Buffs Make Major Strides in Year Two of the Carlson Era

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 10th-place finish for the men and a 13th-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 33rd 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 strong finishes at Gans Creek, Nuttycombe, the Big 12 Championships 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-10 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 2024 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 30 into the top 15, 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 13th-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 Larochelle also finished inside the top 100. On the men's side, Serem led the Buffs once again, closing out his debut season as one of the most dependable low sticks in the nation, finishing 58th.

Two years into the Carlson era, Colorado has returned to national relevance with an 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 15. The men are back in the top 10. 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 opened year two of the Carlson era with a deep youth roster on both sides. Incoming athletes and returners established roles early as Serem emerged as the top men's performer and the women displayed significant depth gains.

Aug. 30 – Wyoming Invite (Season Opener)
Both programs shook off rust and debuted new lineup combinations. Early signs showed that the freshmen and transfers would play major roles throughout the fall.

Sept. 27 – Gans Creek Invitational
A major turning point for both programs.
The men placed third against a strong field that included several top-10 teams, with Serem finishing fifth in 22:45.2.
The women also placed third, launching from outside the top 30 into the national top 15, one of the largest jumps in the NCAA. Momentum was established for the rest of the season.

Oct. 18 – Nuttycombe Invitational
The Colorado men remained inside the national top 10 while Serem delivered another strong performance. The women recorded their best Nuttycombe finish in several years, showing solid depth across all five scoring spots.

Oct. 31 – Big 12 Championships
The men placed inside the top four, led again by Serem.
The women showed strong pack running with Secor and Nechanicky finishing as key scorers.

Nov. 15 – NCAA Mountain Regional
Colorado produced one of its strongest regional performances under Carlson.
The men placed fourth and secured an at-large bid to nationals.
The women also placed fourth, with Secor earning her highest regional finish. Both teams officially punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships.

Nov. 22 – NCAA Championships
Colorado closed the season with momentum.
The men finished 10th in the nation for the first time since 2021.
The women finished 13th, their best result since 2022.
Both programs finished inside the top 20 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 10.

13 – 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 12s, Mountain Regional and the NCAA Championships.

2 – Seasons under Sean Carlson that produced NCAA qualifiers.

No. 10 & 13 – The Buffs ended the season ranked: the men finished 10th and the women finished 13th.