CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Crimson men's and women's cross-country teams raced at the NCAA Championship Meet, where Graham Blanks won the men's Championship 10k to be crowned the 2023 National Champion. The men's team placed 15th and the women's team placed 25th, led by Maia Ramsden's All-American finish in 10th place.
 
Blanks' win is historic for the Crimson and the Ivy League, as he is the first one to ever win the NCAA Championship Men's Race for the Crimson and the Ivy League. He finished his 2023 season undefeated, winning all five of the races he competed in. 

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Graham Blanks is the 2023 NCAA Cross Country National Champion after winning the men's 10k in 28:37.7! #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/gFtea8F1y3

— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) November 18, 2023

 
The Crimson women's team was led by Maia Ramsden to their 25th place finish with 504 points. They moved up four places from their ranking of 29th going into the meet.  Ramsden earned First Team All-America Honors after placing 10th in the nation in the women's 6k with a time of 19:30.8. Ramsden was able to stay with the lead pack of runners through the entire race, ultimately finishing one place higher than she did in 2022. She was followed by Ella Gilson, who placed 65th in 20:27.9. Behind her was Zoe Cooper in 154th in 21:02.8, Moly Malague in 188th in 21:23.4 and Sophia Gorriaran in 200th in 21:33.4 to round out the scoring positions. Kristin Otervik and Annelies Quinton also raced and finished in 222 and 238, respectively.
 

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She finished 10th in the women's 6k with a time of 19:30.8! #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/pcObpztBpa

— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) November 18, 2023

Led by Blanks' win, the men's team placed 15th with 398 points. Blanks ran the race with the lead pack through the entire 10k, making sure to keep up with the front-runners anytime a new lead pack emerged. With just under 1000 meters to go, he made his move into first, and lengthened it out, building up a five second lead coming into the final hill. With a 150-meter uphill finish, Blanks secured his victory by three seconds, finishing in 28:37.7. Ben Rosa was the next runner to cross the line in 47th place, finishing in 29:58.4. He was followed by Acer Iverson in 97th in 30:32.3, Shane Brosnan in 139th in 30:57.0 and Sam Burgess in 196th in 31:41.6 to round out the five scoring positions for the team. Joe Ewing finished in 209th as well.

GRAHAM BLANKS NAME IS THE 2023 MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPION!

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— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) November 18, 2023

Up Next

The indoor track and field season begins on Saturday, Dec. 2 with the HBCU and Ivy Challenge, hosted by Harvard at the Gordon Indoor Track.