2026 NCAA DI XC Season: Which True Freshman Will Have The Most Impact In Year One?

The 2026 NCAA Division I cross country season will be in the swing of things soon enough, and there's a strong chance these freshman will shine this fall.

Aug 25, 2026 by Maxx Bradley

2026 NCAA DI XC Season: Which True Freshman Will Have The Most Impact In Year One?

The collegiate cross country season is almost here, and the freshmen arriving on campuses across the country are what makes the Class of 2026 one of the best in recent memory.

From multi-time national champions to state champions and top finishers who put in the quiet work and are ready to announce themselves.

Here is a look at 10 of them to watch this season.

Jackson Spencer (Herriman) - Brigham Young University

Just like they waited patiently for former top recruit Daniel Simmons to return from his two-year mission after high school graduation, Cougars fans will have to wait two more years for Spencer to make his debut in the blue and white. As a senior, Spencer had one of the greatest seasons we've seen from a distance runner, sweeping the national titles at Brooks XC Championships and Nike Cross Nationals, and winning a quartet of New Balance National titles over both championship meets. The HOKA Festival of Miles champ, four-time UHSAA winner, and the most dominant runner in recent memory will be a problem for the incoming freshman class of 2028.

Sean Fries (Minnetonka) - Stanford University

Although it may have been quieter compared to some of his counterparts throughout the Class of 2026, Fries had one of the best cross country campaigns in Minnesota history. Last fall, he went undefeated through NXR Heartland, picking up a regional title there and his first MSHSL title on the grass ever. Fries defended his 3200m crown from 2025, winning by five-hundredths of a second. Fries is joining a Stanford program that finished sixth at last year's NCAA Division I West Region Championship and could help the Cardinal get back to their West Coast dominance.

Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque) - University of Oregon

Dating back to his junior year, Nauman has been committed to the Ducks and Jerry Schumacher's vision, and just like the majority of this list, he'll be in a position to thrive if given the opportunity. To be honest, it's up in the air if Nauman will be someone who is relied on this fall, and that's fully due to Oregon's depth. Nauman isn't just an average recruit; he's one of the fastest milers in prep history and could be on a Birnbaum-esque path right now with 1500m and the mile. A strong rising sophomore class that includes Anthony Fast Horse and Juan Gonzalez might be the group that steps up in 2026, but if it's not them, why not Nauman?

Brian Burns (Bentonville) - University of North Carolina

Unlike his older brother Connor Burns, who is heading into his junior year at the University of Oregon, the next Burns star is taking his talents to the East Coast, where he'll join Chris Miltenberg's North Carolina Tar Heels and start the next four years of his life alongside fellow listee Caden Leonard. With a personal best of 14:45 he established at last year's NXR South Championship, Burns finished in the top five among non-national championship entrants and took 16th and 13th, respectively, at NXN and Brooks XC. He somehow took another leap, running sub-four at the HOKA Festival of Miles and clocking 8:41.38 for 3200m, and is another key weapon we'll probably see a few times this season.

Caden Leonard (Southlake-Carroll) - University of North Carolina

Compared to some of the familiar faces he grew up seeing across the state for the last four years, Leonard didn't always race often and was one of the high school stars who put a lot of his energy into his training and recovery, and if you're new here, it paid off. A little over a year ago, the future Tar Heel casually won his third-consecutive UIL 6A title, before going on to run 3:59.94 and 8:45.14 for 1600m and 3200m and win a few more UIL titles before his Dragon career wrapped up. Joined by fellow listee Brian Burns, a star-studded sophomore class, and what will be a historically quick Class of 2027, Leonard is in the middle of UNC's golden period, where Chris Miltenberg continues to produce results and bring athletes in the post-Parker Wolfe and Ethan Strand era. Leonard will be a welcome addition to an already talented distance core in Chapel Hill and could be a difference maker in his first year.

Braelyn Combe (Santiago Corona) - University of Arkansas

While the 2024-2025 campaign was headlined by current BYU superstar Jane Hedengren, the 2025-2026 season belonged to Braelyn Combe. During cross country, Combe didn't collect any state or national titles, but it was clear to see that she was racing with a different attitude. On the track, she lowered her 800m, 1600m, and 3200m personal bests to 2:04.70, 4:30.09, and 9:44.19, the No. 8, No. 2, and No. 1 quickest times in state history, and top-10 all-time in the longer two of the three distances. Combe will more than likely be an immediate impact in Fayetteville and could find herself in the top seven.

Chiara Dailey (La Jolla) - Stanford University

Addy Ritzenhein (Niwot) - Northern Arizona University

Just like her father, Ritzenhein is a gutsy, tough racer who can hold her own at the front regardless of tactics, pace, or conditions. An eight-time state champion, 2024 NXN champion, and one of the fastest girls in Colorado history, she'll fit right into Jared Cornfield's program, one that has 11 listed freshmen rostered ahead of the 2026 campaign. With just one returner back after last year's podium finish, the Colorado native's arrival in Flagstaff was long awaited.

Lily Alder (Timpview) - Brigham Young University

The next Alder sister to join the distance power in Provo, Lily Alder joins Diljeet Taylor's contender ready to rejoin her sister Vanessa and her former Timpview teammate Jane Hedengren. Alder won big at the 44th Annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, as well as at NXR Southwest, where she threw down a blistering 16:36. Along with a state title, she finished 12th at NXN and eighth overall at Brooks XC. Alder looked stellar in her final prep season and has a spot in the top seven with her name on it if all goes well.

Gabbie Bishop (Providence Academy) - University of Arkansas

The lone Razorback on this list, Bishop has gone as quick as 16:55 for 5K on the grass, doing so in her big win at the 2024 New Balance RunningLane XC Championships. A year later, she ran sub-17 two more times and picked up her second-consecutive Arkansas state title. She threw in a 4:41 1600m and 9:59 3200m and added strong finishes at Nike Outdoor Nationals and Brooks PR. With a few spots to be filled in the top seven, Bishop could sneak in and grab one early this fall.

Don’t Miss A Second Of The 2026 Diamond League

The Diamond League is streaming live on FloTrack and the FloSports app. FloTrack’s Diamond League coverage includes live events, replays, videos and articles throughout the season.

Where To Watch Diamond League?

The Wanda Diamond League will be broadcast on FloTrack and the FloSports app.

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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