Blanks Repeats, BYU Shines in a Historic Championship

Blanks Repeats, BYU Shines in a Historic Championship

MADISON, WI – For all the anticipation and buildup to the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships, there was no mistaking who would take the crown in the men’s race: Graham Blanks.

The senior from Harvard made his move up the final hill at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course, pulling away from the field and sealing a second consecutive title in 28:37.2. New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel, who ran the final 5k with one shoe and a bloodied foot, finished a gritty second in 28:38.9. The outcome, however, was far from a simple victory lap for Blanks.

“I was in a lot of pain,” Blanks admitted afterward. “Going into that last turn, I thought, ‘I might not have it,’ because these guys have such great kicks.” But Blanks, despite the discomfort, had enough left in the tank to hold off Samuel, who, in an extraordinary display of toughness, fought through his injuries to close the gap.

“I knew I wasn’t going to quit,” Samuel said, pointing to his bloodied foot as he crossed the line, his body clearly a testament to his determination.

It was a moment that underscored Blanks’s kind of year—a year that included him joining Gerry Lindgren, Steve Prefontaine, and Conner Mantz in an elite group of American cross-country runners to repeat as national champion.

But this race was more than just Blanks’ victory. This was the year of Ed Eyestone, and his BYU Cougars made sure to seize their moment, holding off a late surge from Iowa State to claim the NCAA team title for the second time in six years, with a score of 124 to 137.

Listen to Ed Eyestone, he gets it. #byuxc https://t.co/e14OLFDjdN

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) November 23, 2024

Eyestone’s team is part of a rare breed – one that has achieved greatness not only through exceptional athletes but through a clear, deliberate coaching philosophy. This victory marks the culmination of a remarkable 2024 season for Eyestone, who has watched his marathoners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young dominate, finishing 1-2 at the Olympic Trials and then securing top 10 finishes in the Olympics. His influence is unmistakable, and on this day, his athletes proved they could do it on the biggest stage, earning BYU their second-ever NCAA cross country championship.

The Cougars, led by standout performances from…