Since early December, fans of the sport have been treated to some of the greatest performances in the history of collegiate track & field. Although we’ve still got a few weeks left before the season is wrapped up in Tokyo, it’s time to turn some of our attention to the grass.

Before we know it, the 2025 cross country season will be in full swing and we don’t want to get lost in the shuffle. Let’s get you caught up to speed (for the most part) and look at some of the championship contenders.

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• 2025 NCAA Division I Rankings Presented By HOKA

On The Women's Side

As the defending national champions prepare to open their season at the Autumn Classic in Orem, Utah next month, Diljeet Taylor’s squad will look a little different than the team that won it all in Madison.

Lexy Halladay-Lowry has have moved on, but this is still a roster built for success—and potentially a repeat. Senior All-American Riley Chamberlain leads the charge, joined by championship-tested returners Taylor Rohatinsky (43rd), Carlee Hansen (65th), Nelah Roberts (83rd), and Taylor Lovell (88th)—all finishers at the 2024 NCAA Championships.

Even better, junior Jenna Hutchins is back after missing regionals and nationals last fall, and she enters the season on the heels of a strong outdoor campaign. 

If you followed high school track in any capacity last year, you already know the name Jane Hedengren. After putting together the greatest high school season we’ve ever seen, she arrives in Provo with a high ceiling and the chance to make an impact from the get-go. To put it into perspective, her 5k PB of 14:57 would make her the fourth-fastest collegian ever. Only time will tell if Hedengren will play a role in the chase for a two-peat. 

While BYU looks to defend, Laurie Henes’ NC State Wolfpack are aiming to reclaim the top spot. A “down year” in 2024 only meant settling for three-straight national titles instead of four, and with their entire top seven returning, they’re primed for another run.

That includes Grace Hartman (5th), Hannah Gapes (8th), and rising sophomore Angelina Napoleon, who will delay her season start while competing in the steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships next month. With experience, depth, and motivation, NC State is playing with house money and chasing redemption.

While the spotlight will be on BYU and NC State, don’t overlook Oregon, who showed last year that the Ducks belong among the nation’s elite. Stanford and New Mexico also have the firepower to spoil if the right pieces click this fall.

On The Men's Side

Less than 90 minutes after the BYU women claimed gold last November, Ed Eyestone’s men secured the sweep and won their second national title since 2019. A year later, the Cougars now face the challenge of replacing All-Americans Casey Clinger, Creed Thompson, Joey Nokes, and Lucas Bons.

That’s no small task, but Eyestone has been here before. Veterans Jacob Stanford and Garrett Stanford look ready to make the leap, joining 2024 Olympian James Corrigan at the front. Depth pieces including Berkley Nance, Hunter Kitchen, Caleb Johnson, and Davin Thompson give BYU plenty of options. The Cougars may not have the same household names, but they’ll field a deep, competitive seven.

Just 13 points shy of BYU last year, Iowa State has every reason to believe this could be their season. The Cyclones lose Said Mechaal (10th) but return three All-Americans: Sanele Masondo (23rd), Joash Ruto (34th), and Robin Kwemoi Bera (37th).

Behind them, Devan Kipyego and Ryan Watts bring added experience, while Hanibal Haile and Rodgers Rotich should bolster depth after limited racing in 2024. On paper, this is as complete a lineup as any in the country.

The men’s race is wide open. New Mexico and Oklahoma State return proven firepower, while Wake Forest has the depth to contend. And, of course, Northern Arizona, a program used to November dominance remains a threat in Jarred Cornfield’s first season at the helm. .

Both team races are shaping up to be unpredictable, with powerhouse programs reloading as they typically do while hungry contenders are ready to capitalize after a year’s worth of buildup. Add in a generational freshman class led by Hedengren and the promise of well-rounded, experienced lineups across the board, and 2025 could go down as the most competitive cross country season in collegiate history.

Don't Miss A Second Of The 2025 Diamond League

This year, the Diamond League is streaming live on FloTrack and the FloSports app, and FloTrack is giving fans more Diamond League access than ever before. For the first time ever, the Diamond League is streaming to fans all the feeds, not just the traditional world feed.

Fans will have uninterrupted coverage for every throw, leap and run during the meets as well as the traditional broadcast.

Where To Watch Diamond League?

The Wanda Diamond League will be broadcast on FloTrack and the FloSports app starting with the 2025 season. 

FloTrack Archived Footage

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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