CLEMSON, S.C. – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) unveiled its newly developed Cross Country Ratings Index (XCRI) Wednesday morning that features Clemson standout Silvia Jelelgo as the fifth-ranked women’s cross country runner in the nation.
The XCRI is a data-driven performance-based system that evaluates athletes exclusively on current-season results, factoring in head-to-head race results and strength of schedule. The rankings are entirely objective and deterministic without any simulations used.
The inaugural rankings release includes over 4,270 women and 3,890 men, along with 361 women’s teams and 328 men’s teams. Joining Jelelgo in the spotlight is teammate Gladys Chepngetich, ranked No. 61 among women, while the Clemson women’s team earned a strong No. 30 national ranking.
Jelelgo has delivered a standout season, beginning with a commanding win at the Eye Opener, where she clocked a time of 16:33.9. She followed that performance with another victory at the Furman Invitational, finishing in 21:03.24. Her early-season dominance earned her ACC Women’s Cross Country Performer of the Week honors on September 16. Jelelgo continued to impress with runner-up finishes at both the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic (15:45.6) and the Pre-Nationals Invitational (19:05.8), solidifying her place among the nation’s elite.
Chepngetich made a strong fall debut at the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic, placing fourth with a time of 15:45.6. She continued her momentum at the Pre-Nationals Invitational, where she secured an 11th-place finish with a time of 19:50.9, contributing significantly to Clemson’s team success.
The Clemson women’s cross country team has also enjoyed a stellar season. They opened with a victory in the Eye Opener 5K and followed it up with a first-place finish in the Furman Invitational four-mile race. The team placed second in the highly competitive Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic 5K Gold Race and most recently finished sixth place in the Pre-Nationals Invitational 6K.
For complete coverage of the Clemson cross country program, follow @ClemsonTrackXC on X, Instagram and Facebook.
