CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It was a historic day for the Wisconsin men's cross country program on Friday at the Orange and Blue Golf Course as senior
Bob Liking became the first Badger in school history to win four straight Big Ten individual titles while leading UW to its seventh-straight Big Ten Championship.
Liking crossed the line in 22 minutes, 47.3 seconds, almost 8 seconds ahead of the runner-up finisher to become only the fourth men's student-athlete to win four Big Ten men's cross country titles and the second to win four-straight.
The redshirt freshman duo of Christian de Vaal and Matan Ivri earned top-10 finishes as de Vaal placed seventh in 22:58.9 while Ivri was 10th in 22:59.7.
Sophomore Johnny Livingstone finished in 13th in 23:02.5 and Rowen Ellenberg capped off the scoring for UW, crossing the line in 23:06.5 to place 15th.
2024 Olympian Adam Spencer was 22nd in 23:11.9 and Micah Wilson placed 25th in 23:15.0.
Wisconsin finished with a score of 46, followed by Washington and Oregon tying with 58 points apiece.
Notes to Know
- Liking joins Illinois legend Craig Virgin as the only Big Ten men's student-athlete to win four-straight cross country titles, as Virgin won titles in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976. Bob Kennedy of Indiana (1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992) and Kevin Sullivan of Michigan (1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997) also won four Big Ten men's titles but not in consecutive years.
- Liking also set a Big Ten Conference record with his time of 22:47.3, breaking Purdue's Matt McClintock's previous 8K record of 23:12 set in 2015.
- Mick Byrne earned his 14th Big Ten men's conference title at the helm of the Badger program.
- Liking, de Vaal and Ivri earned first-team All-Big Ten honors while Livingstone and Ellenberg collected second-team conference accolades. In addition, de Vaal and Ivri were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Straight from the Course
Mick Byrne, UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
On Wisconsin winning its 55th conference title:
"Right now it's fantastic. Obviously we had a huge target on our own backs coming into this one with an addition of the west coast schools. The unknown, we weren't sure what Oregon had but we expected them to come out and give it a great race, the same with Washington. That last 2K were tough. I'm really proud of the guys, all schools threw everything at us."
On Bob Liking winning his fourth Big Ten title:
"About 90 min before the race, Craig Virgin popped his head into our tent and wished him well. When you look at the names that have done it, Kevin Sullivan from Michigan, Bob Kennedy from Indiana, it just means a lot to be named in that stratosphere."
Senior Bob Liking
On winning four-straight Big Ten titles:
"I'm very honored to be added to that list. I was pretty nervous for this one because I did not want to blow up, get three and not get the fourth. I knew my guys were behind me and if I blew up, they were going to replace me. I'm so excited, I'm so excited to see how this group grows."
On running alone at the end of the race:
"With the new additions, there are some world class milers in the field. My worst nightmare was that it would come to a kick and I wouldn't be able to do it. I just wanted to go out there and if I lost, I lost, but I knew I was going to put it all out there. It was a good day."
On Wisconsin's seven straight team titles:
"All the teammates that I've been able to compete with, it shows consistency. I haven't been part of a team that's lost a Big Ten title. It's awesome, it is always a good feeling and I love it so much."
Up Next:
The postseason moves on with the NCAA Great Lakes Regional set for Friday, Nov. 15 in Norton, Ohio. The Badgers last won the region in 2022 and hold 31 regional titles. The UW men will race at 11 a.m. CT as they aim to secure a top-two finish to automatically qualify for 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison.
Big Ten Championships
Friday, Nov. 1, 2024
Orange and Blue Golf Course
8K Race
Championship Race Results:
1. Wisconsin, 46
2. Washington, 58
Oregon, 58
4. Michigan State, 125
5. Michigan, 158
6. Indiana, 175
7. Purdue, 203
8. Penn State, 250
9. Illinois, 252
10. Ohio State, 253
11. Minnesota, 301
12. UCLA, 367
13. Iowa, 370
14. Nebraska, 410
15. Rutgers, 446
Wisconsin Individual Results:
1. Bob Liking, 22:47.3
7. Christian de Vaal, 22:58.9
10. Matan Ivri, 22:59.7
13. Johnny Livingstone, 23:02.5
15. Rowen Ellenberg, 23:06.5
22. Adam Spencer, 23:11.9
25. Micah Wilson, 23:15.0
68. Josh Truchon, 23:57.2
91. Bryce Stachewicz, 24:14.8
101. Pierce Seigne, 24:24.4
109. Liam Newhart, 24:29.4
