When people think of BYU athletics, it is no surprise that many first picture a packed LaVell Edwards Stadium, increasingly high-profile basketball games or a soccer program that regularly competes for national titles.
But when it comes to consistent, measurable national success, few teams in BYU history match what the men’s and women’s cross country programs have produced for more than two decades, establishing the Cougars as one of the nation’s premier cross country schools.
Since the early 2000s, the BYU women’s cross country program has built what amounts to a modern dynasty.
Between 1997 and 2002, the team captured four national championships, added another NCAA title in the 2020 season, and secured a sixth championship in 2024.
Since 1995, the women have consistently remained among the national contenders, recording 12 top-four finishes at the NCAA Championships, reflecting a sustained standard of excellence.
The BYU men’s cross country program has built a powerhouse of its own. After years of regular top-10 appearances at the national meet, the Cougars claimed their first NCAA team championship in 2019. The program has totaled nine top-four finishes at the national level.
In 2024, both programs delivered historic results. The men earned another podium finish and claimed their second national title, matching the women’s championship effort that same season.
The dual titles made BYU the fifth school in NCAA history to sweep both men’s and women’s national championships in the same year. The Cougars also swept the Big 12 Championships in 2024, asserting dominance in a conference they had been part of for only two seasons.
This year, the women secured their third Big 12 title and finished as the NCAA runner-up. The men placed 11th at nationals, continuing a stretch of relevance on the national stage.
Yet, both programs’ depth extends far beyond championships. Each team regularly produces All-Americans and conference award winners.
This season, standout freshman Jane Hedengren led the women with a series of honors, including Big 12 Women’s Cross Country Newcomer of the Year, Mountain Region Women’s Athlete of the Year and Big 12 Women’s Runner of the Year. The men’s team also saw individual success, with Davin Thompson and Hunter Kitchen each earning Big 12 Runner of the Week honors during the season.
In addition to their success on the course the academic success of these athletes has mirrored this performance. In 2024, the men’s team was named the National Scholar Team of the Year, finishing with a combined GPA of 3.64 — a recognition that underscored the university’s emphasis on achievement beyond athletics and highlighted the fact that these athletes excel in both competition and the classroom.
Across both programs, high-level finishes are not occasional. They have become the standard. BYU has earned a myriad of combined top-10 national finishes between the men’s and women’s teams, reinforcing the idea that the success sustained on both sides is no accident.
In a landscape where long-term dominance is rare and eras of superiority often prove short-lived, BYU has built two cross country programs that have remained nationally competitive for more than 20 years.
Football and basketball may draw the largest crowds in Provo, but perhaps no sport at BYU has matched the consistent national impact of cross country.