2023 D2 XC End of Season Awards

Written by Marissa Kuik, Grace McLaughlin & Gavin Struve, votes via TSR D2 staff

Additional edits & commentary by Garrett Zatlin & Gavin Struve

Welcome back to a trimestrial classic, our End of Season Awards!

Below, we listed our five seasonal awards for the men and five seasonal awards for the women, all for the Division Two level. These awards are a way to highlight the accomplishments of certain individuals from the entirety of this cross country season. You'll also find our criteria for each of these awards as we list our nominees.

In the second-half of this article, you'll find the votes from our TSR contributors (click that link if you want to skip all of the summary parts).

Let's begin...

*Athletes who hold freshman status stemming from any type of eligibility extension (not including missions) are not considered for this award. International freshmen listed as freshmen on TFRRS are included amongst these nominees unless we have reason to believe that they do not meet our criteria. Performances past 11/18 are not considered.

Nominees: George Couttie (Charleston (WV)), Mario Giannini (Chico State), Zachariah Vance (Colorado Christian), Evan Horgan (Lewis), Conor Somers (Grand Valley State), Emil Bezeckny (Adams State)

George Couttie (Charleston (WV))

This Englishman emerged as the top true freshman on the national stage after solidifying himself as an individual star in the weeks and months prior. George Couttie won his first two races, finished runner-up behind Sam Wilhelm at the next, then won his conference and regional meets. And although he narrowly missed out on the All-American finish that he seemed headed toward this season, it would be unfair to suggest that his 46th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships was a letdown.

Mario Giannini (Chico State)

Not only did Mario Giannini establish himself as a consistent lead scorer, but he did so for a top-10 team and never faltered in five appearances. The hometown star won his debut race over 6k, then finished runner-up at a competitive San Francisco State Invitational. He did the same thing on the conference stage, held his own (18th) at the West Regional XC Championships and then placed 48th at the NCAA XC Championships. His national meet performance may or may not be his best result, and that's a good thing for someone who is already a dependable scorer for such a competitive team.

Zachariah Vance (Colorado Christian)

While his name is nearly identical to a high-achieving freshman in another fall sport (USC wide receiver, Zachariah Branch), Zachariah Vance has earned recognition all his own. He was the third-best true freshman at the Division Two 2023 cross country national meet, placing just outside of the top-100 (104th) and emerging as a scorer for a top-10 team. That feat is made even more impressive by the fact that it aligns with the other results that Vance produced this season — 25th at the Lewis XC Crossover and 32nd at the South Central Regional XC Championships — which implies that his season finale effort was no fluke.

Evan Horgan (Lewis)

Evan Horgan's fast assimilation to the NCAA level shouldn't be a total shock considering his status as a guy who ran 4:17 (mile) and 9:05 (3200) at the prep level. But that, of course, doesn't mean his fast success isn't worth celebrating. Lewis was one of the breakout teams of this season, entering the cross country national meet as our TSR #10 team before falling outside of the top-20. But Horgan was hardly to blame for that result as he finished as the Flyers' second scorer in 119th place. Even more impressively, he was 22nd at the Lewis XC Crossover, 4th at the GLVC XC Championships and 19th at the Midwest Regional XC Championships. No, he didn't necessarily raise his game on the national stage, but we expect that to change now that this young talent has some experience in his back pocket.

Conor Somers (Grand Valley State)

As someone who ran 1:54 (800), 4:14 (1600) and 9:06 (3200) at the prep level earlier this year, Somers was very much on our radar entering this season. And even if he didn't have his best race at the cross country national meet, Somers lived up to the high expectations that he set for himself. The in-state talent was competitive in a deep Louisville XC Classic field, then he had his best showing of the season by hanging with the GVSU pack and placing 8th at the GLIAC XC Championships. He then placed 25th at the West Regional XC Championships and 169th at the NCAA XC Championships. Not a bad start for someone who could be one of the Lakers' next stars.

Emil Bezeckny (Adams State)

Emil Bezeckny wasn't at the top of mind for much of this fall as Adams State angled for a return to the podium after a disappointing 2022 campaign. But the Austrian rookie showed flashes in the lead-up to the national meet. He was solid at the RMAC XC Championships, placing 34th, before earning a very respectable 108th place result at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships. He wasn't a scorer in either setting, but provided decent insurance for his aspirant team while hinting that he should be in that position sooner rather than later.

*Athletes who hold freshman status stemming from any type of eligibility extension (not including missions) are not considered for this award. International freshmen listed as freshmen on TFRRS are included amongst these nominees unless we have reason to believe that they do not meet our criteria. Performances past 11/18 are not considered.

Nominees: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M), Allie Arnsman (Grand Valley State), Linda Weigang (Fort Lewis), Lesli Salas (Dallas Baptist), Ona Alonso (Wingate)

Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)

It's going to be difficult for anyone to top Sarah Koomson for this award after she enjoyed one of the best rookie campaigns in recent memory. The West Texas A&M star won her first two collegiate races, the latter over Division One competition, before placing 3rd in a loaded Louisville XC Classic race. Her bronze medal finish behind a pair of teammates at the Lone Star XC Championships was not quite as stellar, nor was placing 8th at the South Central Regional XC Championships. But when it mattered, the Ghana native came through with a massive 6th place result on the national stage to power her team to a podium finish.

Allie Arnsman (Grand Valley State)

Few could have predicted Allie Arnsman would emerge as the final scorer for the national champion squad, but there were subtle signs throughout the season that she was primed for such a performance. In a bit of foreshadowing, Arnsman placed 33rd at the Louisville XC Classic. She then nabbed top-10 finishes at the GLIAC XC Championships and Midwest Regional XC Championships. Then, she wrapped up her debut season with a 33rd place All-American performance on the national stage.

Linda Weigang (Fort Lewis)

Fort Lewis can sometimes be an afterthought among its Centennial State compatriots in the RMAC. But the Skyhawks deserve our respect and attention as both their men's and women's teams finished comfortably in the top-half of the conference and in the top-20 at the cross country national meet this season. Linda Weigang was an integral part of that, placing 16th at the RMAC XC Championships and 39th at the NCAA XC Championships. That was a great finish to the season in which Weigang displayed poise that belied her youth. However, an earlier result (6th at the Lewis XC Crossover) was likely even more impressive. Altogether, that's quite the resume.

Lesli Salas (Dallas Baptist)

While Koomson was the most notable newcomer in the Lone Star Conference, Lesli Salas wasn't far behind. She won her team's home meet over All-American Sophia Stange before placing 7th at the LSC XC Championships, 24th at the loaded South Central regional meet and 52nd at the cross country national meet. We expect her to be even further up in each of those settings a year from now.

Ona Alonso (Wingate)

One of two first-year talents on Wingate's top-10 outfit, Ona Alonso raced more frequently than most of her Bulldogs teammates. She began with a win at the SAC Preview, contested Paul Short, took bronze at her conference meet and went on to finish 55th at the cross country national meet. Already a lead scorer for the 8th place team at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships, Alonso could be part of the long-term foundation that soon makes the Wingate women an elite team just like their male counterparts.

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this fall. Prior seasons are used as a loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Nominees for this award do not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of cross country) of collegiate competition. Performances past 11/18 are not considered.

Nominees: Titouan Le Grix (Wingate), Drew Atkins (Northwest Missouri), Aspel Kiprob (East Central), Andrew Amor (New Mexico Highlands), Johan Correa (Central Washington), Soheil Boufrizi (Wingate), David Kibet (Washburn), Sam Wilhelm (Alabama-Huntsville)

Titouan Le Grix (Wingate)

Titouan Le Grix’s 29th place finish and All-American performance at the NCAA XC Championships was huge for the Wingate Bulldogs as it aided them in winning the national team title. This performance from Le Grix is even more impressive considering that he placed 136th at the cross country national meet in 2021 and was absent last year. He also won the Southeast Regional XC Championships title this year after placing 24th in that setting last fall. This massive improvement and emergence as a low-stick scorer for a top program earned Le Grix a nomination for our “Most Improved” award.

Drew Atkins (Northwest Missouri)

Last year, no one really knew Drew Atkins' name. After all, he placed a modest 29th at the Central Regional XC Championships. However, the Northwest Missouri ace leveled up this fall, progressing through the regional stage to finish 34th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships and earn All-American status! The progression that Atkins showed this season, and what he was able to accomplish in such a short timespan, is very impressive and makes him a strong nominee in this category.

Aspel Kiprob (East Central)

Aspel Kiprob went from placing 6th at the NJCAA D1 XC Championships to 6th at the NCAA D2 XC Championships in just a year. The East Central ace transferred from Iowa Central CC last winter and was relatively quiet during the spring months. While his times of 14:06 (5k) and 30:05 (10k) were respectable, he did not qualify for the outdoor national meet. But the amount of progress that he made this fall is clear after wins at the Southern Stampede, DBU Old Glory Gallup and Great American Conference XC Championships put him in the national title mix.

Going from a relatively unknown athlete to a top-10 talent is highly impressive and exemplifies what we're looking for in this award.

Andrew Amor (New Mexico Highlands)

If you look at Andrew Amor’s progression over the years, his 5th place finish at the 2023 cross country national meet shouldn’t be too surprising. Regardless, the jump in fitness and overall competitiveness that he showed this season was fantastic and worthy of a nomination for our “Most Improved” award. Amor placed 20th at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships, which was already an impressive feat, but placing 5th this season and winning the RMAC individual title this season shows us that he is on another level.

Johan Correa (Central Washington)

This was Johan Correa’s first cross country season and he ended it with a phenomenal 17th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships. Additionally, he won the West Regional XC Championships title, placed 2nd at the GNAC XC Championships and won four other races. Not only was this Correa’s first cross country season, but it was also his first time at a national meet and on a highly competitive stage. His emergence, and consistency, as a top distance runner is even more surprising and impressive when you consider the fact he's a middle distance runner on the track and even dabbles in the 400-meter hurdles.

Soheil Boufrizi (Wingate)

Soheil Bourfrizi only raced three times this season, but that was all the time that he needed to display his progress and prowess on the grass. Boufrizi placed 92nd at last year’s NCAA XC Championships and jumped all way to 10th this year for a massive 82-spot improvement! Additionally, Boufrizi was Wingate’s second scorer, and his low-stick potency aided the Bulldogs in winning the national team title. The Wingate ace was solid last year, but this season, he took little time to make the jump to the upper-echelon of D2 cross country runners.

David Kibet (Washburn)

David Kibet’s 54th place finish at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships was solid, especially for his first appearance on the national stage, but his 22nd place finish at this year's cross country national meet was far more impressive and it suggested a sizable jump in his fitness. The Washburn veteran also posted an 8th place finish at the Southern Stampede, a 13th place finish at the Chile Pepper XC Festival and a 4th place finish at the Central Regional XC Championships. These performances backed up the talent that we saw from Kibet on the national stage and highlighted that he's become more consistent even as he's gotten faster.

Sam Wilhelm (Alabama-Huntsville)

While Sam Wilhelm likely won’t win this award, his improvement from 51st last year to 40th at the NCAA XC Championships is worth a mention, mostly because he appeared capable of a finishing roughly 20 spots better than the already-solid result that he produced. Wilhelm flashed talent over the years, but was never in the All-American conversation until this fall. His improvement from season to season is impressive. And regardless of what his finish suggests on paper, he entered an entirely new conversation and tier of fitness this fall.

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this fall. Prior seasons are used as a loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Nominees for this award do not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of cross country) of collegiate competition. Performances past 11/18 are not considered.

Nominees: Ashley Reeck (Western Washington), Aubrey Surage (Augustana (SD)), Iresh Molina (Chico State), Khot Juac (Sioux Falls), Kaylee Beyer (Winona State), Leah Taylor (Western Colorado), Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State), Cassidy Walchak-Sloan (Saint Martin’s)

Ashley Reeck (Western Washington)

Looking at Ashley Reeck’s cross country season last fall, we don't think anyone would have predicted that she would go on to place 30th at the 2023 cross country national meet. Reeck placed 102nd at the 2022 West Regional XC Championships last year, and while she made solid progress on the track, her improvement over the past couple of months is nothing short of phenomenal. Reeck improved to a 5th place finish at the West regional meet this season and earned All-American honors in her first appearance on the national stage. Western Washington’s new ace made massive strides leading up to and throughout this season.

Aubrey Surage (Augustana (SD))

Aubrey Surage placed 23rd at the NSIC XC Championships last fall which is why her success this season is all the more impressive. Augustana (SD) needed a couple of women on their roster to really step up this season in order to maintain their national competitiveness and Surage did just that. The Viking ace placed 4th at the Augustana Twilight XC Meet, 6th at the Griak Invitational, 6th at the NSIC XC Championships and 12th at the Central Regional XC Championships. These were solid performances and a clear improvement from last season, but they still didn't indicate that she would go on to place 34th at the 2023 cross country national meet and earn All-American honors. Surage's perfectly timed peak and overall progress helped the 'Vikes surprise a few people and place 7th on the national stage.

Iresh Molina (Chico State)

Iresh Molina emerged as a key scorer for Chico State last fall, but struggled with consistency and faded to 133rd at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships. This fall, Molina not only displayed an increase jump in fitness, but also much-improved consistency. Even so, her 31st finish at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships came as quite a surprise. The improvement that she showed on the track and prior to the cross country national meet indicated that she would be in the top-60, but earning All-American honors did not seem like it was on the table. Nonetheless, Molina produced another surprise result on the national stage, this time a far more positive one.

Khot Juac (Sioux Falls)

The first of Khot Juac’s End of Season Awards nominations is “Most Improved” after she progressed from 48th place to 5th place at the cross country national meet. We knew Juac was improved after several solid early-season meets, but it was when she beat Kaylee Beyer at the Central Regional XC Championships that we realized that she was a lot better than we previously thought. But even that result put her in the bottom-half of our top-25 individual rankings, so her 5th place finish on the national stage was not only surprising, but an absurd improvement.

Kaylee Beyer (Winona State)

We’ve emphasized Kaylee Beyer’s talent throughout this season, but her overall improvement feels like it had an outsized impact when considering that it was integral to Winona State's rise as a team. Beyer placed 36th at the 2022 cross country national meet and was an All-American in the mile and the 1500 meters on the track. Based on her progress in the shorter distances, it was only natural that we would expect her to show improvement on the grass this fall, but I don't think that we knew that she would be this good. Beyer placed 2nd at the Lewis XC Crossover, 2nd at the NSIC XC Championships, 3rd at the Central Regional XC Championships and 7th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships. A top-20 finish seemed more likely for Beyer going into this season, so a comfortable top-10 result, paired with consistent success throughout the fall, suggested significant improvement for someone who was already operating at such a high level.

Leah Taylor (Western Colorado)

After Leah Taylor placed 11th in the mile and 3rd over 1500 meters at the indoor and outdoor nationals meets earlier this year, we knew that she was in line to show improvement on the grass. However, she still managed to exceed our expectations. Taylor placed 11th at the Chile Pepper XC Festival, 11th at the RMAC XC Championships and 14th at the South Central Regional XC Championships. All of these performances showed great progress and indicated Taylor was capable of finishing her season as an All-American. But Taylor blew that out of the water upon finishing an astonishing 13th place at the NCAA XC Championships to help her team reach the podium. That level of improvement is rare and deserves some major recognition.

Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)

Gianna Bomarito was quiet on the grass last fall and ended her 2022 season with a 33rd place finish at the West Regional XC Championships. But then she emerged on the track as a talented endurance-centric athlete and placed 15th over 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Her PRs of 16:50 (5k) and 34:05 (10k) indicated that she could be a star this fall and sure enough, she delivered on that potential. Bomarito won the Griak Invitational "Maroon" race and the CCAA XC Championships. Her 3rd place finish at the West Regional XC Championships was her "off" day. The Sonoma State star then placed 19th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships which aligned with the talent that we saw from her all season long. Bomarito's massive jump to a top-20 finish at the cross country national meet a year after not qualifying puts her in the thick of the race for this award.

Cassidy Walchak-Sloan (Saint Martin’s)

Cassidy Walchak-Sloan was a solid middle distance runner over the past academic year, but she still wasn't at the level to qualify for national meets. But the Saint Martin’s star signaled her rise early this fall with a 17th place finish at the Lewis XC Crossover. She went on to place 6th at the GNAC XC Championships and 7th at the West Regional XC Championships which were impressive results compared to where she was a year ago. But Walchak-Sloan saved her best finish for last, placing a fantastic 27th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships and redefining our expectations for what she's capable of upon reaching the national stage.

*Must have run attached at least once this fall and must have been attached during race in question. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, performances that are amplified by the results of other meets/individuals with appropriate context are included. TSR writers can vote for the performance that they believe is either the most impressive, the most entertaining or the most surprising. Performances past 11/18 are not considered.

Nominees: Andrew Amor wins the RMAC title, William Amponsah wins a national title in his first NCAA Championships appearance, Hamza Chahid places 4th at his first cross country national meet in his second race of the season to help Wingate to the team title, Sam Wilhelm wins his first GSC title over Becker and Lee (Tenn.) men, Simon Kelati beats out conference foes and podium teams’ low-sticks for national runner-up, Matthew Storer wins the Lewis Crossover in the first major meet of season

Andrew Amor wins the RMAC title

To be honest, nobody expected Andrew Amor to win the RMAC title, including us at TSR. He had a very strong season and was an All-American favorite, but the depth of talent in the RMAC makes it one of the toughest conferences to win. And yet, Amor found himself taking down the likes of Duncan Fuehne, Romain Legendre and national runner-up Simon Kelati, just to name a few high-octane stars. Amor also impressed the rest of the field by holding on longer than anyone else during the race. With each kilometer that went by, Amor moved further and further ahead from his competition to secure the impressive win.

William Amponsah wins a national title in his first NCAA Championships appearance

What made William Amponsah's NCAA XC Championships victory so impressive was not just the fact that it was his first national meet appearance, but the manner in which he controlled the race. With about four kilometers to go, Amponsah began to gap the field and that gap only widened from there. We definitely thought it possible for this West Texas A&M stud to take the crown, in fact many of us predicted it, but to see him actually do it by a near-10-second margin was something else.

Hamza Chahid places 4th at his first cross country national meet in his second race of the season to help Wingate to the team title

In some ways, a 4th place finish at the cross country national meet seemed up to Hamza Chahid's standards considering how well he had performed during the track season. But as the headline states, this was Chahid’s first time racing on national stage on the grass, and on top of that, it was only his second race of the entire season after debuting at the Southeast Regional XC Championships! Chahid clearly had the talent for a top-end finish, but weeks after he dropped out of our top-25 individual rankings entirely, a top-five result en route to a national team title was incredibly impressive for this Bulldog.

Sam Wilhelm wins his first GSC title over Becker and Lee (Tenn.) men

The clear Gulf South title favorite coming into this season was Jan Lukas Becker. Though he had struggled with bouts of inconsistency this season, Becker was starting to gain momentum during the championship season, so he was expected to be at the top of his game. However, none of that mattered to Sam Wilhelm who continued an incredible season with his first conference title. Though it was not a total shock that Wilhelm fared so well at the GSC XC Championships based on his success throughout the season, triumphing over a top-10 talent like Becker and everyone who the Lee (Tenn.) men had to offer (by nearly 10 seconds) was one of the better individual performances of this season.

Matthew Storer wins the Lewis XC Crossover in the first major meet of season

This result came fairly early in the season, but it established Matthew Storer as a contender for the individual national title. The biggest names he took down included Duncan Fuehne, who finished 3rd overall at the 2022 cross country national meet, and three-time All-American Ransom Allen, who was undefeated entering this meet. By winning this meet, Storer elevated himself to TSR #1 for a few weeks. And while he didn't win a national title, his 3rd place result at the cross country national meet felt right in line with what he achieved six weeks prior at the Lewis XC Crossover.

*Must have run attached at least once this fall and must have been attached during race in question. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, performances that are amplified by the results of other meets/individuals with appropriate context are included. TSR writers can vote for the performance that they believe is either the most impressive, the most entertaining or the most surprising. Performances past 11/18 are not considered.

Nominees: Lindsay Cunningham wins her first cross country national title to cap an undefeated season, Natalie Graber finishes runner-up among strong Division One and Two competition at the Louisville XC Classic, Brianna Robles wins the RMAC title, Khot Juac peaks perfectly for the postseason to finish 5th at the NCAA XC Championships, Brianna Robles takes the South Central title

Lindsay Cunningham wins her first cross country national title to cap an undefeated season

Flawless. That is one way to describe the season that Lindsay Cunningham put together. She put on a show at the cross country national meet to cap off her perfect season. In some ways, this performance could be interpreted as boring in the sense that it was expected, and Cunningham seized the lead early in her typical fashion. However, that should not take away from her winning her first cross country national title, by a 15-second margin no less. As such, she became the fourth woman ever under the 20-minute mark over 6k at the NCAA D2 XC Championships.

Natalie Graber finishes runner-up among strong Division One and Two competition at Louisville XC Classic

In an early-season race, Natalie Graber proved that she could back up the stellar track season that she enjoyed last year, placing 2nd overall at the loaded Louisville XC Classic. What makes this runner-up performance so impressive was that she went against more than just elite Division Two talent -- this race included tons of competitive Division One runners as well. Graber more than held her own, dipping under 17:00 for 5k and signaling that she would be the top runner on the best D2 team this season.

Brianna Robles wins the RMAC title

As we saw on the men's side, the RMAC can be inherently unpredictable given its glut of top teams and individuals. That's what made it all the more impressive for Brianna Robles to snag her second conference title on the grass. Not only that, but she established herself as the clear top woman in the league as she won by 14 seconds. In doing so, Robles took down a slew of All-American names hailing from Colorado Mines, Western Colorado, Adams State, Fort Lewis and elsewhere. This performance was also likely a huge confidence boost after an “okay” showing at the Louisville XC Classic. Time and time again, Robles rises to the challenge in championship season and the RMAC XC Championships was no different for her.

Khot Juac peaks perfectly for the postseason to finish 5th at the NCAA XC Championships

Khot Juac put together a pretty incredible season, placing in the top-five of all seven races that she contested. So in some ways, a 5th place finish to end the season should not be a total surprise. But to do so at the NCAA XC Championships suggested an entirely new level of firepower, poise and trajectory for Juac as she finished the season with the best performance of her career.

Brianna Robles takes the South Central title

We couldn't decide which of Robles' postseason performances was more impressive (her 4th place result at the NCAA XC Championships wasn't too shabby, either), so we nominated both! After securing an RMAC title, Robles hardly grew complacent in the lead-up to the national meet. She beat an even deeper field at the South Central Regional XC Championships, winning by 10 seconds (a familiar margin) over eventual national runner-up, Eleonora Curtabbi.

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2023 cross country season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Performances past 11/18 are not considered.

Nominees: Pol Domenech (Wingate), Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), Steve Sawyer (East Central), Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M), Damon Martin (Adams State), Jennifer Michel (Western Colorado), Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Sean Smith (Azusa Pacific), Jacob Burgamy (Augusta)

Pol Domenech (Wingate)

The improvement that the Wingate Bulldogs showed from last fall to this season, enabling them to improve from national runner-up to national champion, is a central reason why Coach Pol Domenech is up for this award. First, Soheil Boufrizi improved from a 92nd placement at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships to an incredible 10th place finish at this year’s national meet. Titouan Le Grix didn't even run on the national stage last year before a massive 29th place finish this year. Hamza Chahid also didn't race last fall, but produced a 4th place finish at the cross country national meet in just his second race of this season. Domenech did an incredible job planning the Bulldogs' season with very minimal racing for their top runners, allowing this team to surprise the rest of Division Two by winning the national title.

Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

This season looked a little uncertain for Colorado Mines with the departure of veteran stars Luke Julian and Dillon Powell, but Coach Chris Siemers still brought together a very talented team with the likes of Duncan Fuehne, Loïc Scomparin, Logan Bocovich and Paul Knight among others. All four of those men — with the exception of Bocovich who transferred in from Division Three program, St. Olaf — ran consistently during this season and produced similar performances to what they achieved last year. This points to Siemers’ ability to put together a great distance program not only through recruiting, but also training and development. The Orediggers are a threat every fall and that speaks to how their leader has built the program.

Steve Sawyer (East Central)

East Central enjoyed a significant breakthrough season in which they produced several All-American stars and finished 3rd overall as a team at the cross country national meet. That the breakthrough came in Coach Steve Sawyer's 11th season at the helm is almost even more impressive. The Tigers' leader has shown a proclivity for recruiting and developing high-level talent via transfers. Aspel Kiprob (6th at the national meet) and Peter Kipkemboi (35th) both came from JUCO schools. Amos Pkiach (21st) came from Alabama and Paul Korir (43rd) via Central Missouri. The only returning runner in the Tigers' scoring five was Oliver Kiptoo (33rd) who also came from a JUCO program. To be able to take runners from so many different programs and bring them under one training program to achieve a podium finish speaks to Sawyer’s coaching ability.

Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M)

We viewed West Texas A&M as a top-10 team throughout this fall, but a podium finish seemed like a lofty goal. Of course, we didn't necessarily anticipate Coach Zach Daniel's program finding a first-year talent who won the national title (Amponsah). Paired with Harry Louradour's consistency and the rise of Aziz Mohamed and Louis Moreau, the Buffaloes blossomed into one of the nation's better programs over the past few months.

Damon Martin (Adams State)

Everyone knows that Adams State will be in the conversation for at least a podium finish, and perhaps a national title, each year. This season was no different, although Coach Damon Martin's Grizzlies had a tougher starting point after missing the national meet altogether last fall. And even though they finished a slightly underwhelming 6th overall in their season fainle, that would be a momentous and celebrated year-over-year rise for virtually any other program. Adams State looked better than that for much of this season, as Martin brought in strong recruits like Romain Legendre and developed veterans like Yonas Haile. Though there were some hiccups over the past 12 months, the dynasty in Alamosa, Colorado proved that it's not going anywhere.

Jen Michel (Western Colorado)

Like any team, Western Colorado has gone through rebuilding seasons. And though they just missed the podium again this fall, the Mountaineers looked miles ahead of where they were last year. Coach Jen Michel knows how to coach and develop athletes with a prime example being Simon Kelati who placed 12th in his first cross country national meet appearance a year ago and progressed to national runner-up result this season. She also turned Tyler Nord into a superstar in his first season the grass as he finished 15th on the national stage. The Mountaineers are among the best in the RMAC and could be liable to reach the podium any season now.

Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Yes, the Grand Valley State men missed the podium this fall and even faded to 7th place on the national stage. However, this is a team that beat a seemingly fully-loaded Adams State squad at the Louisville XC Classic, continued to dominate their conference and regional meets and remained in our top-four (of our rankings) for most of the season. For a team that was without a superstar low-stick, the development of key depth deserve major kudos.

Sean Smith (Azusa Pacific)

The Cougars were a team that were on our radar this fall, but we didn't pin them as a top-10 team. Of course, the Azusa Pacific men eventually went on to place 10th at the NCAA XC Championships. But more importantly, Coach Sean Smith did a brilliant job of developing depth and building up his returners while going out and landing underrated transfer targets, many of whom also fit their middle distance ethos on the track.

Jacob Burgamy (Augusta)

With Coach Adam Ward moving on from the program, Coach Jacob Burgamy was tasked with developing a squad that had fallen behind some of their more competitive Southeast regional foes. But in 2023, the Jaguars were runner-up at the UAH Chargers XC Invite by three points, won the Beach Belt title, earned runner-up at the Southeast regional meet (behind Wingate) and then shattered expectations with a 15th place finish at the national meet. For a team that wasn't predicted to finish higher than 27th place by our TSR writers, that was a massive performance.

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2023 cross country season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Performances past 11/18 are not considered.

Nominees: Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Damon Martin (Adams State), Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), John Hibshman (Winona State), Jennifer Michel (Western Colorado), Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M), Tracy Hellman (Augustana (SD))

Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

The Lakers put together a flawless fall campaign this season as Coach Jerry Baltes' team successfully defended its national title. Grand Valley State has been a mainstay in women’s Division Two distance running and this year, the Lakers dominated from start to finish. Baltes put together a squad with veterans such as Klaudia O’Malley, young returners like Lauren Kiley, a returner who made significant improvements in Natalie Graber, a freshman star in Allie Arnsman and an incredible transfer with Anastasia Tucker. Baltes has displayed the ideal balance of high-level recruiting and developing, and it's clear that the Lakers have bought-in en route to becoming the nation's best women's distance program.

Damon Martin (Adams State)

Though the goal is always for the Grizzlies to finish at the top of the podium, the ability for Coach Damon Martin's team to still come away with such a great finish after losing some of their superstars, including Stephanie Cotter and Precious Robinson, speaks volumes to Martin’s ability to restock the coffers and prepare the next generation of Adams State stars. Martin had several runners really step up this year, including redshirt freshman Tristian Smith (16th at the national meet) and Ava O’Connor (17th). Those two really helped fill in some of the gaps for the Grizzlies, bringing the team to another podium finish. The consistent success that the Adams State women have displayed in recent years makes them one of the best programs in the country.

Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Just like what Coach Chris Siemers does with the men’s team, he annually brings together a nationally competitive lineup for the Oredigger women. This year was definitely one of their best seasons as Siemers' team adapted to a slightly different racing style. The group opted for more of a pack-running style after the departure of low-stick Zoe Baker and took on the new style flawlessly as many of their women made huge improvements on the national stage including Clare Peters (25th), Holly Moser (18th) and Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge (20th). Though Molly Maksin struggled this season, she had her season-best performance at the cross country national meet, placing 35th en route to a team podium finish, which speaks to Siemers’ team's ability to peak at the right time.

John Hibshman (Winona State)

It seemed to start with superstar Lindsay Cunningham for this squad, and after her success, the rest of the Winona State women followed in her footsteps. Coach John Hibshman’s team produced the individual national title winner in Cunningham and a top-10 finisher in Beyer, then nearly reached the podium too, ultimately finishing 5th. Obviously, coaching a national title winner already speaks to Hibshman’s coaching acumen, but the improvement of some of the other scorers, like Beyer (improved from 36th place to 7th from one national meet to the next) and Sophia Taarud (97th to 49th) is what bolstered the team and signified a buy-in that has helped the Warriors become a top-end squad.

Jen Michel (Western Colorado)

Similar to their men’s team, the Western Colorado women went through a bit of a rebuilding stage last fall, but Coach Jen Michel helped expedite that process as the Mountaineers reached the podium this November. Both Allison Beasley and Leah Taylor brought down the house with their 10th and 13th place finishes, respectively. Each showed tons of promise during the track season last year and their development seemed to come full circle over the past few months as they exceeded expectations. The team also received great performances from Peyton Weiss (26th) and Gretchen Slattum (54th), each of whom had their best races of the season on the national stage in Joplin, Missouri to help the team collectively peak for the NCAA XC Championships.

Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M)

Coach Zach Daniel's athletes have had significant postseason success, including stars like Florance Uwajeneza and Eleonora Curtabbi. But what Daniel's groups had struggled to do in the past was put together a great team performance. This season, he found the missing pieces and brought the Buffaloes to a 6th place finish at the cross country national meet. Curtabbi put together another stellar season, finishing as the national runner-up, but Daniel’s ability to guide true freshman Sarah Koomson to a 6th place finish on the national stage was even more impressive. The addition of transfer Elise Leveel also helped fill in a gap this team has been trying to assuage for so long. Daniel had a complete squad this season and it really showed in how the team performed all year.

Tracy Hellman (Augustana (SD))

After losing so many key scorers, including low-stick veterans, we had questions about how. the Vikings were going to remain competitive in 2023. Of course, we should learn not to question the magic of Coach Tracy Hellman. Augustana ended up thriving this fall, winning the "Maroon" race at the Griak Invite and then snagging a huge 7th place effort at the national meet. Given how much this team lost, you have to credit Coach Hellman for what he was able to accomplish this fall.

*Must have run attached this season. Performances past 11/18 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Simon Kelati (Western Colorado), William Amponsah (West Texas A&M), Hamza Chahid (Wingate), Andrew Amor (New Mexico Highlands), Matthew Storer (Colorado Christian), Aspel Kiprob (East Central), Loïc Scomparin (Colorado Mines)

Simon Kelati (Western Colorado)

Simon Kelati’s season started off with a solid 7th place finish at the Chile Pepper XC Festival before it really took off with his runner-up finish at the RMAC XC Championships. Kelati sat out of the regional stage, but showed that his absence was nothing to be worried about when he capped off his season with a silver medal at the NCAA XC Championships. Kelati led his team to a 5th place finish and was a reliable front-runner for the Mountaineers throughout the season. His pair of runner-up performances in high-leverage races, which point to his overall consistency, insists that he's one of the “most valuable” athletes in the country.

William Amponsah (West Texas A&M)

William Amponsah went six-for-six this fall and finished the season with a national title in his first year in the NCAA. Going undefeated and winning a gold medal at the NCAA XC Championships creates a strong argument for him to win this award, but if that wasn’t convincing enough, the Buffalo ace won each race by a comfortable margin and showed no fear in his racing tactics. Similarly, Amponsah's seasonal resume holds no flaws.

Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

A short, but successful, season for Hamza Chahid culminated in him leading Wingate to the national title. Chahid raced just twice this fall, but that’s all it took for him to put his talent on full display. The Wingate ace placed 2nd at the Southeast Regional XC Championships and 4th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships. What’s even more impressive is that this was his rookie cross country campaign. Despite this, Chahid competed like a true veteran, and his impact on Wingate’s success puts him right in the running for “Most Valuable.”

Andrew Amor (New Mexico Highlands)

Andrew Amor has been “good” in the past, but his talent and confidence were elevated to a new level this fall. Amor posted fantastic results with his 3rd place finish at the Southern Stampede and 5th place finish at the South Central Regional XC Championships, but it was his win at the RMAC XC Championships and 5th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships that really displayed his firepower. The New Mexico Highlands star may not come from a well-known or established program compared to his superstar peers, but he took down several top runners this season and deserves a nomination for “Most Valuable Runner.”

Matthew Storer (Colorado Christian)

Matthew Storer had an abbreviated season, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. The Cougar ace opened his campaign and put his talent on display with a win at the Lewis Crossover. He then placed 4th at the South Central Regional XC Championships and capped his season off with a bronze medal at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships. The competitive prowess and overall aerobic strength that Storer showed this season made him an exceedingly valuable runner for Colorado Christian in the ever-competitive RMAC, and put him in contention for this award.

Aspel Kiprob (East Central)

Outside of the regional meet, the only race that Aspel Kiprob lost this season was the NCAA XC Championships, where he placed 6th and led his team a 3rd place podium finish. The Tiger ace won the Southern Stampede, DBU Old Glory Gallup and the Great American XC Championships. While only the Southern Stampede had a truly high level of competition, Kiprob went up against his talented teammates at each meet. Kiprob's first cross country season in Division Two went about as well as anyone could have hoped, as he displayed largely unmatched endurance and low-stick scoring potency.

Loïc Scomparin (Colorado Mines)

Loïc Scomparin is a familiar name at this point, and his ability to be great from season to season and race to race is impressive. This fall, the Colorado Mines ace placed 4th at the RMAC XC Championships, 3rd at the South Central Regional XC Championships and 8th at the NCAA XC Championships. Posting these results at some of the most competitive races of the year highlights Scomparin’s overall firepower and consistency. He also led the Orediggers to a national runner-up finish and further established them as an endurance powerhouse while becoming their most consistent low-stick ahead of Duncan Fuehne. Scomparin may not have the best results among our nominees, but his impact on Colorado Mines' elite program makes him a “valuable” runner in all regards.

*Must have run attached this season. Performances past 11/18 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State), Brianna Robles (Adams State), Eleonora Curtabbi (West Texas A&M), Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State), Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M), Kaylee Beyer (Winona State), Khot Juac (Sioux Falls)

Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

With a national title and an undefeated season, Lindsay Cunningham is an obvious nominee for our MVR award. The Winona State superstar was simply a level above the rest of Division Two this year. Her 15-second win at the NCAA XC Championships was her smallest margin of victory, which highlights just how dominant she was this fall. As if she needs more of an argument to win this award, she also won the prestigious Lewis Crossover and led the Winona State Warriors to a 5th place team finish on the national stage.

Brianna Robles (Adams State)

While Brianna Robles may not have finished as high as some of our other MVR nominees at the cross country national meet, she was extremely reliable and a huge piece of Adams State’s success this fall. That creates the argument that she was the “most valuable.” She placed 4th at the NCAA XC Championships, 1st at the South Central Regional XC Championships, 1st at the RMAC XC Championships and 7th at the Louisville XC Classic. She led her team to dominant victories at the RMAC and South Central regional meets, as well as a runner-up finish at the cross country national meet. With her overall talent and consistency, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Grizzly ace is a nominee for this award.

Eleonora Curtabbi (West Texas A&M)

Eleonora Curtabbi had a slower start to the season, but she finished it off really strong with her runner-up performance at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships. The West Texas A&M veteran closed in a 3:00 final kilometer to cross the line in 2nd at the cross country national meet and led the Buffaloes to a fantastic 6th place team finish. To further highlight her talent and value, Curtabbi also placed 2nd at the South Central regional meet, won the Lone Star Conference XC Championships and placed 10th at the Louisville XC Classic.

Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State)

Natalie Graber helped the Lakers to the team victory at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships with her individual bronze medal. The Grand Valley State ace was extremely consistent and showed immense talent throughout the season, highlighted by her win at the GLIAC XC Championships and a fantastic runner-up finish at the Louisville XC Classic. Her overall reliability, low-stick scoring potency, and success this season creates a strong argument for her to be considered the “Most Valuable” runner of the year.

Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)

Sarah Koomson had very little trouble adjusting to the NCAA level and quickly proved to be a force to be reckoned with. The West Texas A&M freshman placed 3rd at the Louisville XC Classic, putting herself in the mix with well-established names and catching our attention. She went on to place 6th at the NCAA XC Championships, and her low-stick talent was a big reason for her team’s 6th place finish. Her immediate impact on the Division Two scene and phenomenal rookie season puts her squarely in the mix for this award.

Kaylee Beyer (Winona State)

While Kaylee Beyer likely won’t win this award, the impact she’s had and the value she’s brought to Winona State can’t be underestimated. The Warrior ace placed 7th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships, and her firepower aided in her team’s 5th place finish. Additionally, she placed runner-up at the Lewis Crossover and the NSIC XC Championships as well as 3rd at the Central Regional XC Championships. Her reliability, competitive prowess and low-stick scoring potency make her a high value runner for Winona State alongside Cunningham.

Khot Juac (Sioux Falls)

One of the bigger storylines this fall was the emergence of Khot Juac as a top runner in Division Two, highlighted by her phenomenal 5th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships. Juac competed often this fall and progressed with every race. She preceded her performance at the cross country national meet with a runner-up finish at the Central Regional XC Championships and 3rd place finish at the NSIC XC Championships. Her ability to peak perfectly for the national meet, and her continual progression and success throughout the season, make her a deserving nominee for this award.

Men

Marissa Kuik: George Couttie (Charleston (WV))

Grace McLaughlin: George Couttie (Charleston (WV))

Gavin Struve: George Couttie (Charleston (WV))

Garrett Zatlin: George Couttie (Charleston (WV))

Women

Marissa Kuik: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)

Grace McLaughlin: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)

Gavin Struve: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)

Garrett Zatlin: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)

Men

Marissa Kuik: Soheil Boufrizi (Wingate)

Grace McLaughlin: Soheil Boufrizi (Wingate)

Gavin Struve: Johan Correa (Central Washington)

Garrett Zatlin: Johan Correa (Central Washington)

*Tie-broken via TSR contributor, Maura Beattie

Women

Marissa Kuik: Kaylee Beyer (Winona State)

Grace McLaughlin: Ashley Reeck (Western Washington)

Gavin Struve: Aubrey Surage (Augustana (SD))

Garrett Zatlin: Ashley Reeck (Western Washington)

Men

Marissa Kuik: Andrew Amor wins the RMAC title

Grace McLaughlin: Matthew Storer wins the Lewis Crossover in the first major meet of season

Gavin Struve: William Amponsah wins gold in first NCAA Championship appearance

Garrett Zatlin: William Amponsah wins gold in first NCAA Championship appearance

Women

Marissa Kuik: Khot Juac peaks perfectly, finishes 5th at the NCAA XC Championships

Grace McLaughlin: Graber finishes runner-up at Louisville XC Classic

Gavin Struve: Cunningham wins first cross country national title to cap undefeated season

Garrett Zatlin: Cunningham wins first cross country national title to cap undefeated season

Men

Marissa Kuik: Pol Domenech (Wingate)

Grace McLaughlin: Pol Domenech (Wingate)

Gavin Struve: Pol Domenech (Wingate)

Garrett Zatlin: Pol Domenech (Wingate)

Women

Marissa Kuik: John Hibshman (Winona State)

Grace McLaughlin: Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Gavin Struve: Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Garrett Zatlin: Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Men

Marissa Kuik: Simon Kelati (Western Colorado)

Grace McLaughlin: William Amponsah (West Texas A&M)

Gavin Struve: William Amponsah (West Texas A&M)

Garrett Zatlin: William Amponsah (West Texas A&M)

Women

Marissa Kuik: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Grace McLaughlin: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Gavin Struve: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Garrett Zatlin: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)