Cross Country Set for NCAA National Championships in Columbia, Missouri

Cross Country Set for NCAA National Championships in Columbia, Missouri

Nov 21, 2025 | Cross Country

Live Results | Meet Central

COLUMBIA, MO - This Saturday, November 22, the Tulane men's cross country team, along with women's standout Blezzin Kimutai, will compete at the 2025 NCAA National Championships held at the Gans Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri. The women's 6K race begins at 9:20 a.m., followed by the men's 10K at 10:10 a.m. The event is hosted by the University of Missouri and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

Tulane Lineups for NCAA Championships:

Women's 6K: Blezzin Kimutai
Men's 10K: Rogerio Amaral, Bernard Cheruiyot, Silas Kiptanui, Illia Kunin, Tommy Rice, Gilbert Rono, Zach Van Houten

The Field Overview:
Thirty-two teams from across the nation were selected to compete in each championship. The field includes the top two teams, each with seven athletes, automatically qualifying from each of the nine NCAA regions—totaling 18 teams—and an additional 14 at-large selections. In addition, 38 individuals earned their spots through automatic and at-large qualifying processes, with all individual qualifiers finishing in the top 25 of their regions.

All-American Qualifications:
Any athlete finishing in the top 40 overall at the NCAA Championships will earn the prestigious title of All-American.

Previous Appearances & Achievements:
Bernard Cheruiyot and Illia Kunin are returning NCAA qualifiers, having competed in the 2024 championships—Tulane's first appearance since 1998. Last season, the Green Wave finished 28th overall; Cheruiyot placed 85th, and Kunin finished 161st individually.
Kimutai is making her second NCAA appearance, having finished 55th overall last year, showcasing her consistency and rising talent.

Last Time Out:
The men made history on November 14 at Argi Park, capturing the NCAA South Central Regional Championship for the first time in school history. The men's team's dominant performance secured an automatic bid to the national meet, while the women's team finished third and just missed out on an at-large berth.

The Green Wave men's squad showcased exceptional depth, with all seven runners finishing in the top 25 and earning All-Regional honors. They scored an impressive 44 points, averaging 29:41.40, surpassing regional powerhouses Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Texas. This marks only the second time since 2008 that a team outside Texas or Arkansas has won the South Central Regional.
Standout performers included Bernard Cheruiyot, who finished second in 28:51.3, and Silas Kiptanui, who took third in 29:11.2—both earning All-Regional honors. Gilbert Rono (11th, 30:01.4), Rogerio Amaral (12th, 30:04.3), Illia Kunin (16th, 30:20.2), Zach Van Houten (21st, 30:29.7), and Tommy Rice (24th, 30:40.9) also played vital roles in the team's success.

On the women's side, Tulane finished third overall with 108 points. Blezzin Kimutai led the team with a third-place finish in 19:53.0, earning her an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Teammates Dorcas Naibei (17th, 20:42.1) and Petra Dos Santos (21st, 20:55.4) also earned All-Region honors. Haley Harper narrowly missed the top 25, finishing 26th, while Alex Sharp, Janae Dean, and Dana Rojas Vazquez contributed solid performances in the 40s.

National and Regional Rankings:
For the fourth consecutive week, Tulane's men and women's cross country teams were ranked nationally by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), released on November 4. The women's team claimed the American Conference title, with four top-10 finishes and five All-Conference honorees. The men finished as conference runners-up, maintaining a strong season.

Currently, Tulane's men program are ranked No. 19 nationally and have successfully maintained a national ranking in each of the seven polls this season (six regular season and in the pre-season).

Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, all-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
---TulaneGreenWave.com---