The question of whether NFL players can outrun top NCAA track athletes has sparked a lot of discussion, especially as high-profile NFL stars like Tyreek Hill have claimed they could challenge sprinting legends like Usain Bolt. While this is an exciting thought, it’s crucial to look at the facts—specifically the recorded top speeds of both NFL players and collegiate sprinters—to determine who truly comes out on top in the speed department.
Isaac Alonzo’s senior season with the Texas men’s cross country team was a testament to his dedication, talent, and growth. As a dual-sport athlete excelling in both track and field and cross country, Alonzo consistently led his team, finishing as the top Texas runner in all but one race this year.
The Texas women’s cross country team wrapped up their 2024 season with a 31st-place finish at the NCAA Championships held on November 23 in Madison, Wisconsin. This marked the third NCAA appearance in the past five years for the Longhorns, who came off a strong fifth-place performance at the SEC Championships.
The 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships have come to an end, leaving behind a trail of excitement, surprises, and standout performances. With the season wrapping up, top athletes are shifting their focus to the upcoming indoor track season, set to kick off at Boston University in just 11 days. The NCAA championships, held at the iconic Thomas Zimmer Course in Madison, Wisconsin, offered a thrilling weekend of racing and provided us with some unforgettable moments. From BYU’s unexpected women’s title to standout performances from athletes with track backgrounds, here’s a look back at the key takeaways from the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
The NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships have consistently been a stage for legendary athletic performances, with many races yielding record-breaking times that have shaped the history of the sport. While cross-country times are notoriously difficult to compare due to varying course conditions and years, certain performances stand out as the fastest finishes in championship history. These remarkable achievements highlight the caliber of athletes competing at the NCAA level, with standout performances in both men's and women's races. From Henry Rono's record-breaking runs in the 1970s to the 2023 women's championship that saw history rewritten, these finishes have set new standards for excellence in the sport.
The 2024 NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championship is shaping up to be a thrilling and competitive event. Defending champion Oklahoma State is looking to defend its title, but they face a tough challenge from BYU, which enters the championship as the top-ranked team after a strong season. Arkansas, ranked third, has a powerful trio of athletes capable of upsetting the favorites, and Iowa State, known for unexpected performances, could also shake up the competition. With so much talent at play, the battle for the 2024 title is sure to be fierce.
The 2024 NCAA cross country season has seen a surge in Kenyan athletes, with the October Pre-Nationals in Madison showcasing Kenyan dominance. In the women’s race, Kenyan athletes secured a 1-2-3 finish, while a total of eight Kenyan runners finished in the top 10 across both men’s and women’s events. This marked a significant increase, with more Kenyans in the top 10 than in all Nuttycombe Invitational races combined from 2013-2023.
In a groundbreaking move, the NCAA and the five largest college athletic conferences have reached a historic settlement, agreeing to pay $2.7 billion to student-athletes. The settlement, which affects over 14,000 athletes who played between 2016 and 2020, marks a major shift in the landscape of college sports. If approved by a California court, this agreement will not only compensate athletes for past financial losses but also implement a revenue-sharing plan that guarantees athletes a share of the money their schools earn from media rights and ticket sales.
Maia Ramsden made an impressive entrance at the NCAA Indoor Championships, holding not just the second-fastest mile time in US collegiate history but also a significant lead over her competitors.
On Friday, March 8, Wayne Pinnock triumphed, capturing not only a share of the longest leap this year but also the NCAA title and the global lead.
Representing Arkansas at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston, the Jamaican athlete secured his second NCAA indoor title and the third long jump crown of his collegiate career with a stellar leap of 8.40m. This remarkable feat surpassed Pinnock's previous mark of 8.34m in February, which had jointly held the world lead alongside Italy's Mattia Furlani until this latest accomplishment.
