Most college cross country coverage stops at Division I. But the sport runs deep, from the Power Four programs chasing a national title in Terre Haute to Division III and NAIA teams building something special far from the spotlight. A month into the 2026 season, here’s who’s standing out at every level.
Course records are already falling
The early weeks of the season usually belong to rust-busting and pack running. Not this year.
At the John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, the same course that will host the DI national championships in November, Eastern Kentucky’s Brighter Jepchumba ran 19:14.0 to break a women’s course record that had stood for 18 years.
In Huntsville, Alabama’s Dismus Lokira lowered his own Southern Showcase course record to 23:08.8.
At Minnesota’s 40th Roy Griak Invitational, held for the first time at Fort Snelling Golf Course, Isabelle Schmitz won in 19:44.8, the fastest winning time in the meet’s history.
When records fall this early, it’s a sign that the fitness level across the sport is rising, and that November could be special.
The sophomores have arrived
Some of the season’s biggest early statements have come from second-year runners.
BYU’s Jane Hedengren, last year’s national runner-up, opened her sophomore season with a course-record 15:08.6 at the Utah Valley Invitational, winning by more than half a minute.
Florida’s Kelvin Cheruiyot, 14th at nationals as a freshman, won the men’s race at McNichols in 23:20.7 against a field that included top runners from Louisville, BYU, and Washington State.
Texas sophomore Aidan Torres, the reigning USATF U20 cross country champion, is 2-for-2. His latest win came at the Texas A&M Invitational, where he came from behind over the final stretch to edge Houston’s Henok Hagos.
Depth is the difference
Individual wins make headlines, but cross country titles are won by the fifth runner. A few programs have already shown serious depth:
- NC State women: The defending national champions won the adidas XC Challenge with five runners in the top seven, led by winner Bethany Michalak.
- Alabama: The Tide swept the top five men’s spots at the Southern Showcase, and Caren Kiplagat won the women’s race to give Alabama both team titles.
- Texas men: The Longhorns swept the top seven at the Floyd Farms Invitational.
- Boston College women: A seventh-place team finish at McNichols, against one of the deepest fields of the early season, is a strong baseline for the Eagles.
Small-college standouts worth your attention
The stories outside Division I are just as compelling, and these athletes rarely get the recognition they earn.
- Macalester: The Scots men debuted at No. 6 in the USTFCCCA Division III North Region rankings.
- North Central: Ari Elmayan earned CCIW Men’s Runner of the Week honors for a program with a long cross country tradition.
- TCNJ: Freshman Alexis Smith was named NJAC Rookie of the Week, an early sign of a promising career.
- Benedictine College (Kansas): Benedictine swept the Heart of America Conference’s Week 3 men’s and women’s runner honors in the NAIA.
- Springfield: The Pride men took second as a team at the Ellen O’Neil Invitational.
- Kalamazoo: The Hornets men placed seventh at the Calvin Knight Invite, hosted by Calvin.
- Colby: The Mules men’s and women’s teams opened their 2026 campaign at the Maine State Meet.
What’s next
October brings the big invitationals and conference championships, followed by regionals and nationals in November. For D1, all roads lead back to Terre Haute. For D2, D3, and NAIA runners, their own championships are just as meaningful, and every result along the way shapes who gets there.
Back the runners you believe in
Cross country athletes train year-round, compete across fall and spring, and see little of the NIL money that flows to football and basketball. That’s exactly where fans can make a difference.
On RallyFuel, you can find and support runners in women’s cross country and men’s cross country at schools across Division I, II, and III. Every contribution creates a verified NIL deal, 90% goes to the athlete, and if an athlete transfers or leaves, you get your money back automatically. Here’s how it works.
Whether your team is chasing a national title or a conference crown, find your runners on RallyFuel and back them before championship season.
