Trailblazers of the Trail: A Look at the USTFCCCA Cross Country National Athlete of the Year Award

Every fall, collegiate cross country runners lace up their spikes with dreams of glory—and for a select few, that glory comes in the form of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Cross Country National Athlete of the Year award. This prestigious honor celebrates the NCAA’s top male and female runners, with Harvard’s Graham Blanks and Alabama’s Doris Lemngole taking the spotlight in 2024.

But how does this award work, and why is it such a big deal? Let’s hit the trail and break it down.

Voting: Coaches Know Best

The National Athlete of the Year isn’t decided by a magic stopwatch or fan votes. Instead, member coaches of the USTFCCCA hold the power, basing their decisions on a runner’s performance during the regular season and at the Division I cross country championships. It’s a bit like the Oscars, except the nominees wear singlets and the red carpet is a muddy 8K course.

The winners are crowned after the championship dust settles, with the announcement signaling the official end of the cross country season. Think of it as the cherry on top of months of grueling hill repeats and tempo runs.

A Legacy of Excellence

Since its inception, the National Athlete of the Year award has been claimed by athletes from 28 different schools, with 15 of those boasting multiple winners. BYU, Colorado, Oregon, Texas Tech, and Wisconsin sit atop the leaderboard with four wins each. BYU even pulled off a rare double in 2021, snagging both the men’s and women’s awards—a feat as impressive as negative-splitting your 10K.

And it’s not just about bragging rights. This award often foreshadows professional success. Past winners include Edward Cheserek (Oregon), Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech), and Shalane Flanagan (North Carolina)—all of whom went on to light up the track, roads, or trails on the global stage.

Star-Studded Conferences

Colleges love to claim bragging rights, but conferences are no slouches either. The Pac-12 dominates the history books with 13 combined men’s and women’s winners. The SEC, Big 12, and Big Ten follow, proving that great cross country talent thrives coast-to-coast.

For the men, the Pac-12 leads again with 11 awards, while the SEC takes the top spot for women’s winners with five. Who said cross country wasn’t a team sport? These conferences clearly know how to stack their rosters.

Stories of Back-to-Back Greatness

Only a handful of athletes have managed to win this prestigious award in consecutive years, making their feats legendary. Conner Mantz (BYU) achieved this in 2020 and 2021, joining icons like Edward Cheserek (Oregon) and Shalane Flanagan (North Carolina). These runners didn’t just run races; they wrote history with every stride.

The schools themselves also shine. Colorado, for example, had two different men’s winners in consecutive years—Jorge Torres (2002) and Dathan Ritzenhein (2003)—proving that Boulder’s altitude might just be its secret weapon.

Modern-Day Champions

In 2023, Harvard’s Graham Blanks and Florida’s Parker Valby took home the honors, marking the second consecutive year the award went to first-time winners from their schools. In 2022, Stanford’s Charles Hicks and NC State’s Katelyn Tuohy etched their names into history as the first-ever winners from their respective programs.

The award’s ability to highlight new talent each year underscores the ever-evolving nature of collegiate cross country. From Alabama to Oregon, the runners might change, but the excellence remains consistent.

Why It Matters

The USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year award does more than recognize the fastest runners. It celebrates the grit, determination, and sheer willpower it takes to excel in one of the most demanding sports. These athletes aren’t just running—they’re inspiring future generations and proving that hard work truly pays off.

So, the next time you hear about a cross country runner snagging this prestigious honor, remember: they’ve earned it through sweat, perseverance, and maybe a little mud in their teeth. And for student-athletes looking to make their mark, this award is a reminder that greatness is always within reach, one stride at a time.