CONCORD, N.C. – The 2025 American Conference Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, November 1, at Frank Liske Park in Concord, North Carolina. The men’s 8K championship race will begin at 9:15 a.m. ET / 8:15 a.m. CT, followed by the women’s 6K championship at 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT. Live coverage begins on ESPN+ at 9 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. CT, with Scott Manzie and Bryan Getzer on the call.
CHERUIYOT LOOKS TO REPEAT; NEW WOMEN’S WINNER WILL BE CROWNED
Tulane’s Bernard Cheruiyot, the 2024 American individual champion and Freshman of the Year, returns to defend his title and attempt to become just the third back-to-back individual men’s champion in conference history (joining Tulsa’s Marc Scott in 2014-15 and Tulane’s Emmanuel Roitch in 2017-18).
On the women’s side, a new individual champion will emerge in 2025. Tulane’s Blezzin Kimutai, last season’s runner-up and Freshman of the Year, will look to claim the top spot this year.
TULSA LOOKS TO RECLAIM THE CROWN
After winning 10 consecutive American Championships, Tulsa’s reign came to an end last season in Wichita when the Golden Hurricane fell to Tulane in a tiebreaker. This fall, Tulsa will look to return to the top in Concord, led by a strong core that includes five returning runners from last year’s squad—Ben Brown, Charlie Krasnoff, Shay McEvoy, and James Knockton, all of whom earned All-Conference honors.
Tulane, currently ranked No. 18 nationally, lost three of its top five runners from a season ago but returns 2024 individual champion Bernard Cheruiyot and All-Conference performer Illia Kunin.
TULSA EYES EIGHTH WOMEN’S TITLE
Following a one-year hiatus, Tulsa, a seven-time American women’s champion (2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024), looks to defend its title and secure a conference-leading eighth championship. The Golden Hurricane edged Tulane by three points last year, preventing a Green Wave repeat. Tulsa returns two top-six finishers from that squad—Robyn Kowalski and Ailey Mitchell.
TOP PERFORMANCES OF THE 2025 SEASON
Tulane’s Bernard Cheruiyot has earned American Athlete of the Week honors three times this fall (Sept. 2, Sept. 30, and Oct. 21). Charlotte’s Maddon Muhammad, a redshirt senior, also collected multiple weekly honors (Sept. 16 and Oct. 7).
On the women’s side, Wichita State produced two honorees in Lucy Ndungu (Sept. 30) and Mercy Jepkoech (Oct. 7). Ndungu earned a runner-up finish at the Greeno/Dirksen Invitational, clocking 17:42.4 in the 5K while leading the Shockers to a second-place team finish. Jepkoech placed in the top 10 at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, running 16:54.2 to finish ahead of competitors from three other American schools.
Tulane’s Dorcas Naibei (Sept. 2) and Blezzin Kimutai (Oct. 21) bookended the women’s weekly awards. Naibei won the 4K at the Battle of New Orleans in 13:31.12, helping the Green Wave capture the team title, while Kimutai was Tulane’s top finisher at the Crimson Classic with a 19:31.7 6K time—good for fifth out of 183 competitors and leading Tulane to a second-place team finish among 23 teams.
Charlotte’s Ella White (Sept. 16) also earned recognition after finishing third in a deep field featuring nationally ranked programs. Her performance helped the 49ers finish second overall, behind only No. 30 Wake Forest.