MADISON, Wis. – In a record-breaking performance at the Zimmer Championship Course, senior Graham Blanks ended the 2024 cross country campaign in style, winning his second NCAA Men's Cross Country national championship at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

BACK TO BACK ????

Graham Blanks is your 2024 NCAA Men's Cross Country National Champion!#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/Ojvd6XJDIC

— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) November 23, 2024

A native of Athens, Georgia, Blanks finished the 10k race in 28:37.2, breaking the Zimmer course record of 29:08.0 set by Wisconsin's Morgan McDonald in 2018. With the win, Blanks is just the 13^th student-athlete in the lengthy history of the NCAA Cross Country Championships to win consecutive men's national titles. A 2024 Paris Olympian in the 5,000m on the track, Blanks' triumph in Madison is the program's 23^rd national title across cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field action.

From the starter's gun, Blanks ran an excellent race wire-to-wire. After the opening 3000m, Blanks hung with the lead pack, holding 16^th place. Blanks started to climb up the leaderboard at the 4000m and 5000m marks, moving from eighth to third. With just 1500m to go in the NCAA Championships, Blanks made his move, catapulting to first place to secure his second national title.

Blanks first place finish paved the way for a solid team showing from the Crimson in the men's 10k race at the NCAA Championships, as Harvard placed 27^th as a team. After picking up All-Region honors last weekend, junior Shane Brosnan placed 57^th with a time of 29:35.8, as sophomore Sam Burgess joined Brosnan and Blanks in the top-200 in the 10k race. A native of Framingham, Massachusetts, Burgess crossed the finish line in 30:41.9.

A Moment We'll Watch Over and Over ?? #GoCrimsonpic.twitter.com/Q0H9QpIpM8

— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) November 23, 2024

Two Crimson seniors rounded out the scoring for Harvard in the men's 10k race. Ben Rosa finished in 231^st with a time of 31:17.6, as team captain Joe Ewing finished right behind Rosa, posting a time of 31:22.3 for a 232^nd place finish.

On the women's side, the Crimson finished in 28^th place as a team, as junior Molly Malague led Harvard's scoring efforts, finishing in 124^th after posting a 20:41.6 in the women's 6k race. Three more Harvard student-athletes finished in the top-200 in the women's 6k race at the 2024 NCAA Championships. After garnering All-Region status last weekend at the NCAA Northeast Regionals, junior Penelope Salmon posted a 133^rd place performance, finishing the race in 20:44.4. Senior Ella Gilson finished in 178^th (21:01.3) and senior Zoe Cooper took 180^th (21:01.8). Senior and team captain Annelies Quinton rounded out the Crimson's scoring efforts, placing 217^th with a time of 21:19.6.

HISTORIC ????

Graham Blanks wins his second NCAA National Title in style, breaking the Zimmer Championship Course facility record in the 10k with a time on 28:37.2!#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/7htDbuDxDN

— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) November 23, 2024

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Blanks wins his second straight NCAA national title, becoming just the 13^th student-athlete in NCAA cross country history to win consecutive individual national championships.
• With a time of 28:37.2, Blanks breaks the 10k course record at the Zimmer Championship Course.
• Blanks' triumph at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships is the 23^rd national title in program history.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson begin the 2024-25 indoor track & field season on Saturday, Dec. 7, hosting the HBCU & Ivy Challenge.

For complete coverage of Harvard Cross Country, follow us on Twitter (@HarvardTFXC) and Instagram (@harvardtfxc).