BYU Cougars men's cross country

Last updated
BYU Cougars
mens's cross country
BYU Cougars logo.svg
University Brigham Young University
Athletic director Tom Holmoe
Head coach Ed Eyestone (since 2000 season)
Conference Big 12
Location Provo, UT
CourseLakeside Sports Complex
Nickname Cougars
National championships
2019
NCAA Championship appearances
1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1999-2023
Conference champions
1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024

The BYU Cougars men's cross country team represents BYU in the Big 12 Conference. Coached by Ed Eyestone since the 2000 season, the program has won one nation championship in 2019. BYU runners have won the individual NCAA title four times; Eyestone in 1984, Josh Rohatinsky in 2006, and Conner Mantz in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. From 2011 to 2022, the Cougars were part of the West Coast Conference, and were conference champions 10 out of their 12 seasons. BYU joined the Big 12 Conference in 2023, and won the conference title in 2024.

Contents

History

Cross country originated at BYU as an informal competition, technically classified as a long distance running event for the track and field team. Clarence Robison, an experienced collegiate and Olympic long distance runner, became the track and field coach in 1950. Robison's experience and interest in long distance running led to the growing popularity of cross country both in track and field and as its own sport. [1] :446–447 Competitions in cross country were often held jointly with the track and field team. In 1962, Sherald James, who had competed as part of the BYU track team, [2] was added on the track and field coaching staff with his primary responsibility being the cross country team. James helped cultivate the popularity of the program and cross country as an event in track and field. [1] :447 From 1962 to 1998, the Cougars where lead by James as they completed in the Western Athletic Conference, where the Cougars won 12 conference championships, and Ed Eyestone won an individual NCAA championship in 1984 with a time of 29:28.8. [3] Starting in 1999, the Cougars competed in the Mountain West Conference. [4]

In 2000, Ed Eyestone became the programs head coach. [2] In 2006 Josh Rohatinsky, won the individual NCAA title with a time of 30:44.9. [5] Startin with the 2011 season, the Cougars switched to the West Coast Conference. [4] In 2019, the Cougars where ranked 3rd entering NCAA championships, but defeated #1 NAU, the pre-meet favorites, 109 to 163. BYU's Conner Mantz was third overall, while Danny Carney and Jacob Heslington both earned All-American honors, finishing 17th and 21st respectively. [3] In 2023, BYU's first season as part of the Big 12 Conference, the Cougars placed second at the Big 12 Championship, [6] [7] and third at nationals, behind NAU and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. BYU's top runners where James Corrigan and Kenneth Rooks, who placed 32nd and 35th respectively. [8] In 2024, #2 BYU defeated #1 Oklahoma State 41 to 52 to win their first ever men's Big 12 Conference title, in any sport. [9]

Rivals

Since the late 2010s, NAU and BYU have been rivals in cross country. NAU defeated BYU in the 2018 Championship while next year BYU defeated NAU in the 2019 Championship. The rivalry has been considered as "the best in a long time" and "the greatest in NCAA cross country history." [10] [11] [12]

NCAA Championship Results

YearCoachPlacePoints
2023 Ed Eyestone 3rd196
2022 3rd132
2021 7th246
2020 7th254
2019 1st109
2018 2nd116
2017 3rd165
2016 7th247
2014 16th437
2013 4th267
2012 6th245
2011 4th203
2010 18th414
2009 17th468
2008 9th310
2007 22nd469
2004 5th267
2003 19th447
2002 16th443
2001 12th368
2000 23rd541
1999 Sherald James30th717
1995 10th254
1993 2nd153
1990 19th421
1985 18th399
1984 15th353
1977 5th235
1976 4th182
1975 7th292
1974 13th351
1972 8th229
1970 16th458
1967 9th216
1965 12th289
1964 5th136

Notable athletes

Individual national championships (4)

YearAthleteTime
1984 Ed Eyestone 29:29.8
2006 Josh Rohatinsky 30:44.9
2020 Conner Mantz 29.26.1
2021 Conner Mantz28:33.1
Pekka Vasala at the 1972 Olympics Pekka Vasala 1972.jpg
Pekka Vasala at the 1972 Olympics
Jared Ward Rio 2016.jpg
Jared Ward at the 2016 Olympics
Conner Mantz at Paris 2024.jpg
Conner Mantz at the 2024 Olympics

Olympians

AthleteOlympicsEventPlace
Clarence Robison Flag of the United States.svg 1948 5000m DNF
Usaia Sotutu Flag of Fiji.svg 1972 3000m steeple 14th
5000m 58th (h)
1000m DNF
Pekka Vasala Flag of Finland.svg 1972 1500m 1st
Lasse Viren Flag of Finland.svg 1972 5000m 1st
10000m 1st
Marathon 5th
1976 5000m 1st
10000m 1st
1980 10000m 5th
Henry Marsh Flag of the United States.svg 1976 3000m steeple 10th
1980 3000m steeple DNC
1984 3000m steeple 4th
1988 3000m steeple 6th
Paul Cummings Flag of the United States.svg 1984 5000m 7th
Doug Padilla Flag of the United States.svg 1984 5000m 7th
1988 5000m 20th (h)
Ed Eyestone Flag of the United States.svg 1988 Marathon 29th
1992 Marathon 13th
Jason Pyrah Flag of the United States.svg 1996 1500m H3 9th
2000 1500m 10th
Josh McAdams Flag of the United States.svg 2008 3000m steeple H3 9th
Jared Ward Flag of the United States.svg 2016 Marathon 6th
Conner Mantz Flag of the United States.svg 2024 Marathon 8th
Clayton Young Flag of the United States.svg 2024 Marathon 9th
Rory Linkletter Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2024 Marathon 47th
Kenneth Rooks Flag of the United States.svg 2024 3000m steeple 2nd
James Corrigan Flag of the United States.svg 2024 3000m steeple H1 10th

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References

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  2. 1 2 Walch, Tad (May 21, 2000). "Future blurry for BYU's James". The Daily Herald. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Men's Cross Country National Champions
  4. 1 2 Men's Cross Country Year By Year
  5. Provo Daily Herald | 2006-11-21 | Page 13
  6. No. 3-ranked BYU cross-country teams headline NCAA regionals this week
  7. NO. 3 COUGARS FINISH SECOND AT BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
  8. BYU men's team finishes third again in NCAA cross-country championships
  9. Official results
  10. "BYU vs. NAU Looking Like One Of The Best NCAA XC Match-Ups In A Long Time". Citius Mag. 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  11. Collaboration, T. S. R. (2019-11-23). "The Group Chat: D1 Nationals Reactions". The Stride Report. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  12. NAU/BYU Rivalry Returns And A Nico Young Debut? , retrieved 2021-02-24