Cross Country

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Season Review

BYU men’s cross country entered 2019 with high expectations and ended the season in historic fashion, winning the first National Championship in program history.

The Cougars were ranked No. 2 in the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll throughout the year before falling one spot the week before the NCAA Championship meet. Three-time defending national champions Northern Arizona entered the race at No. 1 and was the heavy favorite.

Under the leadership of coach Ed Eyestone, the Cougars knew they needed to deploy an aggressive strategy to unseat the defending champions. Despite less than ideal race-day conditions of rain and the resulting mud, the Cougars opened with a rigorous pace.

“Our game plan was to get out fast, maintain our pace and move up and win the race that we were in for the last 3K," Eyestone said. "I think the guys got out well, which applied some pressure to the other teams. We were in a good place and we continued to execute as we needed to.”

Through 3,000 meters, BYU had established a dominant 57-point lead on Northern Arizona. The lead remained above 40 the rest of the way and the Cougars had a strong push to finish. BYU had five runners finish in the top 45, winning in dominant fashion with a score of 109, 54 points better than second-place Northern Arizona.

“We knew it could be a great day for BYU,” Eyestone said. “I’m so proud of the way the guys fought through the elements and finished the race. I think our guys proved that they are 'mudders.' These guys that we have on our team are tough. They overcome adversity and can compete through anything."

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Conner Mantz led BYU, finishing third in the 10K race with a time of 30:40. The Cougars’ top five was rounded out by Danny Carney (17th), Jacob Heslington (21st), Brandon Garnica (42nd) and Matt Owens (45th). Mantz, Carney and Heslington earned All-America honors for finishing in the top 40.

“We were focused on doing our best because we knew we could do our best and win it – or we could do our best and take third,” Mantz said. “We weren’t focusing so much on the result but instead we were focusing on the process.”

The process led to the most successful season in program history, highlighted by the victory at the NCAA Championships, three other meet wins and numerous individual honors. Mantz, Carney and Heslington earned All-America honors and were three of six Cougars to earn All-West Coast Conference First Team recognition. Owens, Garnica and Zac Jacklin also earned first-team All-WCC while Connor Weaver earned second-team recognition. Mantz, Heslington, Carney, Weaver and Michael Ottesen also earned All-Mountain Region honors.

After leading BYU to its first men’s cross country national championship, Eyestone was named the USTFCCCA National Coach of the year. He became the first person in NCAA cross country history to win an individual title (1984) and to also coach a team to win a national championship. Eyestone also claimed WCC Coach of the Year and the Utah Sports Commission Collegiate Coach of the Year at the Governor’s State of Sport Awards.

BYU opened the season by hosting the annual Autumn Classic at East Bay Golf Course in Provo. The Cougars turned in a dominant performance, winning with a perfect score of 15. Mantz led the way for the Cougars, winning the 7.5K race with a time of 21:12.

Two weeks later at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Springfield, Oregon, Mantz won his second-straight race. He won the 8K race at Pine Ridge Golf Club with a time of 23:24.7 while the team came in second behind meet host Oregon.

Mantz made it three-straight individual titles and the men’s team won its second team title at the Pre-National Invitational at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana. Mantz won the 8K race with a time of 23:20.8 while Heslington was not far behind, taking fourth with a time of 23:26.7. BYU edged out No. 3 Colorado by two points and defeated 36 other teams, four of which were ranked in the top 15.

At the West Coast Conference Championships at Woodley Lakes Golf Course in Van Nuys, California, Mantz won his fourth-straight race and the Cougars claimed five of the top seven spots to win their third meet of the season. Heslington and Carney took second and third behind Mantz while Owens came in fifth and Garnica took seventh as BYU totaled a score of 18 to defeat WCC-rival Portland by 33 points. Six Cougars claimed All-WCC First Team honors in what was BYU’s fifth-straight league title.

With a bid to the NCAA Championships all but secured, BYU used a strategic approach entering the NCAA Mountain Region Championships, resting two of its top five runners. The Cougars still ran a strong race, finishing third behind then-No. 1 Northern Arizona and No. 3 Colorado. Mantz took fourth and was one of five BYU runners to claim All-Mountain Region honors. Thanks to the third-place finish and a strong performance throughout the season, BYU received an at-large bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championships at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.