BYU Women's Team Dominates

BYU's powerhouse women’s cross country team, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, showcased its incredible depth by clinching victory at the NCAA Mountain Region meet held in Reno, Nevada, without their top two athletes. This stunning performance has raised eyebrows and questions about how far this team can go.

The Cougars secured first place with a total of 47 points, comfortably ahead of No. 4-ranked Northern Arizona, which finished second with 60 points. The competition was fierce, with Utah, ranked No. 9 nationally, taking fourth place. Other notable finishes included Utah Valley in fifth, Utah State ninth, Weber State 13th, and Southern Utah in 15th place out of a competitive 20-team field.

The top two teams from each of the NCAA's nine region competitions automatically qualify for the championships in Wisconsin next week, with 13 additional at-large selections available. Utah is expected to secure one of those coveted at-large spots.

Notably, BYU's standout performers Lexy Lowry and Jenna Hutchins sat this race out, strategically resting to prepare for the upcoming NCAA championships. Hutchins, dealing with a minor injury, had previously finished 10th among BYU runners at the Big 12 championships two weeks ago. Their absence did not hinder the team, as four Cougars finished in the top 10. Riley Chamberlain grabbed fifth place, followed closely by teammates Carmen Alder, Taylor Rohatinsky, and Taylor Lovell, who placed eighth, ninth, and tenth respectively. Carlee Hansen rounded out the scoring for BYU in 20th place.

On the Utah front, Erin Vringer and Annastasia Peters finished strong in 12th and 13th places, respectively. Meanwhile, Morgan Jensen, McKaylie Caesar, and Lindsey Peters claimed 21st, 27th, and 49th places, contributing to Utah's overall performance. Utah Valley's Caila Odekirk and Anna Martin were their top finishers, coming in at 24th and 28th.

BYU Men's Team Also Shines

The success wasn’t limited to the women’s team. BYU's men's team, also ranked No. 1 nationally, exhibited their dominance by finishing first in their competition despite resting some key runners. The men collected 52 points to secure the top spot, again outpacing their closest competitor, New Mexico, by nine points. Northern Arizona crossed the line in third with 71 points.

Casey Clinger led BYU’s men with an impressive fourth-place finish, while identical twins Creed and Davin Thompson stood out by finishing sixth and eighth. Joey Nokes contributed to the strength of the squad by taking ninth. Olympians James Corrigan, Lucas Bons, and Aidan Troutner did not compete in this meet.

BYU's history of excellence in cross country is worth noting; the men's team claimed the NCAA championship in 2019, and the women’s team emerged victorious in the 2020 championship, finishing second in 2019 and 2021. With such strong performances at the Regionals, fans are eagerly anticipating their potential to bring home titles once again at the upcoming NCAA Championships. Will BYU maintain its streak of superiority in college cross country? Stay tuned!