The No. 3 Colorado men's cross country team won the 2026 Big 12 Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31, edging defending champion and No. 2 Oklahoma State by two points to secure the team title at the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course in Stillwater, Okla.
A Tight Race in Stillwater
In a tight contest, Colorado finished with 36 points, while Oklahoma State finished with 38 points. The Buffs took control during the middle stages of the race, moving from second place at the 2K mark to the lead at 3K, and maintaining that position throughout the remainder of the 8K course. This victory represents Colorado's first Big 12 men's title since the team returned to the conference, and their first conference championship overall since 2021, when they competed in the Pac-12.
Colorado Men's Dominance
The Colorado men's performance was highlighted by significant depth, with five runners finishing in the top 12. The team's first and fifth scorers finished only 19.5 seconds apart. Individual standout Dominic Serem finished as the course runner-up with a time of 23:06.9. Other top finishers for the Buffs included Meshack Kipruto in fourth place, Jack Graffeo in ninth, Isaiah Givens in tenth, and Jake Liebert in eleventh.
Individual Championship Results
Individually, Oklahoma State's Denis Kipngetich won the men's 8K race with a time of 23:05.7, marking his first Big 12 title. Following him was Serem, with Brian Musau of Oklahoma State taking third place at 23:08.0. Musau, who entered the race as a three-time defending Big 12 champion, faded slightly in the closing meters of the race.
Women's Race Results
The Colorado women's team secured fourth place in the women's race, finishing with a total of 117 points, just one point behind third-place Oklahoma State, which finished with 116 points. The women's race was a highly competitive battle where team placements shifted constantly during the final downhill stretch between Colorado, Utah, and Oklahoma State.
Women's Performance Details
Sheylah Kurgat led the Colorado women's effort, finishing eighth overall with a time of 19:46.7. The race saw an early lead established by Kurgat and BYU's Abbey Mathison, who were competing at the front of the pack at the 2K mark with times just over seven minutes. The women's podium was completed by BYU, which took first place with 56 points.
Coaching Reaction
Head Coach Sean Carlson expressed pride in the team's performance, noting that the runners were disciplined and stuck to their assigned positions throughout the race. This victory marks Colorado's 34th all-time cross country conference title and their 13th Big 12 title.
Looking Ahead
The Colorado cross country program now turns its attention to the NCAA Mountain Regionals, which are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13.
