Cross Country: NCAA Championships Recap

SB Nation

Oregon had an extremely strong showing on both sides at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri. The Women’s team took 3rd after entering the meet ranked 6th in the country. This

is the Women’s Team’s first national trophy finish since placing 3rd in 2018. Yet another year of improvement for the Women’s team after finishing 5th last year. The Men’s team, also ranked 6th entering the meet, finished 5th. This is the first top-5 finish for the Oregon Ducks Men’s team since 2015.

Both the Men’s and Women’s teams for Oregon got off to a quick start and looked to hold on as long as they could. Through two kilometers, the Ducks held the lead in both races. The Oregon Men’s team had four of the top-8 runners after 1,000 meters, tightly grouped in positions five through eight.

After 3,000 meters, the women slid to 2nd, while the men began their battle with Iowa State, slipping to 3rd. The Women’s team would hold onto 2nd place until 5,000 meters, ultimately losing out to NC State and BYU, but had a very strong showing, one through six, with all but one runner finishing in the top 60 scorers, and four finishing the top 35 scorers. Silan Ayyildiz closed fast in the last 1,000 meters, passing half the field ahead of her to finish 9th and the Ducks’ highest finisher.

The Women’s team saw four runners earn All-America honors by placing in the top-40:

Silan Ayyildiz (9th – 18:57.9)
Diana Cherotich (31st – 19:15.2)
Dalia Frias (36th – 19:18.8)
Juliet Cherubet (39th – 19:22.2)

The Men’s team had three All-Americans:

Abdel Laadjel (9th – 28:46.2)
Aiden Smith (25th – 28:57.3)
Simeon Birnbaum (33rd – 29:01.6)

Smith and Birnbaum closed the final kilometer strong, as both were outside the top-39 runners at the 9K mark. Smith picked off 15 competitors in the final kilometer, while Birnbaum picked off 10 in what was the difference between earning All-American Honors or not.

At 8,000 meters, the front pack was tightly grouped, Abdel Laadjel among them. But with 1,500 meters to go, Habtom Samuel (New Mexico) broke free and laid down the gauntlet, opening up a 3.2-second lead with 1,000 meters remaining and expanding it at the finish despite some early celebration. A late surge in the last 2,000 meters by Syracuse was the difference between 4th and 5th place for the Men’s team, as Oklahoma State, New Mexico, and Iowa State had already separated themselves.

On the women’s side, Doris Lemngole (Alabama) overtook and held off Jane Hedengren (BYU) in the last 1,000 meters to become the National Champion.

Congratulations to the Ducks! One of only two teams to secure a top-5 team finish on both sides.

Meet Results

WOMEN (top 5)
NC State (114)
BYU (130)
Oregon (153)
New Mexico (216)
Florida (225)

UO Women’s Individual
9. Silan Ayyildiz – 18:57.9 (9)
31. Diana Cherotich – 19:15.2 (26)
36. Dalia Frias – 19:18.8 (31)
39. Juliet Cherubet – 19:22.2 (34)
64. Mia Barnett – 19:40.6 (53)
68. Anika Thompson – 19:42.3 (56)
181. Ali Ince – 20:26.6 (146)

MEN (top 5)
1. Oklahoma State (57)
2. New Mexico (82)
3. Iowa State (158)
4. Syracuse (212)
5. Oregon (239)

UO Men’s Individual
9. Abdel Laadjel – 28:46.2 (9)
25. Aiden Smith – 28:57.3 (22)
33. Simeon Birnbaum – 29:01.6 (29)
64. Michael Mireles – 29:20.9 (55)
153. Benjamin Balazs – 29:58.6 (124)
177. Connor Burns – 30:15.2 (144)
217. Tayson Echohawk – 30:37.2 (181)