds, finishing just 4.1 seconds ahead of Wake Forest junior Rocky Hansen, who was followed closely by Washington State sophomore Solomon Kipchoge, finishing two seconds behind Hansen.
In the women’s 6K race, Doris Lemngole demonstrated her prowess by completing the course in 18:25.4, finishing a comfortable 13.5 seconds ahead of BYU freshman Jane Hedengren, while Florida’s Hilda Olemomoi placed third in 18:46.4.
This year’s championships highlighted the rising talents in collegiate cross country and set the stage for exciting future competitions in the sport.