Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Make Major Strides in Year Two of the Carlson Era
November 26, 2025 | Cross Country
BOULDER — The University of Colorado Cross Country program took a major step forward in its second season under Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Sean Carlson, closing the 2025 campaign with a tenth place finish for the men and a sixteenth place finish for the women at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri. The performances marked a significant jump for a program that has embraced a full roster rebuild centered around development, depth, and a growing young core.
The Colorado men extended one of the longest active streaks in collegiate distance running, qualifying for their thirty-third consecutive NCAA Championships. Entering the year ranked sixth nationally, the Buffaloes returned a steady group of contributors while welcoming a class of high performing underclassmen. The biggest boost came from newcomer Dominic Serem, who immediately stepped into the number one role and became one of the most impactful first-year athletes in the nation. Serem was Colorado's top finisher in all five major meets, including front pack finishes at Gans Creek, Nuttycombe, the Big Twelve Championship and the Mountain Regional. Behind him, Dean Casey, Lukas Haug, Jake Liebert and James Overberg consistently scored for the Buffs, providing the stability needed to secure a top-ten finish on the national stage.
On the women's side, the season represented one of the clearest signs that the rebuild under Carlson is ahead of schedule. Colorado entered 2025 with a roster that was expected to spend another year developing, but a blend of strategic recruiting and strong internal improvement accelerated the timeline. Carlson inherited a depleted squad in 2023 and prioritized immediate roster growth, bringing in Tennessee transfer Jessie Secor who became a veteran leader. This season, the Buffs added Mia Larochelle, Holly Barker, and Juliette Forstrom to returning standout Abbey Nechanicky, giving Colorado a new foundation and renewed competitive strength.
The impact was immediate. In their first major test at the Gans Creek Invitational, the women placed third in a deep national field. The result launched Colorado up the national rankings, jumping from outside the top thirty into the top fifteen, one of the largest early season leaps in the country. They carried that momentum into championship season, placing fourth at the Mountain Regional and returning to the NCAA Championships, where they produced their best team finish since 2022 with a sixteenth place result.
The season finale showcased the progress on both sides. Secor led the women with a 69th place finish and a strong final kilometer push. Nechanicky and Forstrom followed inside the top one hundred. On the men's side, Serem led the Buffs once again with a top thirty finish, closing out his debut season as one of the most dependable low sticks in the nation.
Two years into the Carlson era, Colorado has returned to national relevance with upward trajectory still ahead. With the majority of both rosters returning in 2026, CU enters the offseason with a clear sense of identity, depth, and competitive momentum.
"This was a major step forward for our program," Carlson said. "The women are back in the top fifteen. The men are back in the top ten. We are moving in the right direction and I am excited for the future with so many of our athletes returning. The foundation we built this year will pay off in a big way."
Colorado now turns its attention to winter training and the transition into the indoor season, continuing the growth of one of the youngest rising distance programs in the NCAA.
2025 Season lineup:
August – Preseason Training Block
Colorado opens year two of the Carlson era with a deep youth roster on both sides. Incoming athletes and returners establish roles early as Dominic Serem emerges as the top men's performer and the women display significant depth gains.
Aug 30 – Wyoming Invite (Season Opener)
Both programs shake off rust and debut new lineup combinations. Early signs show that the freshmen and transfers will play major roles throughout the fall.
Sept 21 – Roadrunners Invitational
Women and men sharpen competitive rhythm with controlled pack running. Returners Abbey Nechanicky and Jake Libert solidify top scoring roles.
Sept 27 – Gans Creek Invitational
A major turning point for both programs.
• Men finish third behind several top ten teams with Serem placing fifth in 22:45.2.
• Women take an impressive third, launching them from outside the top thirty into the national top fifteen, one of the largest jumps in the NCAA.
Momentum established for the rest of the season.
Oct 18 – Nuttycombe Invitational
Colorado men hold their ranking inside the national top ten; Serem runs another front pack performance. Women deliver their best Nuttycombe finish in several years, showing steady depth across the five scoring places.
Oct 31 – Big 12 Championships
Men place inside the top four, led again by Serem.
Women show strong pack running with Secor and Nechanicky finishing as key scorers.
Nov 15 – NCAA Mountain Regional
Colorado produces one of its strongest regional performances under Carlson.
• Men place fourth and lock in an automatic at-large ranking for nationals.
• Women place fourth with Secor earning her highest regional finish.
Both teams officially punch NCAA tickets.
Nov 22 – NCAA Championships (Gans Creek, Columbia Missouri)
Colorado closes the season with momentum.
• Men finish tenth in the nation for the first time since 2021.
• Women finish sixteenth, their best finish since 2022.
Both programs finish inside the top twenty and return almost every major contributor for 2026.
By the Numbers
33 – Consecutive NCAA Championship appearances for the Colorado men, one of the longest active streaks in the nation.
10 – National finish for the men, marking a return to the top ten.
16 – National finish for the women, the program's best result since 2022.
15 – Ranking movement for the women after their third place finish at Gans Creek, one of the largest early season jumps in the country.
5 – Meets where Dominic Serem finished as Colorado's top runner, including Nuttycombe, Gans Creek, Big Twelve, Mountain Regional and the NCAA Championship.
3 – Top one hundred finishers for the women at the NCAA Championship (Secor, Nechanicky, Forstrom).
4 – Men's scorers who hit multiple career best marks throughout the season (Dean Casey, Lukas Haug, Jake Liebert, James Overberg).
2 – Seasons under Sean Carlson that have produced back to back NCAA qualifying teams on both sides.
No. 10 & 13 – The Buffs ended the season ranked, men's finished 10th and the women's finished 13th
Players Mentioned
