PROVO, Utah — The BYU women's cross country team concluded its historic 2024 season with an NCAA national championship, Mountain Region championship, Big 12 championship and three All-America honors.
The Cougars won the national meet with 147 points, finishing 17 points above second-place West Virginia. The women were in second place at the 1000-meter marker, third at 2000m, second at 3000m and 4000m before a strong finishing charge over the last 2000m earned BYU the national title.
Senior captain Lexy Halladay-Lowry earned a career-best finish at the national meet as she finished in 14th place and garnered All-America honors. Riley Chamberlain and Carmen Alder also collected All-America status, finishing in 31st and 39th, respectively.
Taylor Rohatinsky and Carlee Hansen rounded out BYU's scoring five, finishing in 43rd and 65th to win the Cougars their sixth national title in program history.
NCAA National Results |
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| Athlete | Place | Time |
| Lexy Halladay-Lowry | 14th | 19:48.4 |
| Riley Chamberlain | 31st | 19:59.4 |
| Carmen Alder | 39th | 20:03.6 |
| Taylor Rohatinsky | 43rd | 20:06.5 |
| Carlee Hansen | 65th | 20:21.6 |
| Nelah Roberts | 83rd | 20:27.4 |
| Taylor Lovell | 88th | 20:28.6 |
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"When you have women who are so purposeful in what they're trying to do, that's when magic happens. They were unstoppable that day."
Diljeet Taylor
Head Women's Cross Country CoachThe Cougars earned an automatic qualifying spot to the national championships at the NCAA Mountain Regional Nov. 15 in Reno, Nevada. The team won the race with 52 points and all five scorers earned All-Mountain Region honors.
Chamberlain led the charge, finishing in fifth with a time of 19:56.4. Alder, Rohatinsky and Taylor Lovell also finished in the top 10, placing eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively. Hansen placed 20th to round out BYU's scoring five.
The Cougars won their second-straight Big 12 conference championship Nov. 1 in Waco, Texas. The team scored 41 points to beat West Virginia's 60 points and Utah's 86 points.
Halladay-Lowry was the first Cougar to cross the line in 19:50.43, good for fifth place. Chamberlain and Rohatinsky followed four and five seconds behind in sixth and seventh. Alder was the fourth BYU woman to place in the top 10 with her 10th-place finish in 19:58.71. Destiny Everett earned a career-best time of 19:59.56 to place 13th and round out BYU's scoring.
Halladay-Lowry, Chamberlain, Rohatinsky, Alder and Everett were each named to the All-Big 12 list.
At the conclusion of the season, Taylor was named the NCAA Women's National Coach of the Year for the second time (2020-21, 2024), NCAA Mountain Region Coach of the Year for the third time (2019 & 2020-21, 2024) and Big 12 Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
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Team Results |
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Invitational |
Place |
Points Scored |
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Dr. Thad Scholes XC Classic |
1st |
29 |
| Autumn Classic |
1st |
16 |
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Joe Piane Notre Dame Invite |
2nd |
65 |
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Wisconsin Pre-Nationals |
1st |
105 |
|
Big 12 Championships |
1st |
41 |
|
NCAA Mountain Regional |
1st |
52 |
|
NCAA Championships |
1st |
147 |
| BYU in the USTFCCCA Rankings | |
| Aug. 27 | No. 6 |
| Sept. 17 | No. 7 |
| Oct. 1 | No. 5 |
| Oct. 8 | No. 2 |
| Oct. 22 | No. 1 |
| Nov. 5 | No. 1 |
| Nov. 18 | No. 1 |
| Nov. 23 | No. 1 |
The women will now shift gears to track and field. Find the full indoor schedule here.