New Orleans, LA – The Tulane University men’s cross country team concluded the 2025 season ranked No. 21 nationally, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in the final poll released after the conclusion of the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
The Green Wave maintained a steady national presence throughout the season, appearing in all eight polls—including six regular-season rankings, a preseason ranking, and the final postseason poll.
On November 22, Tulane finished 21st at the NCAA Championships with 536 points.
Leading the team was Bernard Cheruiyot, who finished 29th overall with a time of 28:59.3 in the 10K. His top-40 finish earned him All-American honors for the first time in his cross country career, making him the program’s first-ever male All-American in cross country. This marks Cheruiyot’s second All-American accolade overall, having previously received the honor in last season’s outdoor 10,000-meter race.
Silas Kiptanui also delivered a strong performance, placing 47th with a time of 29:11.6. Other notable finishes included Illia Kunin (154th, 29:59.3), Gilberto Rono (206th, 30:32.6), Tommy Rice (214th, 30:36.9), Rogerio Amaral (225th, 30:49.7), and Zach Van Houten (228th, 30:53.5).
This was Tulane’s second consecutive year qualifying its men’s team for the NCAA Championships, following a 28th-place finish last season.
On November 14, Tulane made history at Argi Park by capturing the NCAA South Central Regional Championship for the first time in program history. The men’s team delivered a dominant performance, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
Tulane’s men demonstrated exceptional depth, with all seven runners finishing in the top 25 and earning All-Regional honors. The team totaled an impressive 44 points, with an average time of 29:41.40, outpacing regional powerhouses such as Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Texas. This victory marks only the second time since 2008 that a team outside Texas or Arkansas has won the South Central Regional.
Standout performers included Cheruiyot, who finished second in 28:51.3, and Kiptanui, who took third in 29:11.2—both earning All-Regional honors. Additional key contributors were Rono (11th, 30:01.4), Amaral (12th, 30:04.3), Kunin (16th, 30:20.2), Van Houten (21st, 30:29.7), and Rice (24th, 30:40.9). All five of these runners also earned All-Regional honors.
Their collective efforts propelled Tulane to a second-place finish in the American Conference, with all seven runners finishing in the top 21, including five All-Conference selections: Cheruiyot (2nd), Kiptanui (4th), Kunin (7th), Rice (13th), and Amaral (15th)
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