Another one: Badgers claim 53rd conference title

Friday, October 28

Ann Arbor, MI

10 AM

Wisconsin Badgers

2022 Big Ten Cross Country Championships

Photo by: Carol Chen

Another one: Badgers claim 53rd conference title

October 28, 2022 | Men's Cross Country

Liking leads UW to its fifth-straight Big Ten crown

By: Londyn Butler

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Thanks to Bob Liking's second-straight Big Ten individual title, the No. 9 Wisconsin men's cross country team won its 53rd conference crown at the 2022 Big Ten Cross Country Championships on Friday at the U-M Golf Course.

Liking crossed the line in 23 minutes, 48.9 seconds, one second ahead of teammate Jackson Sharp who was runner-up, to win UW's 36th individual title

UW posted a team score of 25 points as six Badgers finished in the top-10 to win its fifth-straight league title while Michigan was second with 57 points.

Sharp collected runner-up honors, crossing the line in 23:49.0 to complete the one-two punch for UW. Adam Spencer, in his Big Ten cross country debut, placed sixth in 23:59.0 while Rowen Ellenberg was seventh in 24:03.1. Liking, Sharp, Spencer and Ellenberg all earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades for their top-seven finishes.

The trio of Charlie Wheeler, Jack Meijer and Evan Bishop collected second-team league honors as Wheeler was ninth in 24:07.6, Meijer took 10th at 24:08.4, and Evan Bishop in 11th at 24:12.2

At the one-mile mark, Badgers were sitting in second with 68 points with Bishop in ninth place leading for the Badgers. Spencer, Liking, and Bishop led the way for the Badgers moving up to second as a team at the second-mile mark.

Liking broke away from the pack halfway through the race before Sharp almost caught his teammate at the end.

Straight from the Course
UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne
"I know it looks easy out there, but it's not easy. I'm really proud of our guys. The way they took control of the race pretty early ,that was the plan all along to keep the pace, they executed that the plan really well."

"Others take it for granted. but we certainly do not take it for granted. We know when we come to this meet, we have a target on our back and there were a couple of individuals from other schools that really surprised us out there today. That's what you're gonna see at a conference meet , so great job and on we go."

Notes to know

Wisconsin won its 53rd Big Ten title .
Badgers earned four first team All-Big Ten honors, three second team All-Big Ten honors.
UW's score of 25 was the lowest winning score at the Big Ten meet since the 2011 championship.
Byrne has now led UW to 12 Big Ten titles, which ties him for the most conference titles in league history with former Badger coach Martin Smith.

Up Next
The Badgers will head to Terre Haute, Indiana, on Nov. 11 for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.

2022 Big Ten Cross Country Championships
Friday, Oct. 28
U-M Golf Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Team scores
1.	Wisconsin	25
2.	Michigan	57
3.	Indiana	89
4.	Michigan State	89
5.	Purdue	156
6.	Illinois	161
7.	Iowa	225
8.	Ohio State	232
9.	Penn State	262
10.	Minnesota	295
11.	Nebraska	296
12.	Rutgers	345

Top 10 Finishers
1.	Bob Liking	WIS	23:48.9
2.	Jackson Sharp	WIS	23:49.0
3.	Gabriel Sanchez	IND	23:50.4
4.	Tom Brady	MICH	23:52.3
5.	CarLee Stimpfel	MSU	23:53.6
6.	Adam Spencer	WIS	23:59.0
7.	Rowen Ellenberg	WIS	24:03.1
8.	Zach Stewart	MICH	24:06.3
9.	Charlie Wheeler	WIS	24:07.6
10.	Jack Meijer	WIS	24:08.4