Boise State Cross Country Wins Silver After Last-Minute Eligibility Ruling
Two Broncos secured a fifth year of eligibility in Idaho court just hours before the Pac-12 Championship, helping the team take second place.
By Idris Robinson ·
Boise State cross country runners Kaiya Robertson and Nanette Novak secured their eligibility in an Idaho District Court ruling on Oct. 29, less than 24 hours before competing in the Pac-12 Championship at Warm Springs Golf Course. The legal decision granted them a fifth year of competition, allowing them to race on Friday, Oct. 30.
The NCAA changed its rules this June, establishing a strict five-year window for collegiate athletes to compete. The clock starts at enrollment or the athlete's 19th birthday. Robertson, Novak, Landon Helms, and Jayda Bushay completed their fourth eligible year in the 2025-26 academic year and faced uncertainty under the new regulations.
Head coach Pat McCurry had a 3 p.m. deadline to submit his racing team for the conference championship. The court issued a condensed ruling on Oct. 29 to meet that deadline. Novak described the waiting period as a 50-50 situation. She said the team tried to maintain a race mindset while unsure if they would compete.
Robertson finished the 6K race in 19:59.2, placing second behind Washington State's Nelly Jemeli. Novak finished sixth with a time of 20:15.2. Both athletes earned first-team all-conference honors. Robertson recorded her third consecutive top-three finish in a conference championship.
The women's team placed second overall. Four Broncos finished in the top 20. Haley Blaine took 14th place with a time of 20:31.8 and received second-team all-conference honors. Lily LaPorte finished 17th with a time of 20:35.7. Three other women placed in the top 30.
On the men's side, senior Brian Kiprotich finished third in the 8K race with a time of 23:12.2. He trailed Washington State's Solomon Kipchoge and Evans Kurui. Kiprotich employed a patient strategy, waiting for a tactical opening to attack. The men's team placed fourth with 66 points, finishing seven points behind third-place Washington State.
Senior Finn Anspach finished eighth with a time of 23:40.9 and earned second-team all-conference honors. Owen Rogers placed 16th, Cornelius Kogo 17th, and Braylon Baggett 22nd. The men's team trailed fifth-place Colorado State by a wide margin, as the Rams had only one finisher in the top 25.
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould and Boise State Athletic Director Jeremiah Dickey attended the event. Washington State and Gonzaga received the conference's first championship trophy across all sports in the new Pac-12. The Broncos will travel to Sacramento for the NCAA West Regionals on Nov. 13.
Source: The Arbiter (Boise State)
