NCAA Women’s XC — Last 2K Seals Deal for Lemngole, BYU

Doris Lemngole (108) hit the gas with 2K to go and outkicked frosh Pamela Kosgei (274) and Hilda Olemomoi (168) in the stretch. (MIKE SCOTT)

VERONA, WISCONSIN, November 25 — Alabama soph Doris Lemngole sprinted away from New Mexico frosh Pamela Kosgei and Florida junior Hilda Olemomoi as the trio of top-notch Kenyan recruits swept the podium in the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Lemngole, who had finished 2nd to Parker Valby in last year’s chase, exclaimed, “I feel so good today, I was able to do my best and be a national champion.”

Moving up was the theme of the day as the BYU women’s squad pushed forward throughout the race and moved on from last year’s devastating 14th place in spectacular fashion to take the team title with 147 points. West Virginia (164), Providence (183) and Northern Arizona (206) claimed the other three trophies, finishing just ahead of Oregon (210) and Stanford (214).

“Everybody did their part today,” BYU coach Diljeet Taylor said of her squad. “Every single one of those women had a phenomenal race where they were moving forward — forward momentum, that’s crucial.”

This late November Championships featured much more seasonal weather than the balmy Nutty and Pre-Nats races over the bone-dry Zimmer National 6040m layout. A bit of snow and rain on Thursday left the course somewhat soft and muddy, and with temperatures in the high 30s the early pace lagged well behind Kosgei’s 18:59.1 course record clip.

Following a robust sprint over the opening downhill 800m, a large lead group settled into a more cautious pace as the free-flowing route rolled over prairie fields and up a pair of wooded hills.

The opening 2K was covered in 6:34.6, 12 seconds slower than Pre-Nats, such that the Kenyan trio had plenty of company with Stanford’s Amy Bunnage, the North Carolina State soph duo of Grace Hartman and Hannah Gapes, and West Virginia’s Ceili McCabe with frosh teammate Joy Naukot in tow.

Passing 4040m in 13:19.1 — a full 30 seconds slower than the Pre-Nats 12:49.0 split, 18 runners remained in the bulbous lead pack, and with 2K to go Lemngole took control.

“My first 3K, I felt so good with the pace,” said the eventual winner, “and when I crossed the 4K line I thought I have to push the pace and go my own way, and I did it.”

Leaning into a downhill stretch, Lemngole soon drew the contenders to the front. The pack was down to 10 after reaching the course low point 1400m out, and with the leader maintaining the pace pressure over a 400 climb, the lead pack was trimmed to 6 crossing the 5040m mat in 16:25.2 after a 3:06.2 K.

The Alabama star rolled down the long straight paralleling the finish, dropping McCabe and Hartman, then finally Bunnage. With 600 to go Lemngole had only her Kenyan rivals to deal with: Kosgei the first-year phenom and younger sister of marathon great Brigid, and former Alabama teammate Olemomoi, who placed 4th last year.

Lemngole has been a steeple specialist since 2017 and had run 9:35:85 and 14:40 for a road 5K before starting in at Alabama in the fall of ’23. After Olemomoi portaled over to Florida, the duo has matched strides all fall with Lemngole powering away for a 5-second win in the SEC race, and Hilda inches ahead at the South Regional.

This time, Lemngole left little to chance as she powered over a subtle hill 500 meters out while Kosgei and Olemomoi stretched out single file along the rail rounding the final bend.

Hitting the finishing straight with a stride lead over Kosgei, Lemngole lit it up. Lengthening her stride in a powerful sprint, she covered the uphill 295m straightaway in 48 seconds to cross in 19:21.0, well clear of Kosgei (19:27.8) and Olemomoi (19:28.7).

There was no letup in the Crimson Tide harrier’s sprint: “I thought someone was going to pass by my side, but I was so excited that I crossed the finish line by myself.”

Lemngole ran a Collegiate Record 9:15.24 to win the NCAA steeple last June to close out her frosh year, and that strength over the barriers was more than evident over grass as she closed her win with a 2:55.8 K, and 6:02.0 over the final 2K.

Bunnage stayed closest to the Kenyans as the Stanford Aussie finished 4th in 19:31.1, and Hartman was first American, crossing 5th in 19:39.5.

McCabe finished 6th to close out a stellar harrier career and lead her West Virginia squad to a stunning 2nd-place finish in a compelling team competition — that like the individual race was decided in the final 2K.

Northern Arizona finished a point short of the team title last year and wasted little time on that day putting their pack in prime position over the opening 2 kilometers. The Lumberjacks packed 6 runners in the top 60 in at that second checkpoint to tally 166 points, with New Mexico at 188, and BYU and Stanford at 194.

NAU still led at 4K with 157 points, but BYU had cut its score to 166 with West Virginia surging into 3rd at 186. The two Big 12 schools then charged past NAU with BYU dropping 19 points over the final 2K to take the team title with an impressive 11-23-31-33-49-62-66 adjusted 7-women scoring array.

West Virginia finished 2nd led by McCabe and Naukot’s 6-13 team placings as veteran coach Sean Cleary nabbed his squad’s second trophy after finishing 4th in 2008.

“We’ve been living on the edge for 5 or 6 weeks now. We’ve had a really good 5 in all of our meets, but [runners] 6 and 7 have been struggling so there’s no room for error. Same 5, pretty much the same order, just gaining confidence in momentum.”

Cleary added, “What’s remarkable to me is that only Ceili had NCAA Cross Country experience, the other six have never been in this meet. Knowing and being comfortable that with Ceili and Joy we have a 1 and 2 out front banging with the leaders, I think it takes a little pressure off Sarah Tait (26), Emily Bryce (52), and Madison Trippett (67), our 3-4-5 the entire season.”

The 3rd-place trophy went to Ray Treacy’s Providence squad which was in 9th place at halfway with 274 points before charging up through the pack to finish at 183 points with a 9-16-19-41-98-157-162 array.

It was Treacy’s eighth women’s team trophy, but first since finishing 4th in 2015. “I’m very happy. I felt they were getting better as the season went along. They were getting more confident, especially the milers on the team, and I knew that they would see that they had a chance to be on the on the podium.

“All 5 ran better than I expected and they followed a plan to perfection. Some got involved early on and some came through at the last. Kimberley [May, 10th] and Alex [Millard, 20th] have been up front all year, and Shannon [Flockhart], who is a miler, had a great race to finish 24th. Our fifth placer freshman Anna Gardiner (98th) had been our seventh all season but put together a great race,” — dropping 28 team placings in the final K.

While Northern Arizona’s front running gambit played out in the final 2K, their 206-point total was good enough to hold off Oregon with 210 and Stanford with 213. As NAU coach Mike Smith moves on to the pro ranks he observed, “Our women were solid today, and solid gets them on the podium.”


NCAA XC WOMEN’S RESULTS

Verona, Wisconsin, November 23 —

Teams
(adjusted places)

1. BYU 11–23–31–33–49 (62–66) 147
2. West Virginia 6–13–26–52–67 (188–dnf) 164
3. Providence 9–16–19–41–98 (157–162) 183
4. Northern Arizona 17–28–45–53–63 (73–75) 206
5. Oregon 10–20–24–77–79 (97–125) 210

6. Stanford 213; 7. New Mexico 244; 8. NC State 251; 9. Georgetown 263; 10. Alabama 293; 11. North Carolina 310; 12. Florida 357; 13. Washington 364; 14. Virginia 388; 15. Penn State 393; 16. Notre Dame 427; 17. Arkansas 431; 18. Minnesota 435; 19. Utah 459; 20. Syracuse 512;
21. Michigan State 537; 22. Wisconsin 544; 23. Lipscomb 545; 24. Florida State 572; 25. Gonzaga 574; 26. Tennessee 587; 27. Oklahoma State 598; 28. Harvard 661; 29. Boston College 717; 30. Toledo 723; 31. Texas 829.

Individuals
†=not in team scoring
6000m (255 started, 254 finished)

1. **Doris Lemngole’ (Al-Ken) 19:21.0
2. ***Pamela Kosgei’ (NM-Ken) 19:27.8
3. *Hilda Olemomoi’ (Fl-Ken) 19:28.7
4. **Amy Bunnage’ (Stan-Aus) 19:31.1
5. **Grace Hartman (NCSt) 19:39.5
6. Ceili McCabe’ (WV-Can) 19:41.2
7. **Paityn Noe (Ar) 19:42.3
8. **Hannah Gapes (NCSt) 19:42.7
9. †Chloe Thomas’ (Ct-Can) 19:43.5
10. Kimberley May’ (Prov-NZ) 19:45.1
11. †**Juliet Cherubet’ (TxT-Ken) 19:47.3
12. †***Caroline Jeptanui’ (Tul-Ken) 19:47.6
13. Şilan Ayyıldız’ (Or-Tur) 19:48.2
14. Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU) 19:48.4
15. †*Sadie Sigfstead’ (Vill-Can) 19:49.0
16. ***Rachel Forsyth’ (MiSt-Can) 19:49.1
17. ***Joy Naukot’ (WV-Ken) 19:50.3
18. Margot Appleton (Va) 19:51.0
19. *Florence Caron’ (PennSt-Can) 19:51.2
20. Alex Millard (Prov) 19:51.5
21. †***Brenda Jepchirchir’ (Aub-Ken) 19:51.9
22. Aliandrea Upshaw (NnAz) 19:53.8
23. Chloe Scrimgeour (Gtn) 19:53.8
24. Shannon Flockhart’ (Prov-GB) 19:54.2
25. Maddy Elmore (Or) 19:55.4
26. †Phoebe Anderson’ (Col-GB) 19:56.0
27. Taryn Parks (NC) 19:57.0
28. †Laura Pellicoro’ (Port-Ita) 19:57.9
29. **Brenda Tuwei’ (Al-Ken) 19:58.8
30. †***Judy Chepkoech’ (AzSt-Ken) 19:59.0
31. *Riley Chamberlain (BYU) 19:59.4
32. Anika Thompson’ (Or-Ire) 20:00.6
33. **Sophia Kennedy (Stan) 20:00.6
34. Sarah Tait’ (WV-GB) 20:00.9
35. ***Mercy Kirarei’ (NM-Ken) 20:01.3
36. Elise Stearns (NnAz) 20:01.8
37. Erin Strzelecki (NDm) 20:02.9
38. Brynn Brown (NC) 20:03.2
39. *Carmen Alder’ (BYU-Ecu) 20:03.6
40. †***Leah Jeruto’ (Ok-Ken) 20:04.6
41. *Mia Cochran (Ar) 20:04.9
42. *Vera Sjoberg’ (BU-Swe) 20:05.0
43. **Taylor Rohatinsky (BYU) 20:06.5
44. **Annastasia Peters (Ut) 20:08.0
45. Rosina Machu (Gonz) 20:08.2
46. †***Silvia Jelego’ (Clem-Ken) 20:08.5
47. †***Zenah Cheptoo’ (WaSt-Ken) 20:08.8
48. *Ali Weimer (Mn) 20:10.5
49. Lucy Jenks (Gtn) 20:11.4
50. *Brooke Rauber (NCSt) 20:12.4
51. †**Judy Kosgei’ (Clem-Ken) 20:13.2
52. *Jenny Schilling (Va) 20:13.4
53. †**Kaiya Robertson (Boise) 20:14.8
54. *Melissa Riggins (Gtn) 20:15.4
55. †***Blezzin Kimutai’ (Tul-Ken) 20:16.0
56. Laura Mooney’ (Prov-Ire) 20:16.9
57. **Bieke Schipperen’ (FlSt-Neth) 20:16.9
58. *Riley Stewart (Stan) 20:18.1
59. *Maeve Stiles (Wa) 20:18.3
60. **Keira Moore’ (NnAz-Aus) 20:18.4
61. †**Rose Coats (Md) 20:18.5
62. ***Mercy Kinyanjui’ (Tol-Ken) 20:19.4
63. *Tia Wilson (Fl) 20:19.9
64. *Ashley Jones (Tn) 20:20.1
65. Carlee Hansen (BYU) 20:21.6
66. Zofia Dudek’ (Stan-Pol) 20:21.7
67. †**Gladys Chepngetich’ (Clem-Ken) 20:21.8
68. **Erin Vringer’ (Ut-Can) 20:22.3
69. *Emily Bryce (WV) 20:22.7
70. †Brooke Morabito (CCt) 20:23.5
71. Maggi Congdon (NnAz) 20:23.8
72. ***Victoria Lagat’ (OkSt-Ken) 20:24.9
73. *Julia David-Smith’ (Wa-Fra) 20:25.3
74. Klara Dess (NM) 20:25.5
75. Mackenzie Barnett (Lips) 20:25.9
76. †**Ali Bainbridge (Nb) 20:26.0
77. †Adelyn Fairley (Lib) 20:26.0
78. *Sydney Thorvaldson (Ar) 20:26.5
79. *Kaitlyn Hynes (MiSt) 20:26.5
80. †*Aniya Mosley (OhSt) 20:26.6
81. Siona Chisholm’ (NDm-Can) 20:26.9
82. ***Mary Bonner Dalton (NDm) 20:27.1
83. ***Nelah Roberts (BYU) 20:27.4
84. *Alex Carlson (NnAz) 20:27.7
85. †*Regina Mpigachai’ (NnCo-Tan) 20:28.2
86. ***Addison Dorenkamp (Al) 20:28.3
87. ***Pheline Cheruto’ (Al-Ken) 20:28.4
88. *Taylor Lovell (BYU) 20:28.6
89. Madison Trippett (WV) 20:29.0
90. **Hayley Kitching’ (PennSt-Aus) 20:29.1
91. Natalie Bitetti (NM) 20:29.3
92. Fatima Alanis (NC) 20:30.0
93. Emma Atkinson (Mn) 20:30.0
94. Madaline Ullom (PennSt) 20:30.3
95. *Nikita Moore’ (NnAz-Aus) 20:30.7
96. ***Angelina Napoleon (NCSt) 20:31.0
97. **Karrie Baloga (NnAz) 20:31.1
98. Amina Maatoug’ (Wa-Neth) 20:31.1
99. †**Gwenno Goode (LaS) 20:31.4
100. Klaudia Kazimierska’ (Or-Pol) 20:31.8
101. Savannah Roark (Syr) 20:32.1
102. †Jenna Zydanowicz (Ct) 20:32.6
103. †*Maelle Porcher’ (IaSt-Fra) 20:32.9
104. ***Ali Ince (Or) 20:33.0
105. †Daniella Santos (OhSt) 20:33.6
106. *Emma Eastman (Syr) 20:33.7
107. †**Jessie Secor (Co) 20:34.4
108. *Bethan Morley (Fl) 20:34.4
109. †Loral Winn (Ms) 20:34.5
110. *Almi Nerurkar (Gtn) 20:34.6
111. Lindsay Cunningham (Wi) 20:36.6
112. ***Tatum David (Va) 20:37.6
113. India Weir (Wa) 20:37.6
114. *Charlotte Tomkinson (Gtn) 20:37.8
115. Rylie Lusk (Syr) 20:37.9
116. Allison Wilson (Fl) 20:39.0
117. Kiara Smeltz (Lips) 20:39.3
118. *Tilly Simpson’ (NM-GB) 20:39.8
119. **Julia Flynn (Stan) 20:40.2
120. Mckaylie Caesar (Ut) 20:40.3
121. †Lesley Green (Chat) 20:40.5
122. *Eva Klingbeil (NC) 20:40.7
123. †Mena Scatchard’ (Prin-GB) 20:41.2
124. *Molly Malague (Harv) 20:41.6
125. Erin Reidy (Mn) 20:42.0
126. ***Ciara O’Shea (NC) 20:42.5
127. Wilma Nielsen’ (Or-Swe) 20:43.0
128. ***Anna Gardiner’ (Prov-GB) 20:43.1
129. †Kate Jortberg (GaT) 20:43.8
130. *Agnes McTighe’ (FlSt-Swi) 20:43.9
131. Laura Nicholson’ (Tol-Ire) 20:43.9
132. *Christina Nisoli (NM) 20:44.0
133. *Penelope Salmon’ (Harv-NZ) 20:44.4
134. **Colleen Stegmann (OkSt) 20:45.1
135. Sophie O’Sullivan’ (Wa-Ire) 20:45.3
136. **Barrett Justema (Gtn) 20:45.4
137. *Willow Collins (Gonz) 20:45.6
138. †Lorena Rangel Batres’ (LSU-Mex) 20:45.6
139. Eva Jess (Tx) 20:45.7
140. Brooke Mullins (FlSt) 20:45.9
141. **Gretchen Farley (NDm) 20:46.2
142. **Annika Cutforth (Wi) 20:46.4
143. Abby Loveys (BC) 20:46.6
144. Colbi Borland (Lips) 20:46.6
145. Shea Ruhly (Wi) 20:47.2
146. **Bella Jacobsen (Wi) 20:48.0
147. Morgan Jensen (Ut) 20:48.6
148. **Nadia Phillips (Mn) 20:48.8
149. **Izzy Roemer (Mn) 20:49.2
150. Sophia Toti (PennSt) 20:49.4
151. **Gillian Bushee (Va) 20:49.6
152. †Emily Paupore (CMi) 20:49.7
153. **Claire Daniels (PennSt) 20:49.8
154. ***Selma Anderson’ (Syr-Ger) 20:49.9
155. †Anna Petr (CoSt) 20:50.5
156. **Jillian Candelino (Tn) 20:51.3
157. Taylor Ewert (MiSt) 20:51.6
158. Carolyn Shult (Wi) 20:51.8
159. *Mia Barnett (Or) 20:51.9
160. ***Bethany Michalak (NCSt) 20:52.2
161. **Josphine Mwaura’ (OkSt-Ken) 20:52.4
162. ***Rebecca O’Keeffe (Tn) 20:52.6
163. ***Nora Gremban (Wi) 20:52.7
164. **Caroline Lyerly (Tn) 20:53.1
165. †***Mercy Kipchumba’ (SFA-Ken) 20:53.3
166. **Jessica Frydenlund (Gonz) 20:54.7
167. Camryn Menninger (Va) 20:55.1
168. ***Logan St. John-Kletter (NC) 20:55.3
169. †**Penelopea Gordon (Mi) 20:55.8
170. **Harley Kletz (Lips) 20:56.1
171. ***Olivia Pielemeier (Ar) 20:57.2
172. Olivia Howell (Tx) 20:57.8
173. Aoife Dunne (BC) 20:58.1
174. *Caroline Wells (Fl) 20:58.8
175. **Jade Rypkema (Gonz) 20:59.6
176. Elizabeth Barlow (FlSt) 20:59.8
177. *Lilly Walters (Al) 21:00.5
178. Ella Gilson (Harv) 21:01.3
179. ***Reagan Gilmore (Fl) 21:01.6
180. *Zoe Cooper (Harv) 21:01.8
181. Roshni Singh (BC) 21:01.9
182. Heidi Demeo (Syr) 21:02.8
183. *Chloe Foerster (Wa) 21:04.0
184. Sophia McDonnell (NM) 21:04.1
185. *Madeline Heintz (Syr) 21:04.8
186. **Cameron McConnell (OkSt) 21:05.2
187. ***Abby Lewis (BC) 21:05.5
188. *Leane Willemse (Wi) 21:06.0
189. *Ellie Brewer (Lips) 21:07.0
190. Brianne Brewster (Mn) 21:07.1
191. **Cate DeSousa (Va) 21:07.2
192. *Linda Perez (Lips) 21:07.7
193. *Niamh O’Mahony’ (Prov-Ire) 21:07.8
194. ***Isabelle Schmitz (Mn) 21:08.0
195. **Jaci Sievers (Tn) 21:08.2
196. Sophie Atkinson (Va) 21:08.3
197. †Halle Hill (Il) 21:09.6
198. †***Ruth Kimeli’ (Bay-Ken) 21:09.9
199. *Nicola Hogg (Stan) 21:10.3
200. **Cara Laverty’ (Prov-Ire) 21:10.6
201. ***Logan Hofstee (Gonz) 21:11.0
202. *Lilly Lavier (OkSt) 21:11.5
203. ***Kate Putman (NCSt) 21:12.1
204. *Olivia Millen (MiSt) 21:12.3
205. *Lindsey Peters (Ut) 21:12.4
206. ***Reagan Riley (NDm) 21:12.9
207. *Sydney Masciarelli (NC) 21:13.0
208. ***Gabrielle Schmidt’ (Fl-Aus) 21:14.0
209. Rachel Sutliff (Tn) 21:14.3
210. *Andie-Marie Jones (Tn) 21:14.4
211. Yasmine Abbes’ (BC-Neth) 21:16.6
212. *Ella Borsheim (Wa) 21:17.0
213. Lou Trois’ (Tol-Fra) 21:17.6
214. Emily Covert (NDm) 21:18.0
215. *Sophia Lucki’ (MiSt-Can) 21:19.1
216. *Anna Grabowski (Gonz) 21:19.4
217. *Annelies Quinton (Harv) 21:19.6
218. ***Marika Couture’ (Ut-Can) 21:23.7
219. *Katelyn Stewart-Barnett’ (MiSt-Can) 21:24.0
220. *Alexi Fogo (Gonz) 21:24.2
221. Rebecca Bergnes (FlSt) 21:24.8
222. Emily Chaston (Ut) 21:25.0
223. **Kate Dickman (Al) 21:25.2
224. *Audrey DaDamio (Stan) 21:25.5
225. Fiona Max (Gtn) 21:25.9
226. **Alexis Lamb (WV) 21:26.2
227. *Carmen Krawczynski Gonzalez’ (Lips-Can) 21:29.4
228. *Elizabeth Pickett (Tx) 21:30.3
229. Molly Hudson’ (BC-GB) 21:30.5
230. ***Sydni Wilkins (Tx) 21:30.9
231. **Jinane Mahi’ (OkSt-Fra) 21:32.6
232. Jami Reed (Al) 21:35.0
233. ***Isabel Allori (NDm) 21:35.2
234. Eleanor Kendell (MiSt) 21:36.6
235. **Allison Dougherty (PennSt) 21:37.3
236. Lily Flynn (BC) 21:37.8
237. **Anastacia Gonzales (Ar) 21:38.2
238. Morgan Hicks (Tol) 21:38.8
239. Ellaney Matarese (Harv) 21:42.0
240. *Lianna Surtz (Tol) 21:45.1
241. **Lea Hatcher (PennSt) 21:47.6
242. *Brighton Mooney (Tx) 21:51.2
243. **Sophia Gorriaran (Harv) 21:51.5
244. Kyra Pretre (Tx) 21:57.5
245. Tiana LoStracco’ (Ar-Can) 22:00.0
246. ***Melody Jebiwot’ (Tol-Ken) 22:00.1
247. ***Ellie Shea (NCSt) 22:02.5
248. *Mackenzie Rogers (Ar) 22:05.8
249. ***Addison Boyer (FlSt) 22:09.4
250. *Alex Bauer (Tol) 22:18.6
251. ***Jayden Harberts (Syr) 22:19.7
252. Elizabeth Stockman (Tx) 22:28.9
253. Anna Sentner (FlSt) 22:32.3
254. Sivan Auerbach’ (OkSt-Isr) 23:00.1

… dnf—**Tecla Lokrale’ (WV-Ken).