Joe Klecker never won a national title in college, albeit he would have had a really good couple of chances in 2020 if COVID hadn't ended his college career early.
I didn't look very far into it, but I think of someone like Isai Rodriguez, who has 3 top tens in XC, and Oklahoma State has gotten top 3 for the past few years, + 7:54 and 4:05 as a freshman. Guy is crazy talented, he just misses out on winning.
Pat Porter (RIP) a 4:29 altitude high school mile never won a NCAA title. NAIA yes. The Panther Kicked butt mostly after college and would joke around why we couldn't beat him anymore. Great guy
No individual national titles No national team titles none indoor, outdoor, or in xc who is the best loser?
Elise Cranny. Wasn't she runner up like 4 times? No titles?
She's had such a weird progression. 4:10 high schooler, hardly improved in college, now 8:29 and 14:33 indoor American record-holder. Given her association with Houlihan, it's hard to really treat her pro performances as legitimate, but that's still a weird path to take.
On the men's side it's gotta be Derrick. Not only was he top 10 at NCAA cross every year at Stanford and similarly in and amongst the top guys on the track every season, he was also part of some very good Stanford sides that severely underperformed. He does, however, have an individual and team national title from NTN in high school, so there's that!
Elise Cranny. Wasn't she runner up like 4 times? No titles?
She's had such a weird progression. 4:10 high schooler, hardly improved in college, now 8:29 and 14:33 indoor American record-holder. Given her association with Houlihan, it's hard to really treat her pro performances as legitimate, but that's still a weird path to take.
I don't know. It seems like the normal path of a 4:10 hser to not get better til they join a sketchy pro group.....