Oregon and Wisconsin Earn 2024 Big Ten Men’s Cross Country Postseason Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the first of its postseason men’s cross country awards on Thursday. Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum was tabbed as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while Wisconsin head coach Mick Byrne was unanimously selected as Big Ten Coach of the Year.

This is the first postseason honor for Birnbaum, who helped Oregon finish third at the 2024 Big Ten Cross Country Championships in its inaugural season in the conference. The Rapid City, S.D. native was the top finisher for the Ducks at the championships as he crossed the finish line in fourth place with a time of 22:57.2. His finish earned him first team All-Big Ten and All-Freshman Team laurels.

Byrne coached Wisconsin to its 14th Big Ten title since taking over the program in 2008. With his guidance, the Badgers secured their 55th team championship and 38th individual crown at the Big Ten Championships last week. Byrne had five runners place in the top 15 and coached senior Bob Liking to the individual title as he finished the 8K course in a time of 22:47.3. Liking’s time marked a new championships record and helped him join an elite group as just the fourth runner and only Badger in Big Ten history to capture four individual championships. Byrne is a 14-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, the most by any coach in men’s cross country history, and has won 14 of the last 17 coach of the year honors.

The Big Ten also recognizes the Sportsmanship Award honorees from each institution. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have set themselves apart through hard work, sportsmanship and honorable behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and demonstrate good citizenship outside of the sports setting.

The men’s cross country Big Ten Athlete of the Year will be announced following the NCAA Championships, which will be held Nov. 23 at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Verona, Wis., hosted by the University of Wisconsin.

2024 Big Ten Men’s Cross Country Postseason Awards
Freshman of the Year: Simeon Birnbaum, Oregon
Coach of the Year: MICK BYRNE, WISCONSIN

2024 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Anthony Maida, Illinois
Martin Segurola, Indiana
Carson Houg, Iowa
Jack Spamer, Michigan
Parker Lambers, Michigan State
Tanner Klumph, Minnesota
Trevor Acton, Nebraska
Keegan Freyhof, Ohio State
Josh Schumacher, Oregon
Tanner Piotrowski, Penn State
Nathan Walker, Purdue
Stephen Kyvelos, Rutgers
Jack Rosencrans, UCLA
Nathan Green, Washington
Logan Measner, Wisconsin

*unanimous selections in ALL CAPS