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TSR's 2026 NCAA Preseason D1 XC Top 50 Rankings: #30-21 (Men)
Written by Rachel Hickey, edits & additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin
30. Nickson Chebii, Junior, Auburn
Some national meet finishes feel like the culmination of years of development.
Nickson Chebii's felt more like a starting point.
The Auburn standout put together an impressive sophomore campaign, capping it by just missing All-American honors at the 2025 NCAA XC Championships with a 41st place finish. For a runner in just his second collegiate cross country season, it was a promising result.
Even so, there were moments throughout his 2025 fall campaign which suggested that Chebii's performance at the cross country national meet was just scratching the surface of what he's capable of. After all, a monster runner-up performance at the SEC XC Championships, which featured numerous top-end long distance stars, set the scene for a big-time run in Columbia, Missouri.
That, however, didn't happen. And like many young international standouts, there were stretches over the last year where refinement and experience appeared just as important as raw fitness.
That theme carried into the track season, where Chebii continued to show flashes of why he's viewed as one of Auburn's cornerstones moving forward, running times of 7:57 (3k), 13:35 (5k) and 28:39 (10k). While his development remains on schedule, another year of collegiate racing should only make him a more complete championship competitor...right?
That's what makes Chebii such an intriguing projection entering the fall. His combination of natural talent and front-running ability gives him one of the higher ceilings in this portion of the rankings. But can the Tiger distance ace show that on a more consistent basis in the fall of 2026?
We'll likely find out soon.
29. Ethan Coleman, Senior, Notre Dame
Ethan Coleman's breakout didn't happen overnight.
While the Notre Dame veteran had shown flashes of promise earlier in his career, last fall was the season where everything finally came together.
After earning a runner-up finish at his home meet, the Joe Piane Invite, Coleman threw down an excellent 11th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invite! That was the first time where we began to view the Notre Dame product as a national-caliber low-stick. Sure enough, his steady progression throughout last fall led to a 7th place finish at the ACC XC Championships and 28th place All-American honors at the 2025 NCAA XC Championships.
Not only was he consistently a potent star, but he validated the hints of stardom that he flashed earlier in his career.
That's why his breakthrough wasn't entirely surprising. Coleman had already showcased competitiveness on the track, but last fall, he demonstrated that his aerobic development had finally caught up to those credentials. Unlike some runners in this range who rely on flashes of brilliance, Coleman's rise was built on a few seasons of consistently strong performances against quality competition.
Of course, the biggest storyline entering this fall has little to do with his ability.
Coleman has not raced since December of 2025, making it difficult to know exactly what version of him will line up this season. Given Notre Dame's recent run of injury setbacks among several of their top distance runners, his health becomes an unavoidable part of the conversation.
If he's fully fit, then there's little reason to believe that he can't build on last year's momentum. If not, then projecting another step forward becomes considerably more difficult.
That's what makes Coleman one of the more challenging athletes to rank. His 2025 cross country season suggested that he had established himself as a legitimate All-American star. However, until he returns to competition, there will naturally be more questions than answers.
28. Evans Biwott, Sophomore, Oklahoma
Freshman seasons rarely inspire as much confidence as the one Evans Biwott pieced together last fall.
The rising Sooner sophomore wasted little time establishing himself as one of the nation's premier newcomers during the 2025 cross country season. Biwott consistently finished near the front of competitive fields while proving that he belonged in conversations well beyond the SEC greats.
Earning a runner-up finish at the Cowboy Jamboree was a quietly outstanding result which put Biwott onto our radar. And a win at the Princeton Fall Classic? That was arguably just as good. By the midpoint of the season, it wasn't unreasonable to view Biwott as one of the NCAA's top-20 cross country runners, regardless of class. His raw firepower and pure talent had allowed him to overtake distance stars who were arguably more established.
Those strong regular season performances were followed by an equally excellent 4th place finish at the SEC XC Championships. That further validated the absurdly high ceiling that Biwott very clearly had.
The Oklahoma talent ended his season at the NCAA XC Championships, taking an admittedly underwhelming 56th place finish. While the Kenyan star gave the Sooners another front-line scoring ace, his national meet finish didn't reflect the level of talent that he had shown throughout much of the fall months.
Even so, it's difficult to be overly critical of a then-freshman who accomplished as much as Biwott did. Compared to many of the names in this section of our rankings, the Sooner underclassman already owns one of the stronger cross country resumes, and he did so while adapting to collegiate racing for the first time. That experience alone should pay dividends upon entering year two.
Perhaps that's why Biwott feels like one of the safer bets in this range despite his prior national meet effort. The foundation and upside are already there, and another offseason of development only strengthens the case for a significant sophomore leap.
If he can pair last year's regular season form with a stronger performance at the NCAA XC Championships, then an All-American finish feels more like a probability rather than a possibility.
27. Dennis Kipruto, Junior, Alabama
Dennis Kipruto's progression has been difficult to ignore.
The Alabama junior has steadily developed into one of the SEC's premier long distance runners, pairing an increasingly impressive cross country resume with continued improvements on the track. Rather than relying on one breakout performance, Kipruto has built his reputation through consistent growth and a skillset that appears to be expanding (and refining) with each passing season.
That development was especially evident last fall.
During the 2025 cross country season, Kipruto continued to show that he could compete with quality fields throughout the regular season before delivering another strong championship campaign. He dominated Alabama’s home invitational in October after securing a quietly impressive 10th place effort at the Gans Creek Classic. He later pieced together a respectable 8th place performance at the SEC XC Championships.
However, to put a cherry on top of his fall campaign, Kipruto saved what was probably his best performance for last, taking 26th at the NCAA XC Championships to earn All-American honors.
While he firmly established himself as a high-level NCAA competitor, there was still a lingering sense that another level remained within reach, particularly given the fitness that he continued to display throughout the rest of the academic year.
His track season only strengthened that belief. Kipruto continued to chip away at his personal bests while looking increasingly comfortable racing longer distances. Sure, his aerobic strength remained one of his greatest assets, but the poise, composure, tactical know-how and championship execution were dramatically better than they had been in the past. That led to a 13:27 (5k) PR this past spring as well as an 8th place All-American honor over 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
At this point, there are few questions about whether this Crimson Tide star belongs among the NCAA's top distance runners. Instead, the conversation shifts to how high he can climb.
Kipruto has already proven that he can be a dependable championship performer, but another year of development could allow him to move beyond simply earning strong finishes and into the conversation as one of the nation's premier long distance talents. Given the trajectory of his career, betting against another step forward feels increasingly difficult.
26. Valentin Soca, Senior, Georgia
Second acts in the NCAA are as rare as they come.
Yet, after a brief stint as a professional, Valentin Soca is back in the collegiate ranks, reuniting with former California Baptist coach, Adam Tribble, at Georgia for one final year of racing. The move instantly gives the Bulldogs another legitimate low-stick star, but it also reopens one of the more fascinating storylines in collegiate distance running.
On paper, Soca's resume suggests that he should be one of the nation's premier cross country runners. His track credentials are among the strongest of anyone in this section of the rankings -- or anyone in the NCAA -- having run truly jaw-dropping times of 7:33 (3k), 13:02 (5k) and 27:37 (10k) over the last few years.
Put simply, this Georgia distance star has consistently shown that he has the aerobic strength needed to compete with elite fields.
However, that insane ability to run ultra-fast times has never fully translated to the NCAA cross country scene. While he has certainly produced quality performances on the grass before -- having previously earned 33rd place All-American honors in the fall of 2024 -- his championship resume still falls short of what his track ability would lead many to expect.
Last fall, for instance, Soca was only 108th at the NCAA XC Championships. While that was clearly an "off" day, it’s a performance that leaves much to be desired from someone who, on paper, should deliver.
That disconnect makes projecting Soca particularly difficult. Perhaps the return to a familiar coach will help unlock another level. Perhaps another year of maturity and experience will finally allow his cross country resume to match the caliber of runner who we've seen on the oval.
Whatever the reason, there is little doubt that the physical tools are already in place.
For Georgia, the upside is obvious. If Soca can pair his elite track fitness with the kind of championship cross country performance that has occasionally eluded him, then he'll give the Bulldogs exactly the type of low-stick they need to continue their ascent on the national stage.
25. Rodgers Kiplimo, Senior, Iowa State
At some point, the conversation around Rodgers Kiplimo shifted.
No longer viewed as a talented runner with intriguing upside, the Iowa State veteran has quietly established himself as one of the NCAA's most dependable cross country performers. His progression has been measured rather than meteoric, but that's precisely what has made him such a reliable presence near the front of championship fields.
Last fall only reinforced that reputation.
In 2025, Kiplimo once again proved that he could handle the demands of championship racing. In doing so, he added another impressive cross country campaign to an already accomplished resume with his brilliant 23rd place finish at the NCAA XC Championships.
That, of course, was hardly a fluke given that he placed 13th at the Gans Creek Classic and 10th at the BIG 12 XC Championships. Although, then again, the Iowa State veteran was undoubtedly at his best on the national stage.
By now, there is little mystery surrounding the type of runner Kiplimo is. He has repeatedly shown that he can compete against the nation's best over 10,000 meters and he has very rarely had "off" days. That, in turn, makes him one of the safer projections in these rankings.
That consistency has become one of Kiplimo's greatest strengths -- something that was once a pitfall for him earlier in his career. While others in this section may possess slightly higher talent ceilings, few have demonstrated the same ability to deliver quality performances year after year. Combined with Iowa State's proven ability to develop elite cross country talent, it's difficult to envision a scenario where Kiplimo isn't once again a major factor this fall.
Even so, the final step is often the hardest.
Kiplimo has already proven that he belongs among the NCAA's best, but moving from dependable All-American to legitimate front-end contender requires another level, entirely. Whether that leap comes this season remains to be seen, but his resume suggests that he has earned the benefit of the doubt more than most.
24. Simeon Birnbaum, Rs. Junior, Oregon
Simeon Birnbaum's trajectory has been pointing in one direction for quite some time.
Now regarded as one of the nation's premier young American distance runners, the Oregon standout elevated his profile even further with a breakthrough track campaign which suggested that another leap may still be on the horizon. The question entering this fall isn't whether or not Birnbaum is talented enough to excel over 10,000 meters, but rather, how quickly that talent will translate into elite cross country success.
And his resume on the grass already provides reasons for optimism.
Birnbaum has proven that he can find success at the NCAA XC Championships. Remember, he was a 33rd place All-American at the 2025 national meet.
At the same time, much of his broader cross country resume has been solid rather than spectacular, leaving room to wonder if his best performances over the longer distances are still ahead of him. After all, he was “only” 18th at the Bill Dellinger Invite and 17th at the BIG 10 XC Championships last fall, performances that proved there is still some variability in his grass-based performances.
Of course, winter and spring campaigns headlined by times of 1:44 (800), 3:31 (1500), 7:39 (3k) and 13:19 (5k) tell a different story.
As Birnbaum continued to lower his personal bests and establish himself among the country's premier collegiate distance runners, it became increasingly difficult to ignore how naturally his progression appears. Few athletes in this section of our rankings enter the fall months with more momentum and upside as he does.
Birnbaum is already well established, and his recent development suggests that another step forward is likely. The only real uncertainty is the size of that step. If his track breakthrough carries over to cross country, then this ranking could end up looking far too conservative come November.
23. William Zegarski, Senior, Butler
William Zegarski has quietly become one of the NCAA's most dependable cross country performers.
While others have generated more preseason buzz with eye-catching track marks or rapid breakthroughs, the Butler senior has built his reputation the old-fashioned way: by repeatedly delivering great result after great result.
And at this point, there is little mystery surrounding the type of runner he is.
That consistency has defined much of Zegarski's collegiate career. His breakout 2024 fall campaign (where he was 17th at the national meet) firmly established him as one of the nation's premier cross country runners. And although last fall's NCAA XC Championships didn't quite produce the same headline-worthy finish for Zegarski, it did little to diminish the strength of his overall resume.
Yes, it would have been nice to see Zegarski match (or improve upon) his 2024 national meet performance. Of course, if a 66th place finish is considered his floor, then the foundation of his career thus far is still quite solid.
More often than not, Zegarski has shown that he can be counted on to race well against the country's deepest fields. Just look at last fall where he earned a pair of 14th place finishes at both the Gans Creek Classic and the Nuttycombe Invite. Those quietly awesome performances were followed by a strong BIG East title win a few weeks later.
And believe it or not, his 2024 fall campaign was arguably better (or at least, just as good).
Perhaps that's why Zegarski remains such an appealing projection entering his senior season. He may not generate the same excitement as some of the younger, higher-upside names ranked behind him, but few runners have done more to earn the benefit of the doubt. His experience, consistency and proven championship credentials make him one of the safer bets in this range.
22. Elkana Kipruto, Junior, Wichita State
There may not be many runners in the country whose resume leaves more room for interpretation than Elkana Kipruto's.
The Wichita State junior has repeatedly shown that he possesses the talent to compete with some of the NCAA's best, producing performances that hint at a significantly higher ceiling than his national meet finish from last fall may suggest.
And yes, that's a fairly big statement given that he already took 24th place All-American honors at the 2025 NCAA XC Championships.
Throughout his collegiate career, Kipruto has consistently demonstrated why he's viewed as one of the premier mid-major distance runners in the country. Whether tasked with conference competition or nationally-ranked fields, the Shocker star has showcased the necessarily fitness to remain competitive with high-level opposition. Taking silver at Pre-Nationals supports that notion, as does an awesome win over Tulane's star ace, Bernard Cheruiyot, at the American Athletic Conference XC Championships.
And with recent track PRs of 13:35 (5k) and 28:09 (10k), there is no denying that the potential of this Wichita State runner is immense.
Kipruto has built a resume that reflects steady growth, and another year of experience should only strengthen his confidence in championship racing. At this stage of his career, there are few physical questions left to answer.
Instead, this season is about putting everything together when the stakes are highest.
21. Dominic Serem, Junior, Colorado
Dominic Serem spent much of last fall looking like one of the nation's top-20 cross country runners. In fact, there may have been a brief moment where he was flirting with the top-10.
At his best, this rising Colorado junior looked every bit like a cross country superstar in the fall of 2025, producing standout performances at both the Gans Creek Classic (5th) and the Nuttycombe Invite (4th). Those two results suggested that the Kenyan Buffalo belonged among the nation's elite.
But at the 2025 NCAA XC Championships result, Serem simply struggled, falling out of All-American contention with a 58th place. That performance didn't at all reflect the raw talent and elite aerobic fitness that he had previously used to take down multiple NCAA stars.
That gap between regular season success and championship execution is the defining storyline of Serem's preseason outlook.
The regular season consistency already exists, and there is little doubt that Serem has the natural talent to compete with the country's best over grass. The challenge now is bringing that same level to the championship stage, where expectations naturally rise.
There is also an element of uncertainty surrounding his fitness entering the fall. Serem has not raced since December, but that appears to be more a product of Colorado's long-term development approach rather than an indication of concern. The Buffaloes have not been afraid to prioritize cross country over spring racing, and Serem's absence from the track should only heighten the anticipation for what he may produce this fall.
Ultimately, Serem doesn't need to reinvent himself to climb these rankings. He simply needs to pair the version of himself that showed up at the Gans Creek Classic and the Nuttycombe Invite with a stronger finish in November.
If he can do that, then this ranking may ultimately prove too conservative.
