This track and field and cross-country season have been full of milestones for the Green Wave. On Monday, the team cracked the top 30 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll for the first time in school history.  

This ranking comes just ahead of the NCAA national championships, which begin on Nov. 23. The men’s cross country team’s qualification for the championship marks the second time ever in Tulane University’s history. To qualify, Tulane had three men, senior Jack Jennings, first-year Bernard Cheruiyot and sophomore Illia Kunin, finish the 10k in the top 10 in time and pace. Jennings finished fifth place in the qualifier, setting a new record time of 29:21.1, while Cheruiyot finished right behind him in sixth with a time of 29:23.3. Cheruiyot also broke the previous record, which was 29:25.1 set in 2023. Kunin rounded out the group with a 10th-place finish.  

Joining the three in the national championships are Wondu Summa, Jordan Bendura, Tucker Poshard and Ryan Adkins, who placed 24th, 34th, 54th and 55th , respectively.  

Women’s cross-country is also having a historic year, with first-years Caroline Jeptanui and Blezzin Kimutai individually qualifying for the national championships. The two placed second and third, respectively, in the qualifier. Kimutai’s time of 19:24.7 marked a personal best.  

Make sure to keep up with the cross-country team through the national championships, which begin this weekend.