BYU Women Bounce Back to Claim NCAA Cross Country Title; Doris Lemngole Takes Individual Victory

BYU Women Bounce Back to Claim NCAA Cross Country Title; Doris Lemngole Takes Individual Victory

MADISON, WI — Cross country may seem like an individual sport at first glance, with each runner focused on their own race. But the truth is, it’s all about the team. A year ago, the Brigham Young University women’s cross-country team was crushed under the weight of disappointment. After leading at the 2k mark, they collapsed in the final 5k, finishing a staggering 14th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. For head coach Diljeet Taylor, it was the most challenging moment in her eight years at BYU.

Fast forward to Saturday, and the Cougars were back on top. In a dramatic comeback, BYU seized the 2024 NCAA women’s cross-country title at the University of Wisconsin’s Thomas Zimmer Championship Course, securing their second championship in five years. With a score of 149 points, they triumphed in a year without a clear dominant team, outlasting a fierce field that included rising programs and an emotional swan song from the Northern Arizona women’s squad, led by outgoing coach Mike Smith.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🏆 BYU#NCAAXC pic.twitter.com/CxlGvOTvAq

— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) November 23, 2024

In a meet that had more twists than a thriller novel, BYU’s depth won the day. They didn’t rely on any top-10 finishers, an almost impossible feat in cross-country. Lexy Halladay-Lowry, who had been the Cougars’ star, finished 14th, but BYU’s ability to stack finishes and battle through adversity from start to finish turned the race into a statement about teamwork and belief.

Last year’s collapse wasn’t easy to shake off. Taylor was upfront about the crushing disappointment. “It was my lowest moment in my coaching career,” she confessed. That failure, however, fueled a season-long mantra: “Embrace the imperfect.”

And embrace it they did.

The team, led by Halladay-Lowry in 14th, executed their game plan with precision. They stayed calm in the middle miles, showed urgency at the start, and, most importantly, turned on the jets in the final 2k. At 4k, BYU was trailing Northern Arizona 157-166, but over the last 2k, they passed 19 places to surge to the top. It was a remarkable display of strategic execution and, as Taylor pointed out, a reminder that things are often imperfect in practice, just like race day.

“We failed last year. We failed miserably,” Halladay-Lowry admitted after the win. “But today, we came back stronger.”

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