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The BYU men's cross country team celebrates winning the NCAA title at Verona, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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The BYU women's cross country team poses for photos after winning the NCAA title in Verona, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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The BYU women's cross country team reacts after learning they had won the NCAA team championship in Verona, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Nate Edwards, BYU Photo

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BYU's Casey Clinger (545) and Creed Thompson (551) compete at the 2024 NCAA men's cross country national championships in Verona, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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BYU's Carmen Alder (right) and Taylor Lowell (left) celebrate with teammate after learning they had won the NCAA women's cross country team title at Verona, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Taylor Lowell 149

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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VERONA, Wis. — The biggest cliche in sports is “it was a team win.”

But how else to describe BYU running to both the men’s and women’s cross country national titles on a cold Saturday morning in Wisconsin?

Hang the cliche.

Truth is truth.

The Cougars are the first program to sweep the men’s and women’s team titles since Colorado in 2004 and only the fifth school in NCAA history to ever claim dual championships.

The BYU women started off the domination by winning their sixth team championship, scoring 147 points at the Zimmer Championship Course with Lexy Halladay-Lowry placing 14th in 19:48.4.

“I’m really proud of these women,” Cougar head coach Diljeet Taylor said. “They stayed committed to the process. They embraced the imperfect, which is what it takes. Like in any season, we had lots of downs, lots of ups, but they ran for each other and figured out how to fight their own battles.

“They let go of individual success and focused on the team. That’s what cross country is all about. I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to belong to these women, all seven of them. That wasn’t me, that was God, and I’m so grateful that He guided us through this. I don’t think my coaching could’ve done what happened today.”

The BYU men had to hold off a late charge from Iowa State, scoring 124 points to the Cyclones 137. Casey Clinger finished sixth overall in the 10K race in a time of 28:45.1.

“It’s a privilege to be ranked number one going into this race,” Cougar head coach Ed Eyestone said. “Our guys understood it was a privilege. We were just going to go out, do the very best we could, enjoy the process and have gratitude in our hearts today for all of the people who helped us get here. When you do that, good things are going to happen.”

The women’s title is the second national championship under Taylor and the school’s sixth team title overall (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2020-21, 2024). Three Cougars finished in the top-40 and received All-America honors for their performances: Halladay-Lowry, Riley Chamberlain (31st) and Carmen Alder (39th).

Halladay-Lowry, a senior from from Meridian, Idaho, earned her second national championship (2020-21) and cross country All-America honor (34th in 2022).

“First off, I just want to say that this feels real good,” said Halladay-Lowry. “We gave up a lot of our individual goals and we were just completely and utterly committed to the team. In years past, the commitment to self has taken away from the team. We were able to let go of that this year. By doing that, we not only stepped up for ourselves, but for each other. That’s why this happened today.”

Taylor Rohatinsky and Carlee Hansen rounded out BYU’s scoring five, placing 43rd and 65th in 20:06.5 and 20:21.6, respectively.

With Saturday’s race, the BYU men’s cross country program earned its second ever national title and first since its 2019 upset of perennial power Northern Arizona.

The Cougars were ranked No. 1 going into race day after upsetting Big 12 rival Oklahoma State at the 2024 Big 12 Championships on Nov. 1.

Clinger was the story of the day, earning a fifth All-American title to his name in his final cross country race in a BYU uniform. Saturday was the first team title in cross country that Clinger has ever been a part of, high school or collegiate. Adding to his momentous weekend, Clinger was heading back to Provo on an earlier flight than the rest of the team to be with his wife, Morgan, who is expecting their first child in the coming days.

“We focused on the build this year,” said Clinger. “We focused on putting a lot of work in early, having our best race every race, and having [the NCAA Championships] be our best race. We did just that. We wanted to enjoy every moment and today is the ultimate joy.”