TUCSON, Ariz. — After an impressive top-10 performance this past Friday at the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento, Arizona freshman Evans Tanui has officially earned an individual at-large berth to the 2025 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, as announced today by the NCAA Sub-committee.

The freshman is the first male runner to make a Cross Country Championships appearance in over ten years (2013).

Tanui, who placed ninth overall in the West Region with a time of 29:32.3, will represent the Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Columbia, Missouri at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, hosted by the University of Missouri. He is one of 38 individual qualifiers nationwide, a group comprised exclusively of runners who finished inside the top 25 of their respective regional races.

The qualification marks a major milestone in Tanui's collegiate debut season, highlighted by continued development and a breakthrough performance in his first championship 10K.

"I am very excited to go to NCAA as freshmen because it is my first time to run a cross country season in my life and even a 10k," said Tanui. "I am excited to represent U of A because I love my school and want to make Arizona proud of me."

Tanui helped lead the Wildcats at Friday's regional meet, closing strong in the final kilometer and racing in contention with the lead pack.

"We are really proud of Evans and his growth this season. He ran the race of his life to qualify and he has earned this opportunity," said Head Coah Andrew Dubs. 

"We are very excited for what he can do at nationals."

This year's national field includes 32 qualifying teams and 38 individual qualifiers for both the men's and women's divisions. The men's national championship race is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. ET / 10:10 a.m. CT, with live broadcast coverage on ESPNU and the ESPN App beginning at 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT.