The BYU women’s cross country team has been dominating their opponents year after year, gaining national recognition.
Since coach Diljeet Taylor began at BYU in 2016, she has accumulated two national titles, three runner up finishes, and three top-10 finishes.
She has also coached five individual national champions. The reason the team has been thriving under Taylor’s reign is not only because of the incredible talent, but also because of the close-knit relationship these women have with each other.
The sisterhood of the women’s cross country team has been partly responsible for their success.
“100%! I feel like it’s so much harder to do by yourself and for me personally, there’s no way I would've accomplished what I have on my own without all my teammates,” senior Riley Chamberlain said. “In order to have a great team, there's more than just talent and hard work, it's also like the energy everyone has together.”
Sophomore Tessa Buswell agrees.
“I just think since we’re so close, we all just want to do well, and my wins are the team's wins and their wins are mine,” Buswell said. “We’re all just doing it for each other. We’re always hyping each other up and writing notes to put on each other's lockers, and we’re all just there for each other.”
Chamberlain has a specific memory of when she felt the sisterhood helped them succeed.
“It’s the way the team had bounced back from ncaa cross country nationals in 2023, where the team's vibes were off and we didn’t compete the way we wanted to,“ Chamberlain said. “And the next year, where we basically had the same team, but the vibes were so much better and we ended up winning, and just how special it was because we were able to come back and do it together.”
Chamberlain came into the program in the fall of 2022, helping the team qualify for NCAA cross country nationals, where the team ended up taking 2nd.
“My experience has been incredible,” Chamberlain said. “I feel like there's just so many amazing women to learn from and grow with. I feel like I've been held to a standard and I've been constantly pushed to be better and I've had the opportunity to also push people to be better and it's just such an incredible thing and it's such an amazing process that goes on within the sisterhood.”
On Dec. 6, Chamberlain became the third BYU woman to go sub-15 minutes in the 5k. She took second place in the race with a time of 14:58, coming in right behind her teammate Jane Hendengren, who took the win in 14:44, setting a national record.
Buswell came into the program in the fall of 2024.
“Everyone has been so welcoming,” Buswell said. “Obviously it was nerve wracking coming into the program last year but literally within a couple days I felt so comfortable with everyone and everyone is just super fun and I just love that we’re all best friends and we do everything together. We go get dinner, hang out, watch movies and I just feel like we’re all like sisters to each other. We’re all there to support each other and elevate the program.”
In Buswell’s first track season on the team, she helped set an NCAA record in the Women’s DMR (Distance Medley Relay) and was a part of the DMR National Championship team during the 2025 indoor season. During outdoor track, she set a personal record of 2:02 in the 800 meters, and individually qualified for NCAA Outdoor Nationals, where she ended up taking 21st.
“Being part of the BYU women’s distance sisterhood has been one of the greatest blessings of my life,” former runner Madi Moffit said. “I genuinely haven’t found any other support system inside or outside of sports that is as loving, supportive, and fiercely loyal as this one. It’s more than a team. It’s more than friends. These women have become my lifelong sisters.”
She said that a huge part of that environment is due to Taylor and what she has built during her time here as a coach.
“What she built is truly sacred, something you can’t replicate and really can’t find anywhere else,” Moffitt said. “She fostered an environment where every woman felt valued, seen and believed in. She taught us to be competitors, yes, but also to be kind, to lift one another, and to grow together. Because of her, we didn’t just chase times and titles, we built a sisterhood that lasts long after the races are over.”
Author's note: I was also lucky enough to be a member of the team from Fall of 2021 until Spring of 2025. During my time on the team, we won one title and had three runner-up finishes.
Although those are incredible achievements, my biggest takeaway from my experience was the relationships that I made with my teammates and coach. I still have all of the heartfelt notes and letters I received from my teammates and coach of inspirational words, compliments, and so much more. Even though I am no longer competing with the team, those friendships will last me for a lifetime.