Friday, November 1
Urbana-Champaign, IL
10:35 AM
Wisconsin Badgers
at
Big Ten Championships
Photo by: Suvir Grover
Five Things to Know: Badgers return to Illinois to race in Big Ten Championships
October 25, 2024 | Women's Cross Country
Wisconsin seeks first conference title since 2000
MADISON, Wis. - The No. 11 Wisconsin women's cross country program is competing at the Big Ten Championships on Friday, Nov. 1 at the Orange and Blue Golf Course, located in Champaign, Ill. This event marks the beginning of the postseason stretch for the Badgers, as they look to make it back to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23.
The women's race is set to start at 10:35 a.m. CT, with the men's race following at 11:35 a.m. CT. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony.
Viewers can keep up with all of the action by following our socials on X and Instagram at @BadgerTrackXC, watch live on Big Ten Network or track times on PTTiming.
1. EYEING THE COMPETITION: The Badgers enter the Big Ten Championships as the second-highest ranked program in the conference, according to the USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll. No. 2 Washington, a new member of the Big Ten, is slotted in at No. 2 after a second-place finish at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals. In total, there are six ranked Big Ten teams in the top-30, highlighted by No. 17 Oregon. UCLA and USC, along with the Ducks and Huskies, will each be competing in their first Big Ten Championships.
2. HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Last year, Leane Willemse was the runner-up in Michigan, completing her 6K in 20 minutes, 57.4 seconds. She will look to be 13th individual conference champion in Wisconsin women's cross country history, attempting to be the first runner to do so since Alicia Monson in 2019. The Badgers last won a team championship in 2000, continuing to lead the Big Ten Conference with 13 titles in total. They will look to dethrone No. 26 Michigan State, as the Spartans have snagged the team championship in the past two seasons.
3. COURSE MEMORIES: Lindsay Cunningham was a steady performer for Wisconsin throughout the entirety of the regular season, and was the individual champion at the Big Ten Preview—marking the last time the Badgers raced on this course. The Wisconsin Dells native turned in the quickest time of the season amongst all runners on Wisconsin's team, covering the 6K course in 19:54.4. Cunningham later went on to earn Big Ten Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week, the lone Badger in the women's program to do so this season.
4. STEADY SHEA: In each meet that she has competed at this season, Shea Ruhly has been the first Badger to cross the finish line—doing so at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals. The Middleton native sliced off about 25 seconds between both of her races on the Zimmer Championship Course, earning a PR in her most recent competition on Oct. 19 at 20:15.6.
5. UP NEXT: The Badgers are on the road once again in two weeks, traveling to Norton, Ohio, to compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, Nov. 15. If the team finishes in the top-2 among the competition, then they will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships a week later. Wisconsin placed 22nd at the event last season in Virginia. The Badgers will be hosting the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23, as fans can get their tickets for the event here.
The women's race is set to start at 10:35 a.m. CT, with the men's race following at 11:35 a.m. CT. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony.
Viewers can keep up with all of the action by following our socials on X and Instagram at @BadgerTrackXC, watch live on Big Ten Network or track times on PTTiming.
1. EYEING THE COMPETITION: The Badgers enter the Big Ten Championships as the second-highest ranked program in the conference, according to the USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll. No. 2 Washington, a new member of the Big Ten, is slotted in at No. 2 after a second-place finish at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals. In total, there are six ranked Big Ten teams in the top-30, highlighted by No. 17 Oregon. UCLA and USC, along with the Ducks and Huskies, will each be competing in their first Big Ten Championships.
2. HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Last year, Leane Willemse was the runner-up in Michigan, completing her 6K in 20 minutes, 57.4 seconds. She will look to be 13th individual conference champion in Wisconsin women's cross country history, attempting to be the first runner to do so since Alicia Monson in 2019. The Badgers last won a team championship in 2000, continuing to lead the Big Ten Conference with 13 titles in total. They will look to dethrone No. 26 Michigan State, as the Spartans have snagged the team championship in the past two seasons.
3. COURSE MEMORIES: Lindsay Cunningham was a steady performer for Wisconsin throughout the entirety of the regular season, and was the individual champion at the Big Ten Preview—marking the last time the Badgers raced on this course. The Wisconsin Dells native turned in the quickest time of the season amongst all runners on Wisconsin's team, covering the 6K course in 19:54.4. Cunningham later went on to earn Big Ten Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week, the lone Badger in the women's program to do so this season.
4. STEADY SHEA: In each meet that she has competed at this season, Shea Ruhly has been the first Badger to cross the finish line—doing so at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals. The Middleton native sliced off about 25 seconds between both of her races on the Zimmer Championship Course, earning a PR in her most recent competition on Oct. 19 at 20:15.6.
5. UP NEXT: The Badgers are on the road once again in two weeks, traveling to Norton, Ohio, to compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, Nov. 15. If the team finishes in the top-2 among the competition, then they will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships a week later. Wisconsin placed 22nd at the event last season in Virginia. The Badgers will be hosting the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23, as fans can get their tickets for the event here.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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