Who Is the NCAA Cross Country Athlete of the Week?

The NCAA XC season is underway and we want to highlight the top performances on a regular basis this year.

The first month of the season usually doesn’t see a lot of the big guns going head to head so we’re consolidating the “preseason” action below. Below we have a few standout performances and will let you vote to decide who the winner is.

The men’s action is dominated by runners by freshman runners from Kenya, as Texas Tech has a 59 minute half marathoner on their roster, Solomon Kipchoge, who has turned heads. Meanwhile Evans Kurui of Washington State destroyed an Edward Cheserek course record.

Men’s Week 1 Candidates

Solomon Kipchoge – Texas Tech

The 28-year-old Texas Tech freshmen ran 14:02 for 5k at Lori Fitzgerald Classic to take the win by three seconds over his teammate. Solomon comes to Lubbock by way of Kapsabet, Kenya and has ran a blazing quick 59:37 half marathon in Lille France back in March of 2023.

Patrick Kiprop – Cincinnati 

Another Kenyan freshmen who ran 17:23 for 6k to win the Sam Bell invitational by over a minute in a new course record. He was named the Big 12 runner of the week.

Bernard Cheruiyot – Tulane

Freshmen by way of Eldoret, Kenya ran a blazing quick 22:50 8k at the Texas A&M Invitational to shatter his school record and the course record en route to a dominant victory, Cheruiyot was 37 seconds in front of high school star Graydon Morris (who qualified for Foot Locker’s all 4 years in high school) in second place.

Texas A&M Invitational Top Results

Evans Kurui – Washington State 

Another freshmen from Kenya has been on a roll this season winning two home meets, running 16:56 for 6k at the WSU Alumni Open. He then destroyed Edward Cheserek’s course record by 20 seconds in a 55 second victory at the WSU Cougar Classic running 22:46. He was named the WCC runner of the week and got a LetsRun.com message board thread: Evans Kurui–Washington State

Cougar Classic Top Results

Dominic Serem – Toledo 

Our last contender is another Kenyan runner, a transfer from Oklahoma, won by 47 seconds at the MAC Preview meet. Serem ran 23:23 en route to his victory. Serem was a multiple time all big 12 runner at Oklahoma and a regional qualifier.

We Fly 2024 Preview Top Results

Women’s Week 1 Candidates

Doris Lemngole  – Alabama

The sophomore out of Kenya won the Southern Showcase in 16:03, over thirty seconds in front of her teammate in second. Lemngole is the reigning steeplechase champion and and was quick to remind us why she is a national title contender this year in XC and the runner-up to Parker Valby last year. Lemngole won SEC athlete of the week.

Southern Showcase Top Results

Chloe Thomas – UCONN 

The UCONN senior ran at world U20’s finishing 11th in the 3k and is by way of Ontario, Canada. She had no issue translating her fitness to the grass running 19:51 to win the Harry Groves Spiked Invitational by 12 seconds. She beat a number of national qualifiers on the track in the process and helped the huskies finish fourth in a field with three nationally ranked teams. Thomas won Big East athlete of the week.

Harry Groves Spiked Invitational Results

Lindsay Cunningham – Wisconsin

The 2023 DII XC national champion from Winona State had no issue introducing herself to the DI ranks racking up a 11 second win running 19:54 at the Big Ten Preview. The senior won Big 10 athlete of the week.

Brynn Brown – UNC

The senior from Texas started her season off with a win at the Virginia Invite running 16:32 to win by two seconds in her second race of the year. She won ACC athlete of the week.

Virginia Invite Top Results