TSR's 2022 D2 Cross Country End of Season Awards

Written by Jose Hernandez, Grace McLaughlin, Eric Baranoski & John Cusick

Our D2 End of Season Awards have returned!

Below, we listed our five seasonal awards for the men and five seasonal awards for the women. 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...

*Redshirt freshmen are not considered for this award. Athletes who have freshman eligibility stemming from the pandemic extension are not included in this award. International freshmen are included amongst these candidates unless we have a reason to believe that they do not meet our above criteria. Athletes who began their NCAA eligibility last winter and are competing in their first season of cross country are considered true freshmen.

Nominees: Donald Kibet (Benedict), Elliot Dotson (Anderson (SC)), Paul Korir (Central Missouri), Brian Mitei (Central Missouri), Daniel Appleford (Colorado Mines)

Donald Kibet (Benedict)

Donald Kibet finished 50th at the NCAA XC Championships after showing a tremendous display of competitive poise throughout the season. Kibet raced eight times during the 2022 season and walked away with five victories, including the SIAC XC Championship title. He was 5th at the South Regional XC Championships before his season ended at the national meet. This is a promising start for Kibet who should only continue to get better with age.

Elliot Dotson (Anderson (SC))

Elliot Dotson’s best race came at the UAH D2 Festival Year Showcase where he finished 24th. After not competing for his team at his conference meet, he returned to finish 16th at the Southeast Regional XC Championships. He would ultimately go on to finish 106th at the national meet. And sure, a 106th place finish doesn’t necessarily look amazing, but he served as a great second option for a team that qualified for the national meet which is a triumph in and of itself.

Paul Korir (Central Missouri)

Paul Korir was the top runner for Central Missouri for most of the season. He finished in 13th place at the MIAA XC Championships before improving upon that numerical placement at the Central Regional XC Championships where he finished 11th and qualified for the national meet, individually. Korir would finish 66th at the national meet as the lone athlete for Central Missouri.

Brian Mitei (Central Missouri)

Brian Mitei was the other freshman for Central Missouri in 2022. Mitei was 4th at the MIAA XC Championships before having an “off” day at the Central Regional XC Championships where he finished 13th and missed out on the national meet. Even so, Mitei’s season was a successful one and he is in consideration for being the best freshman in the country (for D2) because of it.

Daniel Appleford (Colorado Mines)

This is a weird nomination...mainly because Daniel Appleford only raced once this fall.

Only once!

The recent Newbury Park High School graduate was fantastic before entering the NCAA, owning a personal best of 8:52 over 3200 meters. In 99.9% of cross country scenarios, he would be running for a D2 team at the cross country national meet.

But the Colorado Mines men were unfathomably deep this fall. And because of that, Appleford only got to race once, finishing 19th at D2 Pre-Nationals, arguably the best D2-centric regular season meet of the year.

There's a very good chance that Appleford would have been an All-American this fall had he actually been able to crack Colorado Mines' lineup. Admittedly, we do have to consider that he only raced once this season when filling out our votes, but it's hard to suggest that he doesn't belong here.

*Redshirt freshmen are not considered for this award. Athletes who have freshman eligibility stemming from the pandemic extension are not included in this award. International freshmen are included amongst these candidates unless we have a reason to believe that they do not meet our above criteria. Athletes who began their NCAA eligibility last winter and are competing in their first season of cross country are considered true freshmen.

Nominees: Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State), Abby VanderKooi (Grand Valley State), Jentrie Alderson (Pittsburg State), Bethany Mapes (Biola), Alauna Carstens (Saint Martins), Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)

Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State)

The first words you think of when it comes to Lauren Kiley are composure and maturity. Not many freshmen display those traits, but Kiley is no ordinary freshman. She was held out of a few September-time invites to give her time to get used to the collegiate scene before she made her presence felt with a 13th place finish at the Louisville Classic. That result was good enough to emerge as the second scorer on the team behind only Natalie Graber.

Kiley only progressed as the season went on as she finished runner-up at both the GLIAC XC Championships and Midwest Regional XC Championships before finishing 7th on the national stage. Most freshmen are not supposed to compete at this level with the ease that Kiley did, meaning that she is going to be dangerous for years to come.

Abby VanderKooi (Grand Valley State)

VanderKooi was a high-profile recruit (i.e. Foot Locker XC National Championship finalist) who chose to be a part of something special at Grand Valley State rather than venturing to the Division One level. With that much talent, it was only a matter of time before she entered the Lakers' varsity lineup.

The GVSU rookie started off her fall campaign with a very respectable 41st place finish at the Louisville Classic and followed that up with a 4th place finish at the GLIAC XC Championships. Running in her first national meet, she finished in 55th place, which was a very sold end to her first cross country season while also helping the Lakers to a 2nd place team finish.

This Michigan native developed into a solid scorer in only her first year in Allendale and her future is still plenty bright.

Jentrie Alderson (Pittsburg State)

The Louisville Classic was a very telling race for those who participated in the "Gold" race as they were competing against other top Division Two schools and plenty of Division One talents. Running well on that stage likely meant having the talent to compete in any top-tier race for the rest of the season.

Jentrie Alderson did just that, making a name for herself with a 26th place finish, besting many veterans as just a freshman. She would later go on to secure a 3rd place finish at the MIAA XC Championships, an 11th place finish at the Central regional meet and eventually closed out her season with a 72nd place finish in Seattle for the national meet.

Sometimes, we can get sucked into the results and ignore the eye test. But that very same eye test (and her resume) tells us that Alderson was a consistent contributor and an important member of her team. She will be a key player in the D2 scene in the future.

Bethany Mapes (Biola)

Mapes raced a lot. Maybe some of the most that we have seen in D2 in the last few years and it really reminds us of a high school schedule.

However, we think that onslaught of competitive efforts prepared her for the season as she ran well when she needed to (outside of the national meet) and got used to racing at the collegiate level in her first couple of meets.

The Biola standout finished 26th at D2 Pre-Nationals, showing us that she can compete with some of the best women in D2. A pair of 8th place finishes at each the PacWest XC Championships and West regional meet showed us that she can race well under pressure, even as a freshman.

Finishing in 100th place at the national meet is a solid starting point, although we’d only expect her to go up from here.

Alauna Carstens (Saint Martins)

Alauna Carstens was a name who people glossed over after finishing 11th at D2 Pre-Nationals. Yes, shocking, I know, but those oversights tend to happen when you are still a relative unknown.

But then Carstens qualified individually for the national meet, which is quite an accomplishment in and of itself. She finished 74th on a season finale course that she ran for the third time that year, although she didn’t have the same success as her previous two tries (the weather was completely different versus running it in September and October).

Having an "okay" day at the national meet (which still seems ridiculous to say about a top-80 result) shouldn't discourage her from all of the progress that she made this year as she’s going to look to keep that momentum going on the track.

Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)

Gianna Bomarito is one of the few freshmen in the entirety of the NCAA who can say that they won a cross country race in their first collegiate fall campaign. And this was no small-meet rust-buster. This race was the Paul Short "White" race.

Winning a major race on the other side of the country is a crazy thing to accomplish at any level and even more impressive as a rookie given that it was just her second collegiate cross country race. She followed up that performance with a 5th place finish at D2 Pre-Nationals and a 2nd place result at the CCAA XC Championships. Those are big-time performances that had us thinking that she would be able to qualify individually for the national meet.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be as she really struggled in the cold in Billings, Montana at the West Regional XC championships, turning in a 33rd place performance which was not at all indicative of her true talent.

*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 very loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Does not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of cross country) of NCAA competition.

Nominees: Harry Louradour (West Texas A&M), Chris Cathcart (Colorado Mines), Wyatt McIntyre (Illinois-Springfield), Matthew Oglesby (Pittsburg State), Drew Kolodge (Michigan Tech), Cas Kopmels (Wingate)

Harry Louradour (West Texas A&M)

Admittedly, Harry Louradour didn’t have the best start to this 2022 cross country season, but what he did during the postseason makes him worthy of a nomination for our "Most Improved" award.

Louradour went from finishing 113th overall early in the season at the Louisville Classic to winning the LSC XC Championships and placing 11th at the South Central Regional XC Championships. He capped off those performances with his fantastic 18th place finish at the national meet, making him an easy candidate for this award.

Chris Cathcart (Colorado Mines)

Chris Catchart has been a part of Colorado Mines' successful teams for four years now. However, his 23rd place finish at the national meet is the best result that he’s ever recorded and it wasn’t just the national meet where he saw success.

The Oredigger veteran finished inside the top-10 of every race that he contested, including two top-five performances at the RMAC XC Championships and the South Central Regional XC Championships. His growth this season was a huge part of why Colorado Mines was able to dominate the rest of the country.

Wyatt McIntyre (Illinois-Springfield)

By now, you’ve probably hear of Wyatt McIntyre as he helped lead Illinois-Springfield to their first-ever qualification to the national meet. McIntyre finished in 26th place on that stage, garnering All-American honors for the first time in his career.

But it wasn’t just the national meet where we saw success for McIntyre, though. He was 4th at the Lewis Crossover in a very strong field. He won the GLVC XC Championships and was 9th at the Midwest Regional XC Championships as well.

Matthew Oglesby (Pittsburg State)

Matthew Oglesby deserves a nomination despite only racing four times this past cross country season. He was 22nd at the Louisville Classic, but he didn’t really take off until the postseason.

Oglesby finished 3rd at the MIAA XC Championships and then bettered that placing at the Central Regional XC Championships where he finished 2nd. He’d ultimately go onto finish 38th at the national meet, making him an All-American for the first time in his career.

Drew Kolodge (Michigan Tech)

Drew Kolodge was one of the best secondary scoring options in the country during the 2022 cross country season, making a huge jump from where he was just a year ago. He finished inside the top-10 of all his races before the national meet after not finishing better then 27th a year ago.

The Michigan Tech runner was 3rd at the Griak Invitational, 5th at the Lewis Crossover, 6th at the GLIAC XC Championships and then 8th at the Midwest Regional XC Championships. He’s easily the next in line for Michigan Tech as they’ll lose Clayton Sayen to graduation.

Cas Kopmels (Wingate)

International talent Cas Kopmels made the transition from being a superstar Trojan at Mount Olive to being a pack runner for the Wingate Bulldogs. However, this change proved to be the right choice for the junior Bulldog as his personal best over 8000 meters dropped down by almost an entire minute.

Kopmels' best performance of the 2022 season was when he finished as the second scorer for Wingate at the national meet where his All-American result (27th) helped give Wingate a huge upset in finishing as runner-up for the team.

Transferring to a new school is always a risky move, but Kopmels proved that he made the right decision and the national hardware is his proof.

*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 very loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Does not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of cross country) of NCAA competition.

Nominees: Lara Murdock (Pittsburg State), Kira MacGill (Colorado Mesa), Amber Owens (NW Missouri), Amanda Montplaisir (Minnesota State), Makenna Thurston (Minnesota State), Helen Braybrook (CSU-Pueblo)

Lara Murdock (Pittsburg State)

Lara Murdock surprised us with her 13th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships. Due to this performance and some impressive races leading up to it, the Pittsburg State ace now earns a nomination for TSR’s "Most Improved" award.

Murdock was 26th at the 2021 Central Region XC Championships and did not qualify for the NCAA XC Championships that fall. This year, she placed 6th in her region and went on to have a stellar All-American performance at the NCAA XC Championships, placing 13th overall!

Going from not qualifying for the cross country national meet to placing in the top-15 is highly impressive and it gives her a strong argument for our "Most Improved" award.

Kira MacGill (Colorado Mesa)

Kira MacGill narrowly missed out on qualifying for last year’s NCAA XC Championships as well as the NCAA Outdoor Championships. However, she returned to the grass this fall at another level of fitness and likely with a chip on her shoulder.

Sure enough, the Colorado Mesa runner made a statement with her early-season races. Her 10th place finish at D2 Pre-Nationals indicated that she would not be denied qualifying for the NCAA XC Championships this year and that she would likely be an All-American this season.

The Maverick ace eventually placed 14th at the NCAA South Central Regional XC Championships to earn an individual bid to the cross country national meet. Once there, she had a solid performance in Seattle to place 29th overall and earn her first All-American honors.

MacGill's improvement from not qualifying for the national meet to being an All-American over the span of a year rightfully earns her a nomination for our "Most Improved" award.

Amber Owens (NW Missouri)

This Northwest Missouri senior showed vast improvements this year and ended her 2022 cross country season on an incredibly high note.

Last fall, Owens placed 21st at the Central Regional Championships. This year, she improved to 9th place and led her team in qualifying for the NCAA XC Championships. Owens would have a phenomenal day in Seattle and placed 28th to earn All-American honors at her first national meet of any kind.

That kind of improvement and that statement race at the cross country national meet naturally earned her a nomination for our "Most Improved" award.

Amanda Montplaisir (Minnesota State)

We think it’s safe to say that the most shockingly positive result at the NCAA XC Championships was Amanda Montplaisir’s 9th place finish.

The Minnesota State senior showed glimpses of talent and improvement throughout the fall months, but nothing indicative of a top-10 finish at the national meet. She was 9th in the steeplechase at last spring’s NCAA Outdoor Championships, but other than that, she had no prior experience at this high of a level.

Montplaisir has been relatively “good” throughout her years as a Maverick, but this season, she made the leap to being great. She went from being 10th at the Central Regional XC Championships to 9th at the NCAA XC Championships...in a year.

Makenna Thurston (Minnesota State)

Makenna Thurston was not even a name on our radar coming into this season, but she just finished 17th at the NCAA XC Championships.

Prior to the national meet, the Minnesota State star placed 29th at the Griak Invitational, 8th at the NSIC XC Championships and 22nd at the Central Regional XC Championships. While those are solid performances, none of them pointed to her placing in the top-20 at the NCAA XC Championships, especially when you consider that this was her first time competing at the national level.

Thurston went from 100th at the Central Regional Championships last fall to 17th at the NCAA XC Championships this year. This jaw-dropping improvement creates a strong argument for her to win our "Most Improved" award.

Helen Braybrook (CSU-Pueblo)

Helen Braybrook is known for her middle distance prowess, but this fall, we saw immense improvements from her on the grass.

The CSU-Pueblo senior was 131st at the NCAA XC Championships last fall. She had stellar performances on the track in the middle distances, but nothing pointed to Braybrook being a top cross country runner this year.

The Thunderwolf runner had a phenomenal 23rd place finish at the NCAA XC Championships, which is even more impressive considering that she was 29th at the RMAC XC Championships and 22nd at the South Central Regional Championships earlier this fall.

Her progression from the middle distances to success in cross country is highly impressive and it earned her a nomination for this award.

*Must have run attached, must have been run at or before the NCAA Championships. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, cross country performances that are amplified by the results of other meets with appropriate context are included.

Nominees: Dillon Powell Dominates NCAA XC Championships En Route to National Title, Zach Kreft Upsets Tanner Chada at Midwest Regional XC Championships, Tanner Chada Wins Louisville Classic in Blistering Time of 23:18, Dayton Brown Outlasts Strong Lewis Crossover Field For The Win, Gidieon Kimutai Wins Third-Straight Central Regional Title

Dillon Powell Dominates NCAA XC Championships En Route to National Title

There were multiple performances from Dillon Powell that we could have chosen, but we’ve ultimately gone with the race where he won the national title.

Powell was truly sensational this season and his talent level was on full display. On the national stage, he bided his time before making an emphatic move. That move turned into a 19-second victory and Powell’s first individual title on the grass, capping off his remarkable season.

Zach Kreft Upsets Tanner Chada at Midwest Regional XC Championships

Going into the Midwest Regional XC Championships, we knew that there would be a thrilling race for the individual title, but we heavily believed that a certain GVSU star would walk away victorious.

However, what we didn’t anticipate was Zach Kreft knocking off Tanner Chada for the regional title. Kreft upset Chada by three seconds en route to the win. It was one of the more surprising upsets of the year and it validated the idea of Kreft belonging within the very top of the Division Two scene.

Tanner Chada Wins Louisville Classic in Blistering Time of 23:18

Early in the season, it seemed like the NCAA title was Tanner Chada’s to lose. After winning the MSU Spartan Invitational, Chada left his mark again with a victory at the Louisville Classic. He covered that 8k course in 23:18 and held off multiple Division One talents in the process, many of whom were highly talented names.

We try not to harp on cross country times too often, but Chada’s performance was nothing short of fantastic and it deserves to be recognized.

Dayton Brown Outlasts Strong Lewis Crossover Field For The Win

In what was the first true contest for Division Two foes this fall, we saw Dayton Brown re-emerge as one of Division Two’s best talents. He won the Lewis Crossover by six seconds and bettered Trent Cochran and Josh Pierantoni of Colorado Christian, both of whom were All-Americans at the national meet.

This was a jumpstart to Brown’s season after a slow beginning and a great reminder that he was one of the best in the country.

Gidieon Kimutai Wins Third-Straight Central Regional Title

Gidieon Kimutai returned to the cross country scene this past fall and didn’t miss a beat. He won every race leading up to the national meet, including his third-straight Central Regional XC Championship individual title.

Kimutai took home that crown by 10 seconds, marking his third-straight win and his fourth overall victory of the season. As just a junior, Kimutai will have another shot next year to make it a clean sweep, joining the ranks of very few elite talents who were able to win four-straight regional titles.

*Must have run attached, must have been run at or before the NCAA Championships. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, cross country performances that are amplified by the results of other meets with appropriate context are included.

Nominees: Naomi Bailey Upsets Katie Doucette at NCAA D2 Pre-Nationals, Stephanie Cotter Runs Away From Lindsay Cunningham to Win the NCAA XC Championships, Lindsay Cunningham Destroys Field at Lewis Crossover, Florance Uwajeneza Upsets Field at South Central Regional XC Championships

Naomi Bailey Upsets Katie Doucette at D2 Pre-Nationals

Naomi Bailey was not immediately on our radar going into D2 Pre-Nationals, but she came away with one of the most shocking victories of the season. Bailey took on the likes of Katie Doucette and company and walked away with a nine-second victory over Doucette and the rest of the field. Bailey’s victory changed the trajectory of her season as well as the expectations for her the rest of the way.

Stephanie Cotter Runs Away From Lindsay Cunningham to Win the NCAA XC Championships

We’ve talked about this performance a few times already since the national meet and the only thing left to say is we’re simply in awe.

Stephanie Cotter won her second cross country national title and did so in dominant fashion. She ran away from Lindsay Cunningham and won by 43 seconds. She controlled the race, made a move at two miles and never looked back.

Cotter’s performance placed her even higher within Division Two history. She’s simply one of the best, if not the best, to participate at the D2 level.

Lindsay Cunningham Destroys Field at Lewis Crossover

Throughout the season, Lindsay Cunningham looked unstoppable. Part of why she looked unstoppable was her victory at the Lewis Crossover. She defeated Kylie Anicic by 19 seconds and was never challenged throughout the race. And unbelievably, that was actually her second-smallest margin of victory on the season and yet arguably her most impressive one as well.

The Lewis Crossover was Cunningham’s first “true” breakout race and the victory only further confirmed how good of a talent she truly is (and can be).

Florance Uwajeneza Upsets Field at South Central Regional XC Championships

From the gun, Florance Uwajeneza ran from the front and challenged the rest of the South Central regional field to run with her. The only one who did was her teammate Elenora Curtabbi, who ultimately finished 2nd.

Uwajeneza took home the individual title by two seconds over Curtabbi and another 12 seconds over the rest of the field which includes the entire Adams State team. In the most competitive region in the country, a victory such as this deserves respect.

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2022 cross country season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees.

 Nominees: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), Pol Domenech (Wingate), Emmons King (Illinois-Springfield), Jon Poag (Colorado Christian), Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Gary Towne (Chico State), Nick Bias (Charleston (WV))

Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Coach Chris Siemers put together one of the best teams in Division Two history during the 2022 fall campaign. He had seven All-Americans and saw all of them finish inside the top-30 of the national meet. The Orediggers won the team title with 45 points which was 134 points better than the runner-up team, Wingate. This was likely the best team that Colorado Mines has ever fielded and it showed all season long.

Pol Domenech (Wingate)

The Bulldogs have been to two NCAA XC Championships and Coach Pol Domenech has been at the helm for both of those appearances.

Domenech led Wingate to a runner-up team finish at the national meet while having four athletes finish as All-Americans. And the fact that they still convincingly earned silver without certain guys having their best days is maybe the most impressive part.

The turnaround for the Bulldogs has been quick since Domenech took over the program in 2019 and this might only be the beginning of something far more lasting.

Emmons King (Illinois-Springfield)

Illinois-Springfield had never qualified for the NCAA XC Championships prior to this fall. But with Coach Emmons King leading the way, that drought ended in 2022.

The Prairie Stars had a successful showing at the Lewis Crossover where they finished in 2nd place only behind Colorado Christian. They were also 4th at the UAH D2 Festival Year Showcase and were GLVC team champions. They parlayed those results into a 6th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships in one of the best postseason performances of the season.

Jon Poag (Colorado Christian)

It feels odd to nominate a coach whose team only raced a true scoring lineup three times in a "Festival Year". However, Coach Jon Poag has now made his limited racing approach a consistent staple during his tenure at Colorado Christian -- and it’s clearly working.

The Cougars won the Lewis Crossover in impressive fashion. They finished 2nd in the South Central region and then finished 3rd at the NCAA XC Championships. Coach Poag has done a tremendous job of getting his athletes to maximize their talent level, especially when it matters the most, and 2022 was his finest showing yet.

Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Despite a 4th place finish at the national meet, Coach Jerry Baltes’ team was their typical dominant selves throughout the 2022 campaign. Grand Valley State won team titles at the MSU Spartan Invitational, the Louisville Classic, the GLIAC XC Championships and the Midwest XC Championships. They won the latter two meets by a combined 88 points and it was their 20th-straight title in both postseason championships.

Gary Towne (Chico State)

Coach Gary Towne has long been producing strong results for Chico State’s cross country program and that was no different in 2022 after their 5th place team finish at the national meet.

The Wildcats tallied 265 points in their season finale with middle distance star Rory Abberton leading the way with All-American honors. The Wildcats were CCAA champions for the 20th-straight season and dominated the West Regional XC Championships en route to the national meet. Coach Towne continues to produce competitive low-sticks while getting the most out of his backend athletes when it matters most.

Nick Bias (Charleston (WV))

Charleston (WV) was another team that outperformed expectations throughout the season. Coach Nick Bias has done a tremendous job of getting his athletes to peak at the right time.

The Golden Eagles were 3rd at the UAH D2 Festival Year Showcase before winning the MEC XC Championships and the Atlantic Regional XC Championships. Their best performance came at the NCAA XC Championships where they finished 8th as a team with two All-Americans in the field.

That may have been a surprising a result for some, but in retrospect, we should have given this group more respect coming into the national meet.

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2022 cross country season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees.

Nominees: Damon Martin (Adams State), Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Corey Kubatzky (UC-Colorado Springs), Matt Morris (CSU-Pueblo), Tracy Hellman (Augustana (SD)), Jeff Bolender (Cedarville), Grant Lofdahl (Wayne State (Mich.))

Damon Martin (Adams State)

No question about it, Coach Damon Martin deserves to be nominated for our "Best Coach" of the distance. I mean, did you see how the Grizzlies fared throughout the season? All they did was win.

It didn’t matter if their race was at sea level at the Highlander Invite against Division One teams or at the RMAC XC Championships against the best teams in Division Two. There could’ve been snow on the ground like at the South Central Regional XC Championships or it could have been cold and rainy like it was at the national meet.

And regardless of all of that, the women from Alamosa, Colorado, delivered time and time again.

Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

With a lineup featuring new additions in Clare Peters (a transfer from the NC State club team) and Jenna Ramsey (a transfer from Emporia State), the Orediggers had a new look about them this fall. They still had veterans Zoe Baker and Molly Maksin, but they were now equipped to contend for a national title if everything went according to plan (along with some luck).

They finished 2nd at the RMAC XC Championships and sustained a narrow defeat at the South Central Regional XC Championships to Adams State, giving us every reason to believe that the Orediggers could be a podium squad.

And sure enough, that is exactly what happened as they finished 3rd overall at the national meet with Maksin, Baker and freshman Grace Strongman taking home All-American performances.

Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Coach Jerry Baltes had an interesting task on his plate this fall when it came to replacing the defending individual national champion, Hannah Becker. Fortunately for the Lakers, two freshmen in Abby VanderKooi and Lauren Kiley would help ease the departed scoring pain.

Klaudia O’Malley showed up in Seattle to set the pace as she would lead two other teammates to All-American finishes as the Grand Valley State women took home the runner-up position. They also landed the GLIAC title in dominant fashion going 1-2-3-4-5.

The Lakers would go on to score a mere 31 points at the Midwest Regional XC Championships to secure the win and look like a very legitimate threat (at the time) to the Adams State women.

Corey Kubatzky (UC-Colorado Springs)

Talk about a dominant top-four!

Only the Adams State women had a better group of four at the national meet than UC-Colorado Springs as Layla Almasri, Kate Hedlund, Anna Fauske and Riley McGrath all finished inside the top-40 in their season finale.

The Mountain Lions were 3rd at both the RMAC XC Championships and the South Central regional meet, meaning that there couldn’t be many more teams better than them since they were competing against most of the top groups in all of Division Two going into the national meet.

Matt Morris (CSU-Pueblo)

The improvement from last year’s national meet to this year's NCAA XC Championships for the Thunderwolves was night and day. Last year, they were 20th. This year, they were 6th.

The difference? Experience.

The women from CSU-Pueblo were really young and inexperienced last fall, but have used that time to get used to racing at a high level. This led to Helen Braybrook and Yasmine Hernandez both being All-Americans. Coach Matt Morris continues to get the best out of his athletes at the perfect time and the 2022 national meet was no different.

Tracy Hellman (Augustana (SD))

The Vikings just always perform well on the national stage. It's just a fact.

Coach Tracy Hellman has often allowed this team to peak in the postseason and this year was no different. While the Augustana women, at times, might not have looked amazing, and some people may have thought that the Vikings would slip on the national stage, that just wasn’t the case at the end of 2022.

Augustana won the NSIC XC championships as well as the Central Regional XC Championships. They would end up finishing in 5th place as a team, led by Megan Means and Nicolette Schmidt who were both All-Americans in what were clearly their best races of the season.

Jeff Bolender (Cedarville)

History was made this year for the Yellow Jackets. Their 7th place team finish is the best result that they have ever recorded on the national stage. Coach Jeff Bolender seemingly knew that he didn’t have a true low-stick, so he utilized a pack-running style to perfection throughout the entirety of this fall.

A 34-second time-spread at the national meet is absurd. So is finishing 7th without an All-American! The Cedarville women were overwhelmingly dominant at the G-MAC XC Championships and were the runner-up finishers to Grand Valley State at the Midwest regional meet.

All of that, combined with a return trip to the NCAA XC Championships, makes Coach Bolender plenty worthy of a nomination.

Grant Lofdahl (Wayne State (Mich.))

We have a lot of respect for this scrappy group from Detroit. Admittedly, nobody had the Warriors on their radar to finish in the top-10 of the national meet, but the Wayne State women believed in them themselves -- and it showed two weekends ago.

Led by Ashley Defrain in 51st, Wayne State used the same pack-running strategy as Cedarville and their time-spread was equally as good. Just 38 seconds separated their first and fifth scorers at the national meet.
 

With all of this newfound momentum, this group, comprised of both seniors and underclassmen, will look to continue their breakthrough during the indoor track season.

*Must have run attached this season. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner this season or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines), Tanner Chada (Grand Valley State), Zach Kreft (Walsh), Afewerki Zeru (UC-Colorado Springs), Cole Nash (Alaska Anchorage), Duncan Fuehne (Colorado Mines)

Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

Learning from past mistakes, the 2022 version of Dillon Powell made everyone forget about the 2021 version Dillon Powell. Unlike other runners this year, Powell went through this cross country season completely undefeated, pulling away to earn conference, regional and national titles.

To add to those amazing results, Powell’s margin of victory in his races was never less than 15 seconds. Powell’s racing energy is infectious as he pulled along two teammates with him at the national meet to put three Orediggers in the top-10.

He was the best runner coming into the season and there’s a good reason to believe that he’ll be voted as the best runner this season as well.

Tanner Chada (Grand Valley State)

Coming off of an amazing 2021 cross country season, Tanner Chada quickly and unsurprisingly took over as the leader for the Lakers this year. Chada showed off elite consistency this fall, coming out of his meets as either the winner or the runner-up.

By upsetting Division One runners at the Louisville Classic, along with gapping the field by 30 seconds at the GLIAC XC Championships, Chada made other runners look like they were jogging. Chada knew the expectations that were placed upon him and he delivered on those all year long.

Zach Kreft (Walsh)

Moving from Indiana to Ohio, Zach Kreft changed the dynamic of the Walsh Cavaliers for the 2022 season. He ignited the momentum that Walsh needed for this fall campaign, winning the All-Ohio XC Championships and earning a top-10 finish in the loaded Paul Short “Gold” section with a very fast 23:14 (8k) personal best.

Kreft also took home the individual title at the G-MAC XC Championships and later pulled off an upset against Tanner Chada at the Midwest Regional XC Championships, proving just how good he really was.

With his 4th place finish at the national meet, Kreft now has some nice hardware to conclude his first season at the Division Two level.

Afewerki Zeru (UC-Colorado Springs)

Afewerki Zeru led his team throughout a stellar 2022 cross country season. Never finishing below 5th place, Zeru put his talent against a loaded conference and region which featured powerhouse schools like Colorado Mines and Adams State.

Never afraid to see a fast race, Zeru only lost to stellar athletes, but was a possible threat to upset some of them all year long. The UCCS ace was a big reason why the Mountain Lions returned to the the national meet in 2022 and his top-five finish in his season finale was the best individual result in school history.

Zeru is one of the best runners in the country and is deserving of this nomination.

Cole Nash (Alaska Anchorage)

This sophomore from Alaska unsurprisingly made a statement this fall after a fantastic 2021-2022 academic year. Cole Nash is a name that is becoming more and more recognized, nationally, and his 2022 cross country season can back that up.

The Alaska Anchorage ace was solid all season long, collecting an individual GNAC title along with a runner-up finish at the West regional meet while booking his individual ticket to Seattle.

Nash would go on to finish 6th at the national meet, making him two-for-two when it comes to All-American honors on the grass. This is just the beginning for Nash who will continue to be part of Division Two’s top group of talents over the coming years.

Duncan Fuehne (Colorado Mines)

With a powerful leader like Dillon Powell, many people forget about the strong athlete that is in Duncan Fuehne. Always in the shadows, Fuehne is a savvy runner and always knows where to place himself in races to give Colorado Mines the best chances of winning meets.

Fuehne is very consistent in his racing as well, never fading outside of the top-five in his efforts. He challenged Tanner Chada all the way to the line in Seattle while finishing in 3rd place, peaking at the perfect time.

Fuehne was a key member in the low-scoring win for Colorado Mines. He did not shy away from the competition and proved his importance.

*Must have run attached this season. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner this season or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State), Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State), Klaudia O’Malley (Grand Valley State), Florance Uwajeneza (West Texas A&M), Brianna Robles (Adams State)

Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)

Stephanie Cotter returned to Adams State and Division Two this fall. After some very average performances (at least based on Cotter’s overall resume) during her time at Northern Arizona, there were some questions as to how this season would go for her.

But based on her raw talent, we knew that Cotter would still be a top name.

Similar to her victorious and record-breaking 2019 season, Cotter waited to open her 2022 cross country season until the RMAC XC Championships. There, the Grizzly ace managed to win the RMAC individual title. After a small blip at the South Central regional meet, she then pulled away from the field to win the NCAA XC Championships by a wildly impressive margin.

Cotter admittedly doesn't have the full season that other nominees do and her regional result left us wanting more...but does any of that really matter? The Adams State veteran showcased absolute domination at the cross country national meet and was the best of the best on the stages that mattered the most.

Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Lindsay Cunningham was a talented runner last year, but she was on a whole new level this fall. The Winona State ace was undefeated this season up until the NCAA XC Championships where she settled for a runner-up finish. She won competitive meets such as the Griak Invitational and the Lewis Crossover. The Warrior star later won both the NSIC XC Championships and Central Regional XC Championships in a dominating fashion.

Cunningham's display of fitness (and improvement) put her in the conversation for the individual national title. And while she "only" placed 2nd at the national meet, her front-running tactics effectively made December 3rd a race for 3rd place.
 

Cunningham nearly pulled off an impressive undefeated season and was consistently winning races by large margins. In fact, one could argue that her season as a whole was collectively better than Cotter's. Those factors create a strong argument for her to win our "MVR" award.

Klaudia O’Malley (Grand Valley State)

Klaudia O’Malley was the top returner this fall from last year's national meet and she lived up to the expectations with her 3rd place finish at the NCAA XC Championships.

Prior to the 2022 cross country national meet, she won the Midwest Regional XC Championships and was 3rd at the GLIAC XC Championships. While solid throughout the season, her surge in fitness at the end of the fall months was highly impressive.

Sure, O'Malley wasn’t always the top runner for Grand Valley State this season, but she peaked when it mattered the most and aided the Lakers in winning the silver medal at the NCAA XC Championships.

Florance Uwajeneza (West Texas A&M)

Florance Uwajeneza emerged as a top talent last fall with her 9th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships. However, she was absent on the track, leaving us wondering how this season would go for her.

But the West Texas A&M quickly silenced any doubts and went on to win the Lone Star Conference XC Championships as well as the highly competitive South Central Regional XC Championships.

After that shocking performance, it was clear that Uwajeneza was capable of an even higher national meet finish than last year. And sure enough, she ended her 2022 cross country season with an impressive 5th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships, earning herself a nomination for our "MVR" award.

Brianna Robles (Adams State)

After winning two national titles on the track last year (well, still in 2022), Brianna Robles carried her momentum to the grass.

Robles led the Grizzlies for most of the season and was in the conversation to win the individual national title for quite some time. She won the Joe I. Vigil XC Open, was 3rd at the UCR Highlander Invitational and placed 2nd at the RMAC XC Championships. She placed 4th at the NCAA XC Championships, improving upon her 6th place finish from last fall and was the Grizzlies second scorer across the line.

Robles consistency and proven talent level earned her a nomination for our "MVR" award.

Men

Grace: Donald Kibet (Benedict)

Jose: Donald Kibet (Benedict)

Eric: Donald Kibet (Benedict)

John: Donald Kibet (Benedict)

Garrett: Donald Kibet (Benedict)

Women

Grace: Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State)

Jose: Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State)

Eric: Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State)

John: Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State)

Garrett: Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State)

Men

Eric: Wyatt McIntyre (Illinois-Springfield)

Grace: Wyatt McIntyre (Illinois-Springfield)

Jose: Cas Kopmels (Wingate)

John: Wyatt McIntyre (Illinois-Springfield)

Garrett: Harry Louradour (West Texas A&M)

Women

Grace: McKenna Thurston (Minnesota State)

Jose: Kira MacGill (Colorado Mesa)

Eric: McKenna Thurston (Minnesota State)

John: McKenna Thurston (Minnesota State)

Garrett: McKenna Thurston (Minnesota State)

Men

Grace: Dillon Powell Dominates Field En Route to NCAA Title

Jose: Zach Kreft Upsets Tanner Chada at Midwest Regional XC Championships

Eric: Dillon Powell Dominates Field En Route to NCAA Title

John: Dillon Powell Dominates Field En Route to NCAA Title

Garrett: Dillon Powell Dominates Field En Route to NCAA Title

Women

Grace: Stephanie Cotter Runs Away From Lindsay Cunningham to Win NCAA XC Title

Jose: Naomi Bailey Upsets Katie Doucette at NCAA D2 Pre-Nationals

Eric: Stephanie Cotter Runs Away From Lindsay Cunningham to Win NCAA XC Title

John: Stephanie Cotter Runs Away From Lindsay Cunningham to Win NCAA XC Title

Garrett: Stephanie Cotter Runs Away From Lindsay Cunningham to Win NCAA XC Title

Men

Grace: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Jose: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Eric: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

John: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Garrett: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Women

Grace: Damon Martin (Adams State)

Jose: Damon Martin (Adams State)

Eric: Damon Martin (Adams State)

John: Damon Martin (Adams State)

Garrett: Damon Martin (Adams State)

Men

Grace: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

Jose: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

Eric: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

John: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

Garrett: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

Women

Grace: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Jose: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)

Eric: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)

John: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Garrett: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)