Blanks repeat, BYU shines in historic championship
MADISON, WI – For all the anticipation and build-up to the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships, there was no mistaking who would take the crown in the men’s race: Graham Blanks.
Harvard senior Thomas Zimmer climbed the final hill of the championship course to pull away from the field and seal his second straight title in 28:37.2 New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel, who ran the final 5k with one shoe and a bloody foot, finished second in 28:38.9. The result, however, was far from a simple victory lap for Blanks.
“I was in a lot of pain,” Blanks admitted afterward. “Going into that last turn, I thought, ‘I might not have it,’ because these guys have great shots.” , to hold off Samuel, who battled injuries with extraordinary toughness to close the gap.
“I knew I wasn’t going to quit,” Samuel said, pointing to his bloodied leg as he crossed the line, his body a clear testament to his determination.
It was a moment that highlighted Blanks’ year. year that included him joining Gerry Lindgren, Steve Prefontaine and Conner Mantz in an elite group of American runners to repeat as national champion.
But this run was more than just a Blanks win. This was Ed Eystone’s year, and his BYU Cougars made sure to seize their moment, holding off a late surge from Iowa State to claim their second NCAA team title in six years at 124. with 137 points.
Listen to Ed Eystone, he gets it. #awesome https://t.co/e14OLFDjdN
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) November 23, 2024
Eyestone’s team is part of a rare breed that has achieved greatness not just through exceptional athletes, but through a clear, deliberate coaching philosophy. Young dominated, finishing 1-2 at the Olympics and then securing a top-10 finish at the Olympics places.” His influence is unmistakable, and on this day his athletes proved they can do it on the biggest stage, earning BYU their second NCAA cross country championship.
The Cougars, led by standout performances from Casey Klinger (No. 6) and No. 12 Creed Thompson, showed their depth and resilience in bouncing back from a tough early-season loss at the Big 12 Conference Championships We’ve been focused on getting this team to the top at the right time,” said Aystone, whose pride was evident. “It’s been a long, hard road, but today we showed who we are.”
A two-class act, @NCAATrackField https://t.co/c0YnNSqDq4
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) November 23, 2024
Oklahoma State, the defending champion, entered the meet as a favorite after a dominant performance in 2023. With the same four runners from last year, the Cowboys were expected to mount a serious challenge. as their 5-6-7 runners were pacing too conservatively in the early stages.By the time they got to 6k mark, they were nowhere near the podium, finishing a distant 8th with 256 points.
“We didn’t perform as well as we should have,” Oklahoma State coach Dave Smith said.
While Oklahoma State’s lackluster performance was the biggest surprise of the day, Schubert, who finished 24th last year, made a significant jump to finish third in 29:39.6, showing the program’s steady improvement over the years the work of coach Robert Gary, who continues to elevate the Paladins to national prominence.
Indeed, the depth of American men’s cross country was on full display, with six of the top nine finishers coming from U.S. programs, with BYU’s Parker Wolfe (7th), Iowa State’s Ethan Strand (8th) and Villanova representing. Liam Murphy (9th) rounded out the American dominance It was an impressive performance from a group of men who, despite often flying under the radar under, showed they belong at the top of the national stage.
As for Blanks, the question remains. After taking down the NCAA cross country title again, Blanks now has her sights set on indoor track, where she’ll compete in the 5,000 meters at the BU Opener in early December. “I’m just trying to get a qualifying time indoors,” she said. but with his eyes firmly set on the 2025 World Cup, Blanks’ next steps seem clear.
