Cross country runners to know entering the 2024 NCAA season

Before the 2024 NCAA cross country season begins this fall, here are some of the top college runners you'll want to have on your radar.

Men's cross country runners to know

• Yaseen Abdalla | Arkansas
• Patrick Kiprop | Arkansas
• Ben Shearer | Arkansas
• Kirami Yego | Arkansas

Could Arkansas make a run at a podium finish in cross country this year? The Razorbacks return three top-20 finishers from last year's championships: Patrick Kiprop (7th), Kirami Yego (13th), and Ben Shearer (20th). Arkansas also added Tennessee transfer Yaseen Abdalla, who finished in the top 35 at nationals in 2021 and 2022.

SCHEDULE: Cross country invitationals to watch in 2024

• Casey Clinger | BYU
• James Corrigan | BYU

Casey Clinger is back at BYU after not running last year. The last time we saw him on the cross country course was in 2022 when he finished seventh overall. He'll join sophomore James Corrigan, who's hoping to carry over outdoor track and field success where he won the steeplechase national title and ran at the Olympics. Corrigan finished 32nd in his freshman cross country season.

• Simon Kelati | Colorado

Simon Kelati finished as the Division II cross country runner-up last year. He'll now join the DI level at Colorado under new Buffaloes head coach Sean Carlson.

• Habtom Samuel | New Mexico

The top returnee in men's cross country is Habtom Samuel who finished second last fall and won the 10K during the outdoor track season as a freshman. He should be the favorite to win the individual title this fall and if his fellow sophomore teammates Evans Kiplagat and Lukas Kiprop take the next step, he could carry New Mexico to a top-five finish.

STARPOWER: The history of the USTFCCCA’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year

• Parker Wolfe | North Carolina

Parker Wolfe finished ninth in cross country in 2023 and then had an outdoor track season where he won the NCAA 5K and finished third in the event at US trials. Wolfe's experience should be on display on the grass in 2024.

• Santiago Gomez-Prosser | Northern Arizona
• Brodey Hasty | Northern Arizona

The Northern Arizona dynasty will have a new look this fall. After losing the title for only the second time in the last eight years, the Lumberjacks have zero returnees that finished in the top 20 at nationals. Santiago Gomez-Prosser finished 21st and Brodey Hasty finished 25th. 

• Adisu Guadie | Oklahoma State
• Denis Kipngetich | Oklahoma State
• Brian Musau | Oklahoma State
• Fouad Messaoudi | Oklahoma State
• Ryan Schoppe | Oklahoma State
• Victor Shitsama | Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State should be the overwhelming favorite to repeat as national champion. The Cowboys return their top four finishers from their title team: Denis Kipngetich (4th), Brian Musau (8th), Food Messaoudi (10th) and Victor Shitsama (12th). Oklahoma State also has some intriguing options for its fifth finisher this fall in veteran Ryan Schoppe and a potential sophomore leap from Adisu Guadie. 

• Devin Hart | Oregon

Devin Hart is at his third school this fall after previously running at Stanford and Texas. Now at Oregon, Hart hopes to bring more success to Tracktown, USA in cross country after finishing 11th nationally last fall.

• Bob Liking | Wisconsin
• Adam Spencer | Wisconsin

Wisconsin hosts this year's national championships and the faces of their men's cross country program this fall are Bob Liking and Adam Spencer. The duo finished 70th and 83rd overall in 2023.

NUTTY: Nuttycombe champions who won the NCAA cross country title the same year

Women's cross country runners to know

• Doris Lemngole | Alabama

Finishing second at cross country championships is no small feat. Doris Lemngole did just that in 2023 — as a freshman. She then went on to set the steeplechase NCAA record in the spring. In year two, the sky's the limit for the budding superstar.

• Sydney Thorvaldson | Arkansas

In a year full of young talent hoping to take the next step, Sydney Thorvaldson is one of the top veteran cross country runners in the sport. After finishing 11th nationally last fall, she'll try to lean on her experience with the Razorbacks.

• Gladys Chepngetich | Clemson
• Judy Kosgei | Clemson

Clemson already had one of the best freshmen in the country in 2023 with Gladys Chepngetich, after she finished 24th nationally. The Tigers then added Judy Kosgei out of the transfer portal from South Carolina after she finished 19th in 2023 during her freshman season. Now Chepngetich and Kosgei form the best sophomore duo in the country.

• Hilda Olemomoi | Florida

Florida had 2023's individual women's cross country champion and in 2024 they have a good shot to repeat the feat, thanks to snagging Hilda Olemomoi out of the transfer portal. Olemomoi replaces Parker Valby, which may seem like a huge task, but Olemomoi finished fourth in cross country in 2023 while at Alabama.

• Grace Hartman | NC State
• Leah Stephens | NC State

Can NC State four-peat? All eyes will be on Grace Hartman and Leah Stephens this fall, the top returns for the Wolfpack. Stephens finished 43rd as a freshman and Hartman finished 63rd as a sophomore at the 2023 cross country championships. The duo rounded out the fourth and fifth point scorers behind Katelyn Tuohy and a senior-heavy lineup. Hartman and Stephens are now the leaders in Raleigh.

WINNERS: Here are the DI cross country teams with most NCAA championships

• Elise Stearns | Northern Arizona
• Alyson Churchill | Northern Arizona

Northern Arizona already had last year's 20th-best finisher returning in Elise Stearns. It then added Florida State transfer Alyson Churchill who finished 22nd in the fall. The Lumberjacks finished second as a team last year and these two will play a big part in getting the team back on the podium.

• Billah Jepkirui | Oklahoma State

Billah Jepkirui finished seventh during her sophomore season to lead an Oklahoma State team that finished third nationally. She may not have the same team to push her this fall, but she'll still be one to watch in the individual title race.

• Juliet Cherubet | Texas Tech

Juliet Cherubet finished 18th nationally during her freshman season at Texas Tech. She's another runner looking to make a sophomore leap.

• Amina Maatoug | Washington

Amina Maatoug is another high-impact transfer to know in 2024. Maatoug finished ninth at cross country nationals in 2023 while running for Duke. She'll lead a Washington team that finished eighth last year.

FUTURE: Here are the future cross country regional championship sites

• Ceili McCabe | West Virginia

Ceili McCabe didn't race last fall, but she's back for one more cross country season. When we last saw her on the grass, she finished 24th at the 2022 championships.