Hedengren, the BYU freshman, defeated 2025 NCAA 5k/10k champ Pamela Kosgei by 42 seconds at the Mountain regional.

But before we switch over to indoor track, we had a few final thoughts to share about the 2024 NCAA XC championships, including explaining why track is not the same as cross country, revealing the top-20 finisher who called his shot on the LetsRun messageboard, letting you know about two runners who did something on Saturday that hasn’t been done since Matthew Centrowitz, before we give you a way-too-early look ahead to 2025 NCAAs. 

Last year, Graham Blanks accomplished something no other 21-year-old American man had done in 20 years - win an NCAA xc title before their 22nd birthday. Can he repeat and join the likes of Steve Prefontaine and Gerry Lindgren as repeat American champs?

The Big 12 showdown between the top two teams in the country lived up to the hype while Wisconsin's Bob Liking became the fourth man to win four Big 10 XC titles.

Our Jonathan Gault has the inside scoop on the NCAA XC action. Does Villanova have a potential NCAA champion you've never heard of? What's up with the top American returner who didn't race this weekend? How do you get a Kenyan eligible when they show up at the end of September? All hail the Big 12 as the BYU and Iowa State men impressed and could the OK State men be even better than 2023? Plus Stanford was resurgent.

Can the NAU women overcome last year's disappointment and send coach Mike Smith out as a champion in his final year? Plus a loaded BYU team looks to put a bad day in '23 behind them, and does NC State have any chance at a four-peat?

Oklahoma State was historically great in 2023, can they repeat in 2024? How will NAU fare in Mike Smith's final year as coach? Is this Arkansas' best team since the glory years? Plus BYU is super deep  thanks in part to an 8th-year senior. *MB: Ok State's Dave Smith: "There are five teams that can potentially win...but I wouldn’t say we’re a 50% chance to win."

Plus should UVA host again, and the one-armed runner who led Tennessee to 6th place.

Tuohy did not get the repeat individual title but today's gutsy run may have been her finest hour in what may have been her final race for NC State. Our Jonathan Gault breaks it down in 3,000+ words.

Plus UVA coach Vin Lananna explains why Saturday's meet has sold out to the public.

The OK State men & NAU women impressed. There was drama out West, where the Gonzaga & Portland men surprised as Oregon & Washington failed to qualify.

Skipping Nuttycombe could come back to haunt the Oregon men -- right now, they're projected to miss NCAAs. We project every team qualifier ahead of Friday's regionals.

We preview a huge weekend of XC action. Will Oregon's Jerry Schumacher will pull the redshirts from star freshmen Simeon Birnbaum, Connor Burns, and Archie Noakes?

With Tuohy, Kelsey Chmiel, and Sam Bush back for one last go-round, NC State's quest for a 3rd straight title hits high gear at Friday's Nuttycombe Invitational.

Tuohy, who won the individual last year, opted to return to Raleigh and is one of four women on the NC State roster who finished in the top 20 last year.

Our pre/midseason top 10 is here. NAU is loaded, but OK State could be even better than '22, when they lost NCAAs to NAU on a tiebreaker.

Katelyn Tuohy said NCAAs is "gonna be a dogfight, but I'm excited for it." Plus hear from Mike Smith, Dave Smith, Natalie Cook, and more.

No team has repeated since Villanova in 2009-10, but with Katelyn Tuohy and Kelsey Chmiel leading the way, the Wolfpack have a great shot to do it on Saturday.

Can precocious Nico Young win NCAAs at age 20? Could Alex Maier or Isai Rodriguez take the win on their home course? What about Stanford stars Charles Hicks & Ky Robinson?

Stanford crushed everyone at Nuttycombe, but BYU, OK State, and NAU (winners of 5 of the last 6 titles) all have legitimate shots to win on Saturday.