TSR's 2024 D1 XC Top 50 Individual Rankings (Women): Update #1

---

Written by Finn Birnie, Rachel Hickey & Garrett Zatlin

---

NOTE: These rankings are based on how an individual fared throughout the entirety of a season, not just how they ran at a singular meet or (eventually) at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships. Click here to learn more about our ranking criteria. We will only list a max of 20 names in both our "Just Missed" section and our "Honorable Mentions" section (each).

---

KEY

(Unranked):

Was not ranked in our last update.

(#/#):

First number indicates how much the athlete has moved in the rankings.

The second number indicates where the athlete was ranked in our last update.

---

50. Nicole Vanasse, Senior, Villanova (Unranked)

We knew that Nicole Vanasse was a talented runner. She did, after all, post 4:36 mile PR on the track earlier this year. She also emerged as a valuable scorer for the Columbia women before making her move to Villanova this past summer.

However, an 11th place result completely shattered our expectations for her. That is a highly potent low-stick result which allowed Vanasse to take down a handful of top names. That performance was brilliant, but it also leaves us a bit unsure about what to expect from the Wildcat talent moving forward. If she continues to replicate that kind of effort, then she'll easily move up in our rankings.

49. Brynn Brown, Senior, North Carolina (Unranked)

The North Carolina veteran has made a long-awaited return to the highest tiers of NCAA competition. After racing only once between the end of last fall and the beginning of this season, we weren't sure what to expect from Brown. Her 2023 fall campaign was not great and her absence from racing left us scratching our heads.

Of course, a 10th place low-stick finish at the Nuttycombe Invite quells many of our concerns about Brown (and her team) so far this season. With experience and proven talent already on her side, we're confident that the 2022 consistency that we saw out of Brown will amplify her resume even more over the next month-and-a-half.

48. Annastasia Peters, Sophomore, Utah (-18 / 30)

A 54th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invite is truthfully not the best performance for someone who was an excellent low-stick scorer for Utah last fall. The 2023 cross country All-American faded in Madison, Wisconsin, but still held solid scoring value while her teammates stepped up to offer plenty of firepower.

We're not willing to overreact and drop a consistent All-American out of our rankings after one race. While her performance at the Nuttycombe Invite wasn't ideal, it wasn't necessarily horrid, either. The Utah star will likely rebound this fall, it's just a matter of how much.

47. Aliandrea Upshaw, Senior, Northern Arizona (-13 / 34)

Aliandrea Upshaw has yet to compete this fall.

46. Brianna Weidler, Senior, UC-Davis (-13 / 33)

Brianna Weidler has yet to compete this fall.

45. Laura Pellicoro, Senior, Portland (-13 / 32)

Laura Pellicoro has yet to compete this fall.

44. Mckaylie Caesar, Rs. Senior, Utah (-13 / 31)

A 21st place finish was a very solid result for Mckaylie Caesar. Yes, she does drop a good bit in our rankings, but that's largely because many other breakout names have entered our top-50 list. In fact, if you take out each of the newly-added women who are listed ahead of Caesar in our rankings, then the Utah ace (almost) returns to her preseason position.

Caesar's All-American effort at last year's national meet was huge and it showed us that she could properly peak in the postseason. If that happens again in 2024, then you can expect this to be the lowest that Caesar is ranked this fall.

43. Amina Maatoug, Senior, Washington (-34 / 9)

A 27th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invite is by no means a bad result. In fact, many teams would argue that a performance like that makes someone a low-stick.

Of course, for someone of Amina Maatoug's caliber, we were expecting a bit more from the Duke-turned-Washington runner. At her very best, Maatoug is one of the most lethal distance runners in the entire country, but she was injured in the spring and has since been recovering/rallying during the offseason.

There's a good chance that Maatoug regains momentum in the coming weeks and ends up peaking perfectly for the national meet. But until then, she drops back a good bit in our rankings.

42. Jenny Schilling, Junior, Virginia (-6 / 36)

This six-spot drop from Jenny Schilling isn't necessarily based on anything that she has done, but rather how well others have run. Her 20th place result at the Nuttycombe Invite was right on par with expectations and it further showcases the tremendous reliability that she brings to the table as a low-stick scorer.

41. Joy Naukot, Freshman, West Virginia (Unranked)

A 4th place result at the Louisville XC Classic puts Joy Naukot on our radar as a national-caliber low-stick. Yes, she may have lost to top names such as Ceili McCabe, Silvia Jelego and Judy Kosgei, but it's her win over Gladys Chepngetich which vaults the West Virginia rookie into our rankings.

There is still A TON that we don't know about Naukot. Her latest performance showcases tremendous talent, but she wasn't necessarily all that close to 3rd place or 5th place. We don't know how consistent she is and we don't know how she'll fare in much larger fields.

Even so, defeating someone like Chepngetich makes her more-than-deserving of a ranking.

40. Siona Chisholm, Senior, Notre Dame (Unranked)

There were a number of TSR writers who were very high on Siona Chisholm entering this fall. After a promising 2022 cross country season, the expectations for this Notre Dame runner may have been a bit too high.

But following a highly encouraging 2024 outdoor track season, Chisholm has looked like a national-caliber runner. That was further showcased at the Joe Piane Invite (on her home course) where she secured a 5th place result against an very talented field.

You could argue that this is the best that Chishom has ever looked. She still needs to replicate this kind of result on a consistent basis, but it's fair to say that she has the "it" factor this fall and is more than capable of doing so.

39. Fatima Alanis, Senior, North Carolina (-2 / 37)

Fatima Alanis has already logged three races so far during this cross country season. The UNC ace likely tempoed her season debut at the Charlotte Opener before placing 2nd at the Virginia Challenge and then an impressive 15th place at the Nuttycombe Invite.

Those results are nothing to scoff at, especially considering her Nuttycombe finish is 26 spots higher than her 2023 performance. And more importantly, those efforts validate the idea that she is still an All-American candidate for this fall.

In fact, the only real reason why Alanis moved down in our TSR rankings is less about what she has done and more about the breakouts of other athletes, such as Carly Wilkes and Maeve Stiles, who were previously unranked.

The interesting storyline to follow will, of course, be to watch how well her performances carry into the postseason, especially with so many races already in her legs. But considering the low-stakes opener and that the Virginia Invite was this fall, Nuttycombe was likely the first true test for Alanis and she certainly lived up to expectations.

38. Lucy Jenks, Senior, Georgetown (+1 / 39)

A 14th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invite gave the Georgetown women exactly what they needed this fall -- additional firepower.

That performance was arguably on the better end of expectations for Jenks. Of course, the introduction of numerous women to our rankings ultimately left the Stanford-turned-Georgetown runner somewhat stalled at our TSR #38 spot. Even so, that performance could very much be the spark that sets up Jenks for her best-ever cross country season and her first-ever All-American honor.

37. Carly Wilkes, Junior, Furman (Unranked)

Carly Wilkes of Furman provides yet another shocker in this list, as she enters our rankings in a grand fashion following a 9th place individual finish at the elusive Nuttycombe Invite.

With the Furman women lacking their multi-time All-American low-stick Bethany Graham, Wilkes has stepped up to fill the shoes as the team’s lead scorer in a top-heavy field of stars. This truly was a breakthrough performance for the junior. While she was undoubtedly a lead scorer for the Paladins last her, her ability to jump into All-American contention has effectively replaced the firepower that we originally believed that Furman was missing.

Whether or not Wilkes continues to build off this momentum the remainder of the 2024 fall season will be an enticing storyline to follow. Thankfully, she has evolved into an experienced veteran and has proven before that she can be a competitive -- just not to this level.

36. Maeve Stiles, Junior, Washington (Unranked)

Maeve Stiles has already been an incredible pick-up for the Huskies this fall!

The Penn transfer debuted in a Washington kit with a stunning 8th place finish to lead the Huskies to a 29-point victory over Utah at the Nuttycombe Invite. Not only was her individual placement in an absolutely loaded field impressive in itself, but it's even more surprising to see Stiles emerge as the top runner in an equally loaded Washington roster.

While Stiles showed some flashes of national-caliber talent while at Penn, this race validates the idea that her move to Seattle was a phenomenal one. Stiles fell just short of the national meet last fall with an 8th place individual finish at the Mid-Atlantic regional meet, but seemingly should have no problem handling herself in the presence of the big dogs in marquee races in 2024.

Between her extensive experience and recent momentum, we have good reason to believe that her monumental low-stick performance was far from a fluke. As long as she can stay healthy, you should expect Stiles to remain in these rankings.

35. Erin Vringer, Sophomore, Utah (Unranked)

With probably the biggest year-to-year improvement in terms of placement at the Nuttycombe Invitational, Erin Vringer launches herself into our individual rankings. In 2023, Vringer place 171st at the Nuttycombe Invite, so it goes without saying that her 6th place finish this fall provided quite the shock value.

With 4:16 (1500) and 9:06 (3k) PRs from a respectable freshman campaign, Vringer has certainly shown flashes of talent on the oval. However, to flex that level of aerobic strength in a field that can often be overwhelming is incredibly impressive, especially for an underclassman.

It feels safe to say that Vringer taking down such a talented, deep field in her fall opener was not on our bingo cards for the Nuttycombe Invite. Now, as the rest of the cross country season unfolds, we'll be curious to see if Vringer can validate her tremendous result and prove that her Nuttycombe result was anything but an outlier.

34. Alyson Churchill, Senior, Northern Arizona (-20 / 14)

Relative to expectations set from her 22nd place finish at last year’s NCAA XC Championships, Alyson Churchill’s 2024 fall campaign hasn't been all too exciting.

We anticipated that Churchill would likely fill the void at the very top of NAU’s lineup left from graduating talent such as Grace Larkin and Annika Reiss. Instead, she wasn’t even a scorer for the Lumberjacks in their Joe Piane victory this past weekend.

Churchill’s 17th overall placement is not necessarily a poor outing, but it certainly did not match the precedent that she had previously established in prior seasons. It's best not to overreact to one early-season race that was still fairly respectable. That's why we're keeping her inside of our top-35. But the next time she toes the line, we'll be looking for a bit more of that firepower that she showed at Florida State.

33. Karrie Baloga, Sophomore, Northern Arizona (+2 / 35)

Karrie Baloga emerged as the Lumberjack’s lead scorer in their victory run at the Joe Piane Invitational with a strong 7th place finish at the 5k distance. While that performance is not necessarily surprising in and of itself, it does validate our preseason suspicions that Baloga would evolve into the lead scorer for a national-caliber team.

Baloga had the strongest day when it mattered in a top-heavy field in South Bend, flexing veteran-level experience as a sophomore in her first fall in Flagstaff. The ongoing growth that comes with her youth, in addition to an encouraging Joe Piane Invite result, is what ultimately gives her a slight bump in these rankings.

32. Brenda Jepchirchir, Freshman, Auburn (Unranked)

One of the many new faces in our TSR rankings is Brenda Jepchirchir, otherwise known as the 2024 Gans Creek Classic individual champion.

The Auburn newcomer burst onto the NCAA scene by defeating the Stanford duo of Zofia Dudek and Sophia Kennedy on a hilly course in Missouri. In a race that got out to a hot start, the freshman phenom was able to pull away over the final 1k against proven NCAA talnets to establish herself as a genuine threat in the collegiate racing scene.

Jepchirchir’s season may be off to a very strong start, but the intriguing story to follow will be how this young Auburn ace fares in the challenges that lie ahead. Within the next month, Jepchirchir will face new challengers at Pre-National meet and at the SEC XC Championships. Faring well on those stages will give us a better understanding of what kind of low-stick the Tigers' new low-stick ace is.

31. Chloe Thomas, Senior, UConn (Unranked)

We see you, Chloe Thomas!

The UConn veteran enters our TSR rankings as an undefeated competitor this season. The Husky star secured an early-season victory at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invite and then backed that up with a statement victory at the Paul Short Invite (which was clearly favored to win).

Thomas dominated the latter field with a 33-second victory over Boston University’s Vera Sjoberg in the runner-up slot. In her early-season victory, she defeated Penn State’s Florence Caron, someone who looks to be a potential top-half All-American candidate this fall. And it's that win over Caron that truly catapults Thomas just outside of our top-30.

This UConn star has proven that she can hang with some of the NCAA’s best distance talents, something that she began to show in the spring. We're eager to see how Thomas' growing momentum allows her to fare in a more competitive field at Pre-Nationals.

30. Brenda Tuwei, Sophomore, Alabama (Unranked)

On a very fast course in Chicago, Alabama’s Brenda Tuwei posted an insanely fast 6k mark. However, what is even more impressive about Tuwei’s NCAA cross country debut was her brilliant 3rd place finish at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational.

Tuwei finished only behind teammate superstar teammate Doris Lemongole and Tulane’s Caroline Jeptuani in a field that included numerous teams and individuals from our preseason rankings.

While this field was not necessarily at the same caliber as the Nuttycombe Invite, her result validated the idea that the Alabama sophomore can, in fact, be a contender for an All-American honor later this fall. That's not something that was plenty apparent after her decent, but somewhat unexciting, efforts on the oval.

29. Silvia Jelego, Freshman, Clemson (Unranked)

A tremendous runner-up result at the Louisville XC Classic gave Silvia Jelego wins over standout teammates Judy Kosgei (3rd) and Gladys Chepngetich (5th) as well as Joy Naukot (4th). That was a pleasantly surprising result for someone who, truthfully, we knew very little about going into this season.

But the fact of the matter is that we still don't know much about Jelego. We can see that she's insanely talented, but we've only seen her in one competitive scenario. And in the postseason, the racing will look very different. Even so, taking down the names she did was enough for us to give her the nod for a top-30 ranking.

28. Leah Jeruto, Freshman, Oklahoma (Unranked)

Leah Jeruto made a massive splash in her NCAA debut, shocking the top-heavy field in South Bend, Indiana by placing 3rd overall.

The Joe Piane Invite had a resurgence of sorts this fall as the meet looked incredibly top-heavy. With nationally ranked teams duking it out, Jeruto held her own in the midst of numerous juggernauts, taking down everyone on NAU's squad as well as multiple other All-American contenders/favorites.

While that result was impressive enough to launch her well into our individual rankings, we have only seen the Oklahoma freshman race once. With limited NCAA racing experience, we wanted to find an appropriate spot in our rankings that acknowledges her talent, but also leaves us wondering what else she could do.

27. Nicola Jansen, Senior, New Mexico (+1 / 28)

Nicola Jansen has yet to compete this fall.

26. Addie Engel, Senior, Ohio State (0 / 26)

Addie Engel has yet to compete this fall.

25. Margot Appleton, Senior, Virginia (-2 / 23)

Margot Appleton has yet to compete this fall.

24. Alexandra Millard, Junior, Providence (-6 / 18)

Is a 19th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invite a poor result? Absolutely not.

Did it meet the expectations for Providence junior Alex Millard? Also no.

With an impressive range flexed through PRs of 4:05 (1500), 8:52 (3k) and 15:18 (5k), Millard’s true ceiling on the cross country course should probably be much higher -- and we still think we're going to see that. Whether it was just an "off" day or a deeper indication of her fitness, her Nuttycombe Invite result is not reflective of her prior abilities.

Seeing how Millard rises to the challenges ahead will serve to answer the questions surrounding this result and firmly establish where she is at this fall.

23. Paityn Noe, Sophomore, Arkansas (+2 / 25)

Just like last fall, Arkansas’s Paityn Noe opened her fall campaign in style. While she won the Chile Pepper XC Festival in 2023, Noe took runner-up this year only to teammate Mia Cochran as both women cruised across the line together.

With a year of collegiate racing under her belt and her fitness seemingly just as strong as it was last year, Noe’s confidence should only be growing as the Razorbacks prepare for Pre-Nationals in two weeks. We expect Noe to be in the hunt, vying for a top spot against a more competitive field where she can establish herself as a national-caliber star.

22. Gladys Chepngetich, Sophomore, Clemson (-6 / 16)

A 5th place result at the Louisville XC Classic admittedly left us wanting more as Gladys Chepngetich was the last low-stick-caliber talent in the field to cross the line.

There is certainly nothing wrong with losing to women like Ceili McCabe, Silvia Jelego, Judy Kosgei and Joy Naukot. However, not being able to take down any of those women is not what you would expect out of someone who we thought could be a top-15 runner in the NCAA this fall.

Regardless, it would be an overreaction to drop Chepngetich any more than this. She proved throughout last fall that she could fare well in a variety of fields and she's a borderline lock for All-American honors (right?). For that reason, we'll keep her at TSR #22 in this update.

21. Amy Bunnage, Sophomore, Stanford (-1 / 20)

Amy Bunnage has yet to compete this fall.

20. Maddy Elmore, Senior, Oregon (-1 / 19)

Maddy Elmore has yet to compete this fall.

19. Melissa Riggins, Senior, Georgetown (+10 / 29)

Melissa Riggins opened up her 2024 fall campaign with an outstanding 7th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational, leading the Hoya women to a strong 3rd place result. That effort indicates that Riggins is entering this fall season right at, or even slightly above, the fitness level that she flexed in 2023 when she finished 15th in the same (but slightly more competitive) race.

A top-10 finish in a national-caliber field demonstrates that this middle distance standout has perfectly sustained her momentum from the track. Assuming Riggins remains healthy this fall -- she fell ill in the postseason last year -- she should continue to climb higher in our rankings.

18. Kimberley May, Senior, Providence (+9 / 27)

A 5th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational is exactly the cross country performance that Kimberley May's track pedigree suggested she could achieve. Make no mistake, May was fantastic for the majority of last fall, but it’s no secret that the national meet has not been kind to her, as evidenced by her 213th place finish in 2021, her 138th place finish in 2022, and her 116th place finish in 2023.

This type of run is highly encouraging and it is exactly the start she needed to build her confidence as we head into the postseason. Despite having impressive range, the Friar ace is primarily a middle distance athlete, so to see her go toe-to-toe with some of the nation’s more aerobically inclined talents was extremely exciting and could be a sign of what’s to come this fall.

17. Grace Hartman, Sophomore, NC State (0 / 17)

Grace Hartman has a Goliath-like task on her hands this fall, leading a Wolfpack team that just graduated Katelyn Tuohy, Kelsey Chmiel, Amaris Tyynismaa, and Samantha Bush. Not only that, but she may not even have Leah Stephens for this fall.

Yet, based on her performances this past winter and spring, Hartman seems more than capable of handling the challenge. And so far, she has done a very respectable job.

In the Wolfpack's first real test of the season at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, Hartman led her team with a 4th place finish -- a solid result considering the caliber of the women ahead of her. However, her low-stick performance, paired with the team’s overall spread, wasn’t enough to take down a heavily front-loaded Alabama squad.

What we saw from her in the Windy City still suggests that she can secure a top-20 finish in Madison, Wisconsin come November. However, with those around her making leaps in their fitness, she’ll need to bring her "A" game if she wants to make that happen.

16. Caroline Jeptanui, Freshman, Tulane (Unranked)

What a way to introduce yourself, Caroline Jeptanui!

The Tulane rookie made a statement in her debut with a 2nd place finish at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational. Finishing that highly in a fairly top-heavy field is no small feat, especially in your collegiate debut.

While we are certainly very interested to see how she would fare in a larger and deeper field, Jeptanui appears to have a crazy-high ceiling and she could be a threat for a top-half All-American finish later this fall. Fortunately for us, we may get to see just how well the rising Green Wave star performs against stiffer competition as Tulane has Pre-Nationals listed on their schedule.

15. Phoebe Anderson, Senior, Columbia (+7 / 22)

Phoebe Anderson's rise to stardom was one of last fall's most pleasant surprises, and this season, she looks better than ever.

The Ivy League standout kicked-off her fall campaign in spectacular fashion with a 4th place finish at the hotly-contested Nuttycombe Invitational. Not only was this 13 spots higher than her result last season, but it also hinted at a ceiling higher than we had previously anticipated.

The Lioness took down a host of high-caliber athletes in Madison, Wisconsin, including Georgetown's Melissa Riggins. Considering her hallmark has always been her consistency, the question now is whether this new level of fitness is something we can expect for the remainder of the fall. And if the consistency that we've seen from her throughout her career is any indication, it's a yes.

14. Jenna Hutchins, Rs. Sophomore, BYU (+10 / 24)

Former high school megastar Jenna Hutchins was an intriguing name to rank coming into the season, largely because we felt it best to rank her based on her potential on the grass rather than her past accomplishments.

After a tremendous 6th place finish over 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, we knew that the BYU ace had what it takes to make that leap in her fitness on the grass -- and sure enough, we were right.

A 4th place finish at Joe Piane was exactly the type of performance that we knew she was capable of. Not only did she beat a handful of proven All-Americans, but she also provided the Cougars with another much-needed low stick. Hutchins' role in BYU's mission to return to the podium is going to be pivotal. But with the fitness to get them there, all she needs to do now is remain consistent -- something that has tripped her up in the past.

13. Florence Caron, Sophomore, Penn State (Unranked)

I don't think many people outside of the Penn State camp had Florence Caron placing 2nd in their predictions for the Nuttycombe Invitational, but that's exactly what happened.

It was no secret that Caron was a strong and talented contender heading into these fall months. We knew that she could be a legitimate low-stick for Penn State in October and November, especially after her standout victories over 5000 meters and 10,000 meters at the BIG 10 Outdoor Championships and her qualification for the national meet in the latter event.

However, we certainly didn't expect her to be this good.

Taking down athletes like Machu, May and Riggins is not something that happens by chance. It should be seen as a legitimate statement to the rest of the country. If she can replicate that kind of performance, then she won’t just be an All-American candidate -- she'll be an All-American favorite.

12. Sadie Sigfstead, Rs. Junior, Villanova (+32 / 44)

Villanova’s Sadie Sigfstead skyrockets up our rankings after an incredible breakthrough victory at the Nuttycombe Invitational. Coming into this season, the Wildcat star was an underrated talent with a tremendous aerobic engine, and that engine was on full display in Madison, Wisconsin.

With Gonzaga’s Rosin Machu setting a blistering pace, Sigfstead didn’t shy away from the challenge, shadowing Machu’s every move before ultimately storming away to victory.

Sigfstead has proven that she thrives in aggressive races, given her aerobic-centric nature. While we’d like to see her back up this performance, there’s no doubt this result showcases her potential to secure a top-20 finish in November -- and dare we say, perhaps even a top-10 result.

11. Judy Kosgei, Sophomore, Clemson (+4 / 15)

Clemson’s newest trio of Silvia Jelego, Judy Kosgei and Gladys Chepngetich have gotten their seasons off to a strong start. After a few strong rust-busting efforts, the Tiger trio placed 2nd, 3rd and 5th, respectively, at the Louisville Classic. That meet featured a battle with a pair of West Virginia standouts in Ceili McCabe (1st) and Joy Naukot (4th).

Kosgei's ability to take down an accomplished All-American teammate as well as a separate All-American threat from West Virginia suggests that she's still a national-caliber standout. There is no shame in losing to McCabe and we're still trying to figure out exactly how good Jelego is. At the very least, Kosgei looks like she can be a top-half All-American once again in 2024 and that's all that we can ask for.

10. Sydney Thorvaldson, Rs. Junior, Arkansas (0 / 10)

Sydney Thorvaldson has yet to compete this cross country season.

9. Rosina Machu, Junior, Gonzaga (+3 / 12)

It's no secret that Gonzaga’s Rosina Machu loves to be the aggressor. The senior was renowned last fall for grabbing the bull by the horns and dictating how certain races played out. And judging by her superb effort at Nuttycombe, nothing has changed.

Despite the highly competitive and deep field, the Bulldog standout didn’t shy away from once again setting an aggressive tempo. Her bold approach paid off with an impressive 3rd place finish.

Taking such a risk in a field of that caliber is remarkably impressive, even though she faded to bronze. Machu has proven that she’s a name to watch, and if she can continue to balance risk with reward, then we could well see her rise even higher in these rankings this fall.

8. Juliet Cherubet, Sophomore, Texas Tech (+3 / 11)

Despite her inexperience last year, Juliet Cherubet raced like a seasoned veteran. This season, she has continued along that same path. After taking care of business at a few early-season meets, Cherubet faced her first real test at the Joe Piane Invitational. There, she delivered a brilliant runner-up finis behind increasingly in-form Lexy Halladay-Lowry.

This race was a strong reflection of the Red Raider’s current form. Last season, her impressive level of consistency helped her crack the top-20 at the national meet. Now, with her fitness seemingly elevated this fall, we wouldn't be surprised to see her break into the top-10 this time around.

7. Elise Stearns, Senior, Northern Arizona (0 / 7)

Elise Stearns has yet to compete this fall.

6. Chloe Scrimgeour, Senior, Georgetown (-1 / 5)

Chloe Scrimgeour has yet to compete this fall.

5. Ceili McCabe, Rs. Senior, West Virginia (+3 / 8)

It's been an age since we’ve seen Ceili McCabe toe the line on the grass, at least in the NCAA. However, if you cast your mind back to the fall of 2022, you'll remember her remarkable campaign, highlighted by a 3rd-place finish at the national meet and a victory at the Nuttycombe Invitational.

Well, the West Virginia veteran is back, and she marked her return with a comfortable victory over a very talented Clemson trio at the Louisville XC Classic.

To be honest, this performance didn’t reveal anything new about the Mountaineer. It’s clear that she’s back in top form and if she can utilize her experience and regain the form that we saw from her two years ago, then she’ll be well on her way to returning to the top-10.

4. Lexy Halladay-Lowry, Senior, BYU (+2 / 6)

Entering this season, we were excited about Lexy Halladay-Lowry -- and for good reason. She had an exceptional indoor track season and followed it up with jaw-dropping outdoor track performances, posting times of 15:02 (5k) and 9:22 (steeple).

This past weekend, she quickly lived up to the hype, securing an impressive victory against a top-heavy field at the Joe Piane Invite.

The Cougar comfortably took down one of the nation's top talents, Juliet Cherubet, by six seconds on a course that many believed favored Cherubet. That marquee victory cements Halladay-Lowry as a serious podium contender come November, provided she can maintain this form. Now, the new question for this BYU star is...could she legitimately threaten for NCAA gold come November?

3. Pamela Kosgei, Freshman, New Mexico (0 / 3)

A comfortable victory at the Cowboy Jamboree for NCAA debutant Pamela Kosgei was arguably one of the least surprising results of the season so far. The bronze medalist from the U20 World XC Championships wasted no time adjusting to NCAA competition, dominating the field with a commanding 43-second victory in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

While the competition wasn’t the strongest, it was still impressive to see the Lobos’ newest star in such fine form. Given her credentials and superb start, we firmly believe that she remains a serious podium threat. That belief will be tested when she faces her first true challenge of the season at Pre-Nationals in two weeks' time.

2. Hilda Olemomoi, Junior, Florida (0 / 2)

Hilda Olemomoi has yet to compete this fall.

1. Doris Lemngole, Sophomore, Alabama (0 / 1)

Doris Lemngole has wasted no time making her presence felt this season, kicking things off with two spectacularly dominant victories. Her smallest margin of victory? A jaw-dropping 16 seconds.

After brushing off the early-season cobwebs with a blistering 35-second triumph at the Southern Showcase, Lemngole ventured to the Windy City to face a more competitive field at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational. Not only did she make short work of multiple top-20 talents, but her commanding victory also helped spearhead the Crimson Tide to an impressive team win over defending national champions NC State.

These victories come as no surprise, especially since the Crimson Tide star is widely regarded as the favorite for the national title. Yet, despite not learning anything new about the Kenyan superstar, it was incredibly promising to see her already in such impressive form this early in the season.

---

ADDED

Nicole Vanasse (Villanova)

Brynn Brown (North Carolina)

Siona Chisholm (Notre Dame)

Joy Naukot (West Virginia)

Carley Wilkes (Furman)

Maeve Stiles (Washington)

Erin Vringer (Utah)

Chloe Thomas (UConn) Silvia Jelego (Clemson)

Brenda Jepchirchir (Auburn)

Brenda Tuwei (Alabama)

Leah Jeruto (Oklahoma)

Caroline Jeptanui (Tulane)

Florence Caron (Penn State)

KICKED OFF

Lydia Miller (Lipscomb)

Ashley Jones (Tennessee)

Emily Covert (Colorado)

Erin Strzelecki (Notre Dame)

Maggi Congdon (Northern Arizona) Sophia Kennedy (Stanford)

Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon)

Yasna Petrova (California Baptist)

Carmen Alder (BYU)

Leane Willemse (Wisconsin)

Chloe Foerster (Washington)

Leah Stephens (NC State)

Greta Karinauskaite (California Baptist)

Billah Jepkirui (Oklahoma State)

JUST MISSED (in no particular order)

Pheline Cheruto (Alabama)

Hannah Gapes (NC State)

Lydia Miller (Lipscomb)

Emily Covert (Colorado)

Erin Strzelecki (Notre Dame)

Maggi Congdon (Northern Arizona)

Sophia Kennedy (Stanford)

Kaiya Robertson (Boise State)

Silan Ayyildiz (Oregon)

Carmen Alder (BYU)

Chloe Foerster (Washington)

Sophie O'Sullivan (Washington)

Shannon Flockhart (Providence)

Julia David-Smith (Washington)

Savannah Roark (Syracuse)

Zofia Dudek (Stanford)

Sophia Kennedy (Stanford)

Maelle Porcher (Iowa State)

Bieke Schipperen (Florida State)

Mia Barnett (Oregon)

HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order)

Loral Winn (Ole Miss)

Ashley Jones (Tennessee)

Keira Moore (Northern Arizona)

Allison Wilson (Florida)

Makenna Veen (Michigan State)

Vera Sjoberg (Boston U.)

Mercy Kinyanjui (Toledo)

Blezzin Kimutai (Tulane)

Ali Weimer (Minnesota)

Nia Clatworthy (Lamar)

Victoria Lagat (Oklahoma State)

Fleur Templier (Portland)

Kaylie Armitage (Furman)

Katarzyna Nowakowska (Utah)

Gillian Bushee (Virginia)

Nikita Moore (Northern Arizona)

Alex Carlson (Northern Arizona)

Ava Mitchell (Northern Arizona)

Notes

- Per an article from LetsRun's Jon Gault, it seems unlikely that Leah Stephens will return to racing this fall due to an injury. For that reason, we removed her from our rankings.

- Billah Jepkirui has not yet competed this season. That fact, paired with her absence on Oklahoma State's TFRRS roster and a summer-time rumor that she would not race this fall, gave us enough reason to remove her from our rankings.