[UPDATE] College Track & Field Men's Distance Recruiting Class Rankings - Class of 2024
Ranking the distance recruiting classes for the Class of 2024. Athletes taken into consideration include those who enrolled in either Spring 2024 or Fall 2024 with freshman eligibility. Transfer athletes, including international transfers (internationals coming in NOT with freshman eligibility), are not taken into consideration. Going forward, those who enrolled in Spring 2024 will not have their performances in the NCAA taken into consideration when updating these rankings. A signing class must have at least three athletes to qualify for these rankings.
*I factored in age of athletes when considering classes for rankings. Otherwise, Texas Tech would probably be the #1 class for 2024.
For previous rankings, click here
Updated September 23rd, 2024
Honorable Mentions: Dartmouth, Colorado, Yale, Navy, Minnesota, Tulsa, Penn, Princeton, Nebraska, Appalachian State, Ohio State, & *Texas Tech
After the departure of Coach Sean Carlson to Colorado, Jake Liebert and Ethan Edgeworth flipped their commitments to Colorado, Will Conway flipped to Oklahoma State, and Charlie Moore flipped to Villanova (he will enroll Spring 2025). Also, Zack Makemson flipped to Appalachian State and Constantin Carls is no longer going to the NCAA (neither were related to Carlson going to Colorado). The class added Luke Mussard sometime in the Spring, who flipped from Wake Forest.
Furman has four guys sub 9 or faster in the class. Colin Eckerman ended his HS career as one of the top prep athletes for class of 2024, running a 4:03 mile and 8:42 3200, and could be an immediate impact for the Paladins this season. Jack Falkowski improved his 1600 down to 4:07. This class ranking looks low, but I would say Furman's men's class is one of the best American classes in the country. Similar to NAU, it's a small class but a very quality class.
Providence has since added Daniel Prescott to the class and Cormac improved his 5000 PB to 14:05.
Since the last rankings, the Hoosiers added Dylon Nalley, one of the fastest distance runners from the state of Illinois. Tony Provenzano also won the Indiana 3200 state title, winning in 8:51. Overall, the class is a great starting point for Eric Heins' campaign as XC head coach at Indiana.
Previously unranked, Cal Poly has since added Eddie Sion and Felix Ibzan, the latter of whom flipped his commitment from UCSB. Cal Poly has four guys 8:57 or faster in this years class and continues to dominate in the in-state recruiting battle.
Again, the only reason NAU is ranked low, as a class, is because of how small it is. NAU goes for smaller classes by design, with an emphasis on team fit, and I believe all three guys will excel at the next level.
Since the last rankings post, Iowa State added Jacoby Harmon, Robin Kwemoi Bera, and Joash Ruto to the class. Jacoby won the Texas 6A 800 state title. Robin has run 13:58 in the 5000m at 7000 ft elevation. Joash Ruto has a personal best of 8:22.3 in the 3000SC (6000 ft elevation), and was the silver medalist at the 2024 U20 African XC Championships.
Previously unranked, Utah State comes in at 18. William Steadman comes in with personal bests of 1:51/4:02/8:48. Steadman is joined by fellow Herriman teammates Jack Beckstrom and Max Hofheins, both of whom are also sub 9 and played pivotal roles in Herriman's national title at NXN. The Aggies also bring on Sam Ghiz, who was an NXN individual qualifier last fall, and a couple other quality runners from Idaho and Arizona. Similar to BYU, the majority of this class will be on mission trips prior to enrolling at Utah State.
I originally had MSU as honorable mentions in the last rankings post, but the Spartans went on a tear this track season. After his XC season being cut short, Seth Norder won the Brooks PR mile and Nike Outdoor Nationals mile in the same week. Jasper Cane improved his 4:32 1600 junior PB all the way down to 4:05. MSU also added Rami Dib and Evan Loughridge since the last rankings post.
Added Manuel Rojas to the class. All four in the class are 8:20 or faster in the 3000. Since the last rankings post, several Cal Baptist athletes transferred out and their head coach Adam Tribble departed for his alma mater Georgia. CBU will be looking at a rebuild year with new HC Sean Smith and I would expect some of these new guys to be starting this season for the Lancers.
Adam Balewicz flipped from Cornell to UVA. Alex Valencia flipped from Alabama to UVA. Most of the class had a relatively quiet senior track season. James Ford represented New Zealand at U20 Worlds. He's someone I believe will do really well in the NCAA.
Lost spring enrollee Allan Kiplagat, as he transferred out to Middle Tennessee. He is replaced by the signing of Dismus Lokira, who has run 13:56.66 in the 5000 and 28:36.77 in the 10000 (both at altitude). Adin Lathrop also made strides this track season, improving his 800 down to 1:49.76. Collectively, the remainder of the class did not run anything super flashy this past season, hence why I moved them down. Alex Valencia also flipped his commitment from Alabama to UVA
Notable improvements in the class since last ranking include Jamie Mora's 3:46.16 1500 and Ryan Eddington's 4:03.92 1600.
Previously at 15, Syracuse moves up to 12 after Asher Danielson and Ben Gabelman improved their mile PBs to 4:04 and 4:02 respectively. Five guys in the class ended their high school careers sub 9 in the 3200.
Marcus Reilly had himself a season last year, breaking the outdoor US national record in the 1000 (2:21.81), going under 1:50, and clocking in a 3:42 1500. Brendan Herger also had a successful 2024 campaign. His most notable performance for me was his 1:48.43 anchor leg at the NBNO 4x800. While he didn't win the race, He'll fit right into Michigan's middle distance group, who had tremendous success with true freshmen last season. The Wolverines have also added Jonathan Miles since the last rankings post.
Riley Smith was probably the most improved runner last season. Before his season-ending injury, Smith had run 4:04.65 in the mile and 8:39.71, the latter of which was the fastest non-Arcadia time before the post-season meets. Jonathan Leon improved his 3200 down to 8:47. UF also signed Riley Smith's HS teammate and Gainesville native Evan Fleming, who has a 4:07 1600 PB. In the end, Florida went exclusively to in-state talent and brought on some of the best guys the state had to offer for class of 2024.
Nathan Neil was one of the top distance runners in the country last fall. Nathan's 4:00 mile and 8:33 3200 were the #5 and #4 marks for last season (#4 and #3 if you only include US athletes). Barco improved to a 4:02 mile and was the Indiana state champion. Parker Mong also improved to 4:10/8:54.
Last rankings, Villanova was not eligible for the rankings post, but the signing of Ben Thomas completes the rule of 3. Ben, who took a gap year last year, was run 3:37 in the 1500 and could be in contention for All-American next Spring. Both Jack Coomber and Jack Fenlon have also made improvements since. Coomber was the U20 Australian World XC Trials champion and Fenlon ran 8:05/14:01 this past track season. Both have a chance at being starters for the Wildcats as early as this season. Charlie Moore flipped his commitment from Tennessee to Villanova. He will enroll Spring 2025, so he wasn't considered for this year's rankings.
Ok State was not ranked in the last rankings (I have a rule that there must be three commits to be considered for this ranking and admittedly, I did not see Mason Page had signed with OSU), but have since signed two big-time players to the class. Oliver Patton is one of the top distance stars from Scotland, running 8:06.46 in the 3000. Will Conway was a last-minute addition to the class, after flipping his commitment from Tennessee to Oklahoma State following Coach Carlson's departure for Colorado. Will's 8:41 3200 is one of the top 3200 times in the country for the class of 2024. Henry Dover and Angel Sanchez have also since made improvements, with the former running a blistering 7:57.47 3000 and Angel improving his mile from 4:11 to 4:07. The 3200/3000 marks for this class alone make this special. Among the top 3200/3000 marks of U20 athletes last season (including NCAA-bound U20 internationals), OSU's athletes come in at #3 (Dover), #18 (Conway), and #23 (Patton).
When Vincent Chirchir arrived at Albuquerque last Spring, he came in with a 13:57 5000 personal best (at altitude). He has since run 13:34.14 and 28:19.01 for UNM, making him a formidable scorer for the Lobos. Since the last rankings posts, UNM signed Collins Kiprotich, a 19-year-old from Eldoret, Kenya, who has run 13:58.42 at 6000 ft. If Collins can match the fitness level Vincent had last Spring, UNM has a very good shot at landing on the podium in November. UNM also signed Matthew Endrödy since the last update, a 1:49 800 runner from South Africa.
Since the last rankings, Adam Burlison flipped his commitment to Texas but was replaced by 800 California state champion Cain Evans. However, the big signing that shot Oregon to the top 5 was Koitatoi Kidali, 2024 Paris Olympian for Kenya who has a personal best of 1:42.66 in the 800. The 21-year-old is an immediate title contender, and presumably the favorite, for next year's 800 national title.
Most improved runner from Wake Forest's class since the last post was Grant Morgenfeld, who went 4:05.46/8:41.13 in the 1600/3200 this past season. The Demon Deacons lost the commitment of Luke Mussard but replaced him with the signing of 4:09 miler Connor Bennett.
Since the last rankings post, BYU added 8:38/14:19 runner Ben Jaster and sub 4 miler Zach Hillhouse. Daniel Simmons broke the outdoor US HS national record with a time of 13:25.86. The majority of class will be going on their mission trips prior to competing for BYU.
Patrick Koon, Paul Bergeron, and Josh Bell improved their 3200s to 8:31.77, 8:36.27, and 8:42.79 respectively, which further solidifies Stanford being the #2 class for the 2024 cycle.
Drew Griffith ended the year as the top American distance runner for class of 2024. The class performed the best out of everyone last cross-country season and Noah Nielson proved to be a top 800 guy for the class. Notre Dame remains the top class for the 2024 cycle (though you could make an argument for Texas Tech's class).
