1. Brian Musau (Oklahoma State)
It feels like it just might be Musauâ€s time this fall. The Kenyan Cowboy had a pretty super soph campaign, taking 5th in Madison (three spots up on his frosh year), then kicking to both the NCAA Indoor (13:11.34) and Outdoor (13:20.59) 5000 crowns. He also lowered his mile and 5000 PRs on the track to 3:54.78 and 12:59.82 — the latter the second-fastest mark by a collegiate athlete (even if out of season). Heâ€ll also be looking for his third straight Big 12 title.
2. Habtom Samuel (New Mexico)
Or might this fall be Samuelâ€s time to top the podium? A strong argument can be made after the Lobo junior has been the bridesmaid in five NCAA distance finals: The last 2 years in XC, then finishing 2nd to Musau in both NCAA 5000s and in the Outdoor 10,000 to Ishmael Kipkurui, as well. Of course, the Eritrean does have the â€24 track title at 10K to his name. He famously ran most of last fallâ€s champs in Madison with one shoe.
3. Denis Kipngetich (Oklahoma State)
Itâ€s hard to match the Cowboys†1-2 punch of Musau and Kipngetich. Along with his NCAA XC finishes of 4th in â€23 and a moderately disappointing 11th last fall, the Kenyan junior is No. 6 on the all-time collegiate track 10,000 list for his 27:20.10 last March at The TEN. And while he was a strong 3rd in the NCAA indoor 5000 (PR 13:13.71), his 9th in the outdoor champs 10,000 might leave him wanting some redemption. His win in OSUâ€s home opener was a strong first step.
4. Evans Kurui (Washington State)
Kurui, who sat out the Gans Classic after edging his teammate in a low-key home opener, is with Kipchoge half of another ridiculously talented 1–2 punch. But before Texas Tech transfer Kipchoge joined him, he carried the torch as a frosh last fall with a stellar season that peaked with a West Regional win. He was just 36th at Nationals, but then had a spring that featured 13:16.01 and 27:37.32 track PRs and finishes of 10th in the Indoor 5000 and 5th in the Outdoor 10,000.
5. Valentin Soca (Cal Baptist)
After progressing to 33rd last fall at NCAAs, Soca put up some big marks at 10,000 (27:37.65 at The TEN) and 13:13.10 before taking 4th in the NCAA 5000. Then this summer, he got down to 13:02.85 in Belgium before representing his native Uruguay in Tokyo (15th in the 5000 final). So with the late track season, look for Soca, 23, to possibly start up a bit later this fall for the Lancers.
6. Solomon Kipchoge (Washington State)
One of the nationâ€s most intriguing frosh a year ago at Texas Tech, Kenyan Kipchoge came in as a 59:37 half-marathoner (2023) entering NCAA competition at 28. He ran 4 outstanding races (Big 12 runner-up, Mountain Region champ) before a DNF at Nationals due to injury. After struggling through track, Kipchoge is now in Pullman. After an early, low-key runner-up finish to established teammate Kurui, he ramped up his fall in a huge way by winning the Gans meet.
7. Ernest Cheruiyot (Texas Tech)
After finishing a very strong 4th in the â€24 NCAA 10,000 as a Red Raider frosh, Cheruiyot had very high hopes for last fall, especially after good showings at the Piane Invitational (1st), Big 12 (5th) and the Mountain Region (3rd). But he didnâ€t have it at NCAAs and took 131st. This past spring, though, he improved his NCAA track 10,000 to make the podium in 3rd, trailing only Samuel and Ishmael Kipkirui, and also ran 27:45.65.
8. Gary Martin (Virginia)
Martin holds the distinction of being not just the first U.S.-born returnee from Madison at 13th, but also No. 4 overall behind Samuel, Musau and Kipngetich. Heâ€s one of only 3 in our top 10 who does not feature in the 10,000 on the track. In fact, heâ€s by far the fastest miler (3:48.82i/3:32.03 1500), not to mention 7:36.09 3000 and 13:16.82 5000 PRs. He finished runner-up in the indoor 3000 and 5th outdoors in the 1500 as a junior. Heâ€s the only senior in the top 10.
9. Dismus Lokira (Alabama)
Like Kipchoge, Lokira arrived at the NCAA level with great interest and intrigue in â€24, thanks to his 28:36 performances on the track in Nairobi earlier in the year. He would place 4th in the SEC, 1st in the South Region, but then 41st at NCAAs. And while he finished “only†11th in the outdoor 10,000, he ran PRs of 27:47.20 and 13:25.16 during the spring. He finished a promising 4th behind Kipchoge at Gans Creek.
10. Rocky Hansen (Wake Forest)
Can the Demon Deacon close his XC season this fall the way heâ€s done in track? A runner-up finish at Nuttycombe in September of â€24 behind Parker Wolfe portended big things, but he struggled with the heat at ACCs, then wound up 100th at NCAAs. But his finishes in the Indoor (3rd, 13:12.65) and Outdoor (5th) NCAA 5000s reminded everyone of his true abilities. He even added an exclamation point on his outdoor season with a 13:07.77 PR behind Musauâ€s 12:59 at the Sunset meet.
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